Irish Premiership: Linfield clinch third consecutive title & complete double with draw at Coleraine

Linfield won their third consecutive Irish Premiership title and completed a league and Irish Cup double with a tense 1-1 draw away to Coleraine.

Mark Haughey gave the Blues an early lead which was equalised before half-time by Curtis Allen.

The Bannsiders had the momentum at the break and rallied again late on but could not prevent David Healy's men winning a fourth title in five years.

The success equals Rangers' world record haul of 55 league wins.

"It has been an incredible effort. I'm so proud of the players and so pleased for the staff. They are so honest and hard working," said an emotional Linfield manager David Healy after the game.

"I saw Pep Guardiola getting emotional the other day and I said to myself, 'I hope that won't be me this week'.

"You put so much effort into it, do what we've done is exceptional. I'm busted now, it's been a hectic season," added the Blues boss.

With five points separating the sides before kick-off, Linfield travelled to the Coleraine knowing that a draw would be enough to clinch the Gibson Cup four days after winning the Irish Cup in emphatic fashion.

Tuesday night's draw was not as comprehensive, with the home side responding superbly to falling behind to Haughey's 14th-minute header and Healy's men having to call on all their steely resolve to stand firm as Coleraine pressed for a winner in the closing stages.

Victory for Coleraine would have taken them to within two points of Linfield at the top and meant that they would have gone to Larne for Saturday's final day of the season still with a chance of winning the league if Linfield slipped up against Cliftonville.

They had a number of chances, with Allen twice coming close either side of his goal, but Chris Johns made saves at crucial times to ensure Linfield held out.

• Goal clips and all the action as it happened from Tuesday night's Premiership games

Haughey opener proves crucial for Linfield

Haughey's goal came from a Kirk Miller corner in the 14th minute which was flicked on by Mark Stafford and met at the far post by Haughey, who headed home what was just his second goal of the season.

Coleraine responded superbly to falling behind, with James McLaughlin forcing an excellent low save from Johns with a stinging 20-yard drive a minute after the goal, with Stafford then having to produce a great block from a Jamie Glackin shot.

Allen had a goal rightfully disallowed for punching the ball home and perhaps should have scored just before his equaliser, but volleyed over with his left foot after being played in by Glackin.

His 36th-minute leveller was created by an impressive sweeping passing move that resulted in a well-placed deep Lyndon Kane right-wing cross that was headed home against his former club by the striker for his ninth of the season.

The Coleraine goalscorer missed another headed opportunity before Linfield rallied in first-half injury-time. Cameron Palmer drove forward from midfield and delivered a well-hit strike that was parried by Martin Gallagher, and when the rebound fell to Joel Cooper the keeper was alert to save his low shot too.

Linfield regrouped after the interval but it was Coleraine who had the better chances of a tight second half, with Chris Johns saving an Aaron Jarvis header before twice denying Josh Carson late on.