Linfield vs Glentoran: Blues lift Irish Premiership title after win

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Highlights: Linfield lift Gibson Cup after beating Glens at Windsor Park

Andy Gray

BBC Sport NI Journalist

Linfield have lifted the Gibson Cup for a record-extending 57th time after defeating Glentoran 2-1 at Windsor Park.

David Healy's side had secured the Irish Premiership title in March and, knowing a trophy presentation was to come, could enjoy the occasion against their fierce rivals.

Kirk Millar struck a first-half winner for Linfield after Jordan Jenkins had cancelled out Callumn Morrison's opener for the hosts.

Captain Jamie Mulgrew, himself winning his 11th Irish Premiership title, lifted the Gibson Cup as thousands of Linfield supporters enjoyed the celebrations at a sun-soaked Windsor Park.

"I'm full of adrenaline and emotion, it was a great day," Healy told BBC Sport NI.

"Our performance levels were pretty good and Glentoran made us work for it. All in all, the players and staff have been incredible this year. It's been hugely challenging, but I'm so pleased for them.

"The manner in which we won it this year was incredible. I couldn't be more proud of the players and the staff."

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It has been a remarkable league campaign for Linfield, who ended Larne's two-year stint as champions in emphatic fashion.

As their rivals faltered, Linfield consistently collected points and became the first team to seal the title before the split - which occurs with five matches remaining.

The victory over Glentoran, who were unbeaten against the Blues this season in five outings, was the icing on the cake.

In a frantic first half, Morrison opened the scoring as he squeezed an effort past Glens goalkeeper Daniel Gyollai in the ninth minute, but Declan Devine's side hit back when Jordan Jenkins fired home in the 22nd minute.

However, Linfield stalwart Millar restored Linfield's lead on the half-hour and the hosts, who spurned chances to extend their lead after the break, never looked back.

Such was their dominance, Linfield's lead at the full-time whistle over Glentoran stood at a mammoth 25 points.

It is a 57th Gibson Cup for Linfield, and no team has won their domestic league more times in world football than the Blues.

Joel Cooper and Jamie Mulgrew celebrate lifting the GIbson Cup — Image caption,
Captain Jamie Mulgrew (left) celebrated his 11th Irish Premiership title with Linfield

It has been an emotional year for Linfield after the loss of staff member Paul Butler and former defender Michael Newberry. Both were honoured as Mulgrew lifted the Gibson Cup with Butler's name - as it has been all season - embroidered into the blue shirt while Newberry also had a Linfield jersey with his name printed on it.

"I'm incredibly proud of the team and the effort they have put in, and the emphatic way we won the league," Mulgrew said.

"At the start of the season we never could have envisaged it would have ended this way. I'm proud of my record of 11 league titles but I'm just really proud and privileged to lead this team."

Mulgrew, 38, added it was "important to put on a show and win" against Glentoran so players, staff and supporters could fully embrace the celebrations.

"It's trophy day and it's important that you win to enjoy the moment even more," he said.

"We want to get as many points as we can to build a platform for next season.

"I'm already looking forward to what we achieve next year, we want to remain hungry and determined after what we have achieved here."

Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Goals For	Goals Against	Goal Difference	Points	Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first
1 Linfield	35	26	4	5	66	25	41	82	Result Loss Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Win
2 Glentoran	35	16	9	10	43	34	9	57	Result Draw Result Draw Result Draw Result Loss Result Win Result Loss
3 Larne	35	15	11	9	42	31	11	56	Result Win Result Draw Result Draw Result Win Result Draw Result Draw
4 Coleraine	35	14	10	11	53	45	8	52	Result Win Result Draw Result Draw Result Win Result Loss Result Win
5 Dungannon Swifts	35	15	6	14	47	44	3	51	Result Loss Result Win Result Draw Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss
6 Crusaders	35	15	6	14	44	48	-4	51	Result Win Result Loss Result Draw Result Win Result Loss Result Draw

Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Goals For	Goals Against	Goal Difference	Points	Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first
1 Cliftonville	35	15	7	13	52	38	14	52	Result Loss Result Loss Result Draw Result Win Result Win Result Win
2 Portadown	35	13	8	14	41	43	-2	47	Result Loss Result Win Result Draw Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss
3 Ballymena United	35	14	4	17	45	49	-4	46	Result Win Result Loss Result Win Result Loss Result Win Result Loss
4 Glenavon	35	10	10	15	36	45	-9	40	Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss
5 Carrick Rangers	35	7	9	19	29	52	-23	30	Result Win Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss Result Loss Result Win
6 Loughgall	35	5	6	24	32	76	-44	21	Result Loss Result Loss Result Draw Result Win Result Loss Result Win

Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Goals For	Goals Against	Goal Difference	Points	Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first
1 Linfield	33	24	4	5	61	23	38	76	Result Loss Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Win
2 Larne	33	15	9	9	39	28	11	54	Result Win Result Draw Result Draw Result Win Result Draw Result Draw
3 Glentoran	33	15	9	9	40	31	9	54	Result Draw Result Draw Result Draw Result Loss Result Win Result Loss
4 Dungannon Swifts	33	15	5	13	44	40	4	50	Result Loss Result Win Result Draw Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss
5 Crusaders	33	15	5	13	41	43	-2	50	Result Win Result Loss Result Draw Result Win Result Loss Result Draw
6 Coleraine	33	13	10	10	49	41	8	49	Result Win Result Draw Result Draw Result Win Result Loss Result Win
7 Cliftonville	33	13	7	13	44	37	7	46	Result Loss Result Loss Result Draw Result Win Result Win Result Win
8 Portadown	33	13	7	13	39	38	1	46	Result Loss Result Win Result Draw Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss
9 Ballymena United	33	13	4	16	40	42	-2	43	Result Win Result Loss Result Win Result Loss Result Win Result Loss
10 Glenavon	33	10	9	14	35	43	-8	39	Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss
11 Carrick Rangers	33	6	9	18	24	48	-24	27	Result Win Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss Result Loss Result Win
12 Loughgall	33	4	6	23	29	71	-42	18	Result Loss Result Loss Result Draw Result Win Result Loss Result Win

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