Irish League Football

Image source, Press Eye

Glentoran forward David Fisher hopes to chalk up a first win over Premiership champions Larne when the sides meet at the Oval on Saturday.

The Englishman joined the east Belfast side from AFC Wimbledon in September 2023.

The in-form Glens, who lie third in the standings, will lock horns with Larne again three days later in the County Antrim Shield final.

"I've lost every game to Larne since I've got here - if we can prepare and do everything right that we have been doing then we can give them a good game," said Fisher.

"They're a very good side and they don't have the Conference League anymore so they'll be fully focused on the league.

"It's going to be a difficult game but one that we really want to try and show that we're there."

Declan Devine's side have not tasted defeat in their last 10 matches and they are also through to the BetMcLean Cup decider after Tuesday night's extra-time win over Crusaders.

Fisher was confident that the team would hit their stride and compete for the top prizes.

"We all knew it was going to come - it was a bit of a rocky start but we knew as a group it was going to come together.

"There's a good vibe around the club. We go out for brunch together and we spend lots of time together outside football.

"We've got that tigh-knit group and it's starting to show on the pitch - it's really good."

Image source, Press Eye

Northern Ireland midfielder Toni-Leigh Finnegan has left Cliftonville to sign for Scottish side Aberdeen.

The 23-year-old, who can also operate in defence, has spent her senior career with the Reds after progressing from the club's academy.

She played an integral role as John McGrady's side won a domestic treble last season and completed an 'invincible' Women's Premiership season.

Finnegan has won 10 caps for Northern Ireland after making her debut in March 2020.

Scott Booth's Aberdeen side are 10th in the Scottish Women's Premier League table.

"I'm really excited to be at Aberdeen. It is a big move in my career, and I'm excited to get started and learn from Scott and the rest of the girls," she told the club's website.

"I feel like this is the natural next step for me."

Image source, Inpho

Cliftonville have signed defender Jack Keaney from League of Ireland side Drogheda United.

The 25-year-old was part of the Drogs side that beat Derry in the FAI Cup final last year during his sole season with the club.

Keaney started his career at Sligo Rovers, where he worked under Cliftonville assistant coach Gerard Lyttle, making 48 appearances in two seasons after being promoted to the first team.

The Republic of Ireland underage international then enjoyed a four-year stint with UCD before he linked up with Kevin Doherty's side last year.

Subject to international clearance, Keaney could be set for a Reds debut on Saturday as they host Loughgall in the Irish Premiership.

Image source, Larne FC

Larne have confirmed their second signing of the January transfer window with the addition of attacker Olatunde Bayode on a short-term deal until the end of this season.

Bayode arrives at Inver Park from Gibraltar Football League side Bruno's Magpies, having begun his career at then English Premier League side Burnley under Sean Dyche.

The pacy winger was a key member of Larne head of football Nathan Rooney's Magpies side which won The Rock Cup during the 2022-23 season and produced distinguished performances in the Uefa Conference League against Crusaders and Derry City.

Rooney is full of praise for the qualities he believes the 25-year-old can contribute.

"Tunde is a player who possesses a number of attributes which we feel can provide a different dynamic to our attack during the second half of this season," Rooney explained on the Larne FC website.

"Tunde had a really good upbringing at Burnley, coming through the ranks and learning from Sean Dyche on the training pitch each day. As a player, he is very direct with rapid pace and an eye for creative flair which is something we have been keen to add during the January transfer window."

Bayode commented: "It will be great to get going in a brand new league and I think my experience in England, playing in a lot of high speed, intense games, will help me settle in to the NI Football League.

"Obviously, every time is different, but playing against Crusaders and Derry City in Europe has provided a taste for the style over here and some insight into football here.

"I like to use my pace and get behind teams to cause problems and of course make an impact in games and score some goals."

The east Antrim club revealed earlier this week that they had drafted in Saint Kitts and Nevis international forward Harry Panayiotou on a short-term contract until the end of the season.

Larne sit fifth in the Premiership table and will face Glentoran in the County Antrim Shield final on Tuesday 21 January as they aim to win that competition for the fifth time in a row.

They also face the Glens this Saturday in a league game at the Oval.

Image source, PACEMAKER

Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree says he is relishing facing an in-form Glenavon side in Friday night's Premiership encounter.

The Lurgan Blues go into the Stangmore Park game, which will be streamed live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website, having won their last three games although the Swifts are having a season to remember and sit second in standings.

Glenavon will be back in action three days after beating Championship club Dundela 2-0 at Moureview Park to make the Irish Cup sixth round.

"I saw watched them against Dundela and they were decent. They moved the ball well and showed more energy that they did when they went through a bad run of results," said McAree.

"They've a lot of good players that can hurt you so we have to make sure we're as good as we possibly can be.

"It's going to be a difficult game but it's one we're looking forward to because we find ourselves in the position that we're in."

Paddy McLaughlin replaced Stephen McDonnell as Mourneview Park manager in November and has helped move the Lurgan Blues out of the relegation zone.

"I like Paddy, he's a great guy as well - he's certainly got a little bit of bounce in them.

"He hasn't made too many changes. I expected more incomings at Mourneview but he's maybe got a little bit of a response out of the players that he has and feels he doesn't need to add too many."

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Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton dedicated Tuesday's dramatic BetMcLean Cup semi-final victory to his late defender Michael Newberry.

Destiny Ojo scored an extra-time winner against 10-man Larne, who had Shaun Want sent off in the second half but defended resolutely to keep Cliftonville at bay.

While there were wild celebrations after Ojo's 117th minute goal and again at full-time, Magilton admitted it was a "poignant" night for his players.

"It was a really poignant night for us, and a sombre night," he said.

"Yes, we'll enjoy this but we travel to Newcastle on Wednesday to attend Michael Newberry's funeral on Thursday."

He said the performance "characterised" late Cliftonville defender Newberry, who passed away suddenly on 30 December.

"In terms of his team-mates going to the wire, showing their guts, showing their determination and character," Magilton added.

"We're going to go and share memories with his family and give him a good send off."

Cliftonville are back in Irish Premiership action on Saturday against Loughgall, and will face Glentoran in the BetMcLean Cup final on Sunday, 9 March.

Image source, Getty Images

Premiership champions Larne have brought in forward Harry Panayiotou until the end of the season.

The 30-year-old Saint Kitts and Nevis international played under Larne's head of football Nathan Rooney at Bruno's Magpies before moving to Sirens FC in Malta last year.

Panayiotou began his career at Leicester City and scored the winner against Leeds United on his senior debut in 2012.

Spells at clubs in England, Scotland and Greece followed before he scored 12 goals in 37 appearances for Aldershot Town in the National League in the 2020/21 season.

"It's nice to get the move over the line, I've been speaking to the club for around a week or so and now that we've managed to get the deal over the line I'm buzzing," said Panayiotou, who has netted 12 times in his 38 caps for Saint Kitts and Nevis.

"As a player I'm a forward who can act as a bit of an all-rounder – I can come short but can also play long if required. I'm looking forward to getting the head down in training, getting sharper and hopefully getting some minutes when the Gaffer calls on me."

Panayiotou's international clearance will not come through in time for Tuesday's BetMcLean Cup semi-final against Cliftonville but he will be available to face Glentoran in the Premiership on Saturday.

"I have previously worked with Harrison for a short period of time in the past and I know what he will be able to bring to our group in terms of experience, having played at similar levels in England and Scotland, alongside other leagues in Europe," said Rooney.

"As a player, he possesses good hold-up play for a centre-forward, while also being able to lead the line in terms of pressing really well with an ability to mix up his movements in the box which is something that is vital that our forward line continues to do."

Image source, Pacemaker

Larne will aim to remain on target for a first BetMcLean Cup success when they host Cliftonville in Tuesday's semi-final of the competition at Inver Park.

The east Antrim club's dramatic renaissance of recent seasons has seen them collect back-to-back league titles, win four County Antrim Shield finals in a row and break new ground for the Irish League by qualifying for the league stages of the Uefa Conference League.

Victories in the Irish Cup and BetMcLean Cup have so far eluded the Invermen however.

Gary Haveron's side saw off Cliftonville 2-0 in Friday's Premiership encounter between the sides at the same venue but another close contest is anticipated with a place in the 9 March showpiece final at stake.

Larne's last appearance in a League Cup final saw them lose to Cliftonville on penalties in the 2003-04 campaign, while they also came out second best to Linfield in their only other previous involvement in a final in the 1991-92 campaign.

Larne go into the game on a run of five unbeaten in the Premiership, with Jim Magilton's side, in contrast, on a sequence of five games without a win in the top division, including defeats in their past four.

The Solitude Reds last lifted the League Cup trophy in 2022 when they defeated Coleraine 4-3 after extra-time and they will be keen to add more silverware to the Irish Cup they collected in May.

Tuesday's other BetMcLean Cup semi-final sees Glentoran face off against Crusaders at the Oval.

The Glens have not tasted defeat in their past nine matches in all competitions so with home advantage in their favour confidence should be high that they can move a step closer to winning the competition for the first time since 2010.

Crusaders target an appearance in the decider with the aim of righting their record of three defeats in their past three finals in the competition.

Image source, Pacemaker

Linfield goalkeeper David Walsh has been named as the Northern Ireland Football Writers' Player of the Month for December.

Walsh played a significant role in helping his side secure a big cushion at the top of the Irish Premiership table, keeping four clean sheets in the club's four league games during the final month of 2024.

David Healy's side defeated Coleraine 3-0, beat Dungannon Swifts 1-0, saw off Glenavon by the same scoreline and drew 0-0 with 'Big Two' derby rivals Glentoran on Boxing Day.

Walsh is competing with the experienced former Coleraine stopper Chris Johns for the goalkeeper starting jersey at the Windsor Park outfit but says picking up trophies come the end of the season is the primary focus.

"It's good to win personal stuff but it's more about the team and what we can win at the end of the season," Walsh told BBC Sport NI.

"If someone had said at the start of the season we would be 12 points clear we'd have bitten your arm off. With boys coming in we'll hopefully go from strength to strength between now and the end of the season.

"I'd spoken to the manager a couple of times about wanting to play and he just said 'your time will come' and thankfully it has."

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Carrick Rangers boss Stephen Baxter said that his side "didn't do enough" to trouble Linfield as they were beaten 3-0 by the Blues at Windsor Park.

After restricting Linfield in the first half, the Blues' quality shone in the second as goals from Joel Cooper, Euan East and Matthew Fitzpatrick secured the three points.

Despite the loss, Baxter was content with his side's display against the league leaders.

"It was a tight game, because we made it tight, we made sure we were defensively solid and we restricted Linfield to chances from outside our box," he told BBC Sport NI.

"Linfield played at a higher tempo today and had more quality than we did and when you put those together you are always going to be up against it.

"We were here to try contain Linfield and hit them on the break, but it didn't happen for us, it's a learning curve, but we haven't done enough here to win the game."