Irish League Football

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Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree has been named Manager of the Year at the annual Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association awards.

McAree won the award ahead of Linfield boss David Healy and Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton, who were also nominated.

He helped the Swifts to their first ever Irish Cup triumph after beating Cliftonville on penalties in Saturday's decider as well as a fourth place Irish Premiership finish and a Mid-Ulster Cup win.

"It has been an incredible weekend for our football club. I want to thank everyone at Dungannon Swifts for their support this season, our success is a team effort," said McAree.

Linfield forward Joel Cooper was named Player of the Year after a stellar campaign for the Blues.

Cooper, who will join Coleraine in the summer, scored 19 league goals as the Blues won the Gibson Cup before the split.

He beat off competition from Swifts midfielder Gael Bigirimana and Cliftonville striker Joe Gormley to claim the award.

Fellow Blues player Matthew Orr was named Young Player of the Year after playing a key role in the title win in his first season with the first team.

After helping Bangor to promotion by scoring 24 league goals, Ben Arthurs won Championship Player of the Year.

Northern Ireland legends Steven Davis and Stuart Dallas were inducted into the Dr Malcolm Brodie Hall of Fame.

"It's an incredible honour to be inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside genuine greats such as George Best and Harry Gregg," said Davis.

"It was always a privilege to represent my country and the people of Northern Ireland. To receive an accolade like this is incredible."

Earlier this month, Liverpool defender Conor Bradley was named International Player of the Year, while Northern Ireland winger Danielle Maxwell was chosen as Women's Premiership Player of the Year after helping Cliftonville to an unbeaten campaign.

Manager of the Year: Rodney McAree (Dungannon Swifts)

Player of the Year: Joel Cooper (Linfield)

NIFWA Young Player of the Year: Matthew Orr (Linfield)

NIFWA Championship Player of the Year: Ben Arthurs (Bangor)

NIFWA Team of the Year: Daniel Gyollai (Glentoran); Matthew Orr (Linfield), Kodi Lyons-Foster (Glentoran), Euan East (Linfield), Adam Glenny (Dungannon Swifts); Fuad Sule (Glentoran), Rory Hale (Cliftonville), Gael Bigirimania (Dungannon Swifts), Joel Cooper; Matthew Fitzpatrick (both Linfield), Joe Gormley (Cliftonville)

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Carrick Rangers striker Curtis Allen and Portadown defender Ross Redman have both called time on their football careers.

Allen, 37, brings the curtain down on a career that has included two spells with Coleraine as well as time at Bournemouth, Lisburn Distillery, Linfield, Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Glentoran.

The forward won the Irish Premiership title with the Blues in 2010, the League Cup with Coleraine in 2020 and the Irish Cup with Glentoran in 2015.

During his six-year stay at the Glens, Allen scored 110 goals in 232 games.

He took over as interim manager of Carrick earlier this season alongside Mark Surgenor following the sacking of Stuart King.

Redman began his career with hometown club Portadown, winning the Championship and the League Cup with the Ports in 2009.

He left in 2016 to sign for Glentoran before joining Dungannon Swifts on loan.

The 36-year-old then went to Ballymena United in 2020 before returning to the Ports on a free transfer in 2023.

He once again helped his side to win the Championship in his first season back at Shamrock Park before helping them to an eighth-place finish in the Irish Premiership this year.

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Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree says his side's first ever Irish Cup success "means everything" and is "such a good feeling".

The Swifts took the lead in the showpiece decider at Windsor Park on Saturday through a first-half John McGovern header but then had defender Steven Scott sent-off after the break for what referee Ian McNabb adjudged to be a second yellow card offence.

Shea Kearney equalised with a stunning strike in second-half stoppage time but with neither side able to find a winner in extra-time, the game went to penalties.

Dungannon goalkeeper Declan Dunne emerged the hero as he saved two of Cliftonville's penalties in a 4-3 shootout triumph.

"When we went down to 10 men it was just a case of trying not to concede, try to see it out," McAree told BBC Sport NI.

"We conceded but we hung on to get it to penalty kicks. That was the target, to try and win it on penalty kicks.

"We saw the game out magnificently well. We have fantastic team spirit, fantastic camaraderie. We've got a fight, we've got a passion among the group."

McAree's family are synonymous with the Stangmore Park club, including his father Joe, who also managed the county Tyrone outfit.

"I grew up in the club since I was three or four years of age.

"It's so good to do it for real good people who have been around the Swifts for so many years.

"It's beyond words to be honest. Whenever I came back into the club [for a second spell as manager] we wanted to compete. We wanted to be a challenge for every club that we played against.

"The players have done exceptionally well this season and have been a joy to work with."

The Swifts boss also had words of consolation for Scott.

"Stevie Scott got sent-off, whether it's a second yellow card or not, he gives the referee a decision to make and he shouldn't.

"He's on the pitch at the end crying. He's such a good lad, he's had a hard time, but he was brilliant up until then."

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Having won the first leg of their relegation/promotion play-off against Annagh United 5-2, Carrick Rangers ensured their Premiership survival with a 3-1 home win in the second leg on Friday night for an 8-3 aggregate victory.

BBC Sport NI spoke to some of the key protagonists after the game:

Carrick Rangers manager Stephen Baxter on securing safety:

"I thought the game was pretty nervy and then we got the lead and were able to hold onto it for a reasonable time and then they got the equaliser so I said to the team at half-time that we need to see out the first 10 to 15 minutes of the second half and then Danny gets the goal and when that goes in really its plain sailing."

"Over the two legs, we were the better team. We had a little bit more than they did, we were able to stretch them in the second half and put them under constant pressure.

"We did well tonight, and from my point of view, there's no celebration. It's a situation that when you find yourself in this play-off, you haven't been good enough all season, and you have to find a way to stay in the league.

"You're playing in a dogfight to hold your place, and we need to improvise, and we will. There'll be changes, I'll have to make them if we want to compete as the league is getting bigger and stronger."

Baxter on Paul Heatley:

"Well, Paul Heatley is a class act, and when you work with him on a week-to-week basis, you get to know his personality, you get to know him as a quality person and not just as a quality player.

If I had eleven Paul Heatleys you'd win a championship every year. I can't say enough about him, he's a brilliant, brilliant person, and his quality on the pitch is magnificent, and he took his two goals really well and rattled the woodwork. That's just the mark of a brilliant footballer, so we are hoping he might stay on another year."

Paul Heatley on potential retirement:

"I thought I was finished in May of last year, but I have a personal connection with the club because that's where it all started for me, and then I went to Crusaders. I did agree that it's just a year, and personally, I'll probably go away with the mentality that I'm done. The statement is never to say never, but I'll just go away, enjoy my holidays, and not worry about it."

Is that the last time you've kicked a ball in Premiership football?:

"Very possibly, but the important thing is the team, not the individual, but I'll back away and let the others get the accolades and let the club get the attention it deserves to push forward."

Annagh United manager Ciaran McGurgan on the game:

"It was men against boys, and that's me being totally, brutally honest. I think Carrick showed a bit of hunger and a bit of desire, and I think maybe the occasion has got to a few of our players.

"They've been super to get in this position, but it's a stretch too far. Carrick had time to replace players, and I think all those bits certainly helped, but they were deserved winners, and credit to them."

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Cliftonville and Glentoran will face off for the NIFL Women's League Cup final on 29 June after winning their respective groups.

Holders Cliftonville defeated Lisburn 3-0 to finish the group stages with three wins from three.

Caitlin McGuinness scored a first-half double for the Reds at Solitude before former Northern Ireland captain Marissa Callaghan secured the win.

They will face Glentoran in the decider, who won Group B with a perfect record with a 5-1 win over Crusaders Strikers.

Demi Vance and Kascie Weir netted first-half goals for the Glens, while Aimee Kerr, Mia Moore, Emily Wilson and Nadene Caldwell were on target after the restart.

Elsewhere, Linfield hammered Derry City 9-0 to finish second in Group A behind Cliftonville.

Keri Halliday, Mia Fitzsimmons and Eve Reilly all scored twice, while Alex Clarke, Charlotte Havern and Abi Sweetlove also netted for the Blues.

Gracie Conway scored four goals as Lisburn Rangers defeated Larne 5-0 in Group B for their first victory of the competition at Crewe Park.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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Sporting director Oran Kearney has joined head coach Dean Shiels in leaving Coleraine ahead of the club's European play-off.

Shiels and his assistant Michael O'Connor departed the club on Wednesday - just seven days before the European play-off semi-final.

Kearney, who Shiels replaced as manager after the 46-year-old stepped into his role as sporting director, has now also left the club.

Former Derry City manager Ruaidhri Higgins is the frontrunner to take over from Shiels and could be in position for the European play-off semi-final on Wednesday, 7 May.

The Bannsiders will face either Crusaders or Irish Cup finalists Dungannon Swifts in the play-off.

It brings to an end Kearney's 14-year association with the club, after he had two spells as manager either side of a one-season stint as St Mirren boss in 2018.

Kearney won the Irish Cup in 2018 and the League Cup two years later, as well as three runner-up finishes in the Irish Premiership.

He also guided the club to a famous win over NK Maribor in Europa League qualifying in 2020.

Henry Ross, executive chairman and majority shareholder at Coleraine, said Kearney had played a "significant role" in the recent history of the club.

"From his time in the dugout to his more recent position, Oran has always approached his responsibilities with dedication. On behalf of the board, the players, and our supporters, I want to sincerely thank Oran."

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Former Carrick Rangers boss Stuart King has been appointed as the new manager of Premier Intermediate side Newry City.

King has been out of management since leaving Irish Premiership Carrick in October last year, where he was replaced by Stephen Baxter.

The former Linfield, Ballymena United and Glenavon winger King was appointed Carrick manager in June 2021.

The 43-year-old had previously spent five seasons with Banbridge Town.

After finishing in 10th position in his first campaign, Carrick finished eighth the following year and qualified for a first-ever European play-off last season.

They struggled in his third and final season in charge, losing nine of their 10 games before King stepped away.

Newry will play in the third-tier next season after suffering back-to-back relegations.

King succeeds Darren Mullen as Newry boss, who announced he would be stepping down from his second spell in charge of the club at the end of the season.

Speaking to the club's website, King said he was "very pleased it's over the line".

"It's been going on in the background for a while now and I have had plenty of discussions with the club and had things that I wanted to think through before I accepted," he added.

"I believe this is a brilliant project for me, it's close to home and I have family from Newry, I think I can really make a difference here and help put smiles back on people's faces.

"I am really looking forward to talking to the players and staff and start getting new players in."

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Scottish midfielder Liam Burt has become Glentoran's first summer signing, joining the east Belfast side on a two-year deal.

The 25-year-old arrives at the Glens after the termination of his contract with League of Ireland side Shamrock Rovers.

Burt spent last season on loan at fellow League of Ireland side Shelbourne, making 35 appearances and scoring twice as Damian Duff's side won the Premier Division title.

The Glasgow native began his career with Rangers, before loan spells with Dumbarton and Alloa Athletic.

He has also played for Celtic as well as Bohemians and speaking to the club website, Burt said he was "absolutely delighted" to sign for Glentoran.

"I've played for big clubs in Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, so I know the expectation, pressure and responsibility that come with that, and I enjoy that challenge," he added.

"I've done my homework on Glentoran and have been hugely impressed by the progress the club has made over the past year. Declan Devine and his staff have reshaped the squad and built strong foundations for long-term success.

"The ambition here matches my own – I've come to win trophies and achieve as much as I possibly can."

Glentoran boss Declan Devine said that Burt was "a winner" who will "add a different dimension" to the team's midfield.

"This signing is a real statement of intent from the club and from our owner, Ali Pour, as we continue building for next season and beyond," Devine continued

"It shows we are targeting the very best players available, and Liam is undoubtedly one of the finest midfield talents to have played in the League of Ireland in recent years."