Irish League Football

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Glentoran manager Declan Devine and Cliftonville boss Jim Magilton speak to BBC Sport NI after the Reds' 2-0 victory at the Oval helped them reach Sunday's European play-off final.

Devine on the defeat: "We didn't do enough which is the biggest disappointment. We were looking for a reaction tonight, but we didn't play with any intensity and our attacking play was non-existent. We switch off from a free-kick then and we are severely punished."

On the disappointing end to the season: "We have to change our mentality here because the reality is we haven't scored enough goals this year. We had second place in our hands and threw it away."

Magilton on the win: "We played really well in parts but above all else we were tremendous in character and guts to get a result after the huge disappointment of Saturday. To show the resolve and resilience, I'm so proud of the players."

On Jack Keaney and Eric McWoods' goals: Once Rory (Hale) lands on the ball he has that kind of vision and Jack was brilliant all night and recognised there was an opening and then it was a fantastic finish.

"Glentoran were then pressing for an equaliser, and we caught them on the counter and Eric worked his socks off all night and deserved his goal."

On Sunday's final: "If we qualify for Europe this way it's up there with the great achievements. We know it will be a huge task. We tend to like to do things the hard way so we will be ready."

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After Coleraine booked their place in the European play-off final with a 1-0 win over Crusaders, BBC Sport NI caught up with Bannsiders boss Ruaidhri Higgins and Crues manager Declan Caddell.

Higgins on winning in his first game in charge: "Absolutely delighted with the result we started the game extremely well, some of the play first half was top drawer and what we want going forward.

"Second half we had to dig deeper and show a bit of grit to see the game out. All we wanted was to get to Sunday and we've done that."

On Declan McManus' winning goal: "It was an outstanding goal some really good play down the right side and lovely cross from Corey (Smith) and tucked away well by Declan."

On Sunday's final: "It would be a brilliant achievement if we could secure European football, we're playing against a really good side in Cliftonville, but we will be ready and looking forward to it."

Caddell on the defeat: "It was a game of two halves, Coleraine were very good first half, took an early goal well which was hard to recover from and they warranted the lead in the game. Second half it was all pressure from us, but we didn't do enough, we had no clear-cut chances.

"The players gave everything, I'm really disappointed for them, it has been a rollercoaster of a year. Tonight was a sore one, but we will learn a lot from it."

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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.