Irish League Football

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With the Gibson Cup on its way to Windsor Park, the focus for the Irish Premiership is now firmly on who can secure an automatic European spot for next season.

Finishing second to Linfield will guarantee that for one club with another spot available through the end of season play-offs.

As the race for that automatic spot heats up, BBC Sport NI will bring you the best of the action.

On Tuesday 1 April, we'll bring you live coverage of the side currently in second spot - Larne - as they travel to Dungannon Swifts on BBC iPlayer.

The final 'Big Two' game of the season will be live on BBC Two NI on Saturday 5 April with Linfield looking to put a dent in their rivals Glentoran's ambitions for that second-place finish.

On the penultimate weekend of the season, we'll bring you Linfield's visit to Larne while on Saturday 26 April you'll be able to watch Larne against Glentoran with both games again on the BBC iPlayer.

Full live coverage details

Tuesday 1 April: Dungannon Swifts v Larne (19:45 BST) - BBC iPlayer

Saturday 5 April: Linfield v Glentoran (13:00 BST) - BBC Two NI

Friday 18 April: Larne v Linfield (19:45 BST) - BBC iPlayer

Saturday 26 April: Larne v Glentoran (17:30 BST) - BBC iPlayer

Image source, Inpho

The last 'Big Two' fixture of the 2024-25 Irish Premiership campaign will take place during the first weekend in April.

Champions Linfield, who beat Dungannon 3-0 in the final game before the end-of-season 'split' on Monday night, will host fierce rivals Glentoran at Windsor Park on April 4/5.

That will be one of four away games to finish the campaign for Declan Devine's men who will play their final home league game of the season at the Oval against Coleraine on 1 April.

With the league title already won by David Healy's side, and the league's bottom two, Loughgall and Carrick Rangers, cut adrift at the foot of the table in the battle to avoid the drop and the relegation play-off, perhaps the most intrigue remaining in the season surrounds the fight for the league's final automatic European spot.

Former champions Larne are currently in pole position sat second in the table, level on points with Glentoran in third.

The pair, who played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Oval this month, will meet at Inver Park on the final day of the season on 26 April.

Irish Premiership 'post-split' fixtures

1 April: Section A - Dungannon Swifts v Larne, Glentoran v Coleraine, Linfield v Crusaders.

Section B - Ballymena United v Loughgall, Carrick Rangers v Cliftonville, Portadown v Glenavon.

4/5 April: Section A - Coleraine v Dungannon Swifts, Crusaders v Larne, Linfield v Glentoran.

Section B - Carrick Rangers v Portadown, Cliftonville v Ballymena United, Glenavon v Loughgall.

11/12 April: Section A - Coleraine v Larne, Crusaders v Glentoran, Linfield v Dungannon Swifts.

Section B - Ballymena United v Carrick Rangers, Cliftonville v Glenavon, Portadown v Loughgall.

18/19 April: Section A - Crusaders v Coleraine, Dungannon Swifts v Glentoran, Larne v Linfield.

Section B - Glenavon v Ballymena United, Loughgall v Carrick Rangers, Portadown v Cliftonville.

26 April: Section A - Coleraine v Linfield, Dungannon Swifts v Crusaders, Larne v Glentoran.

Section B - Carrick Rangers v Glenavon, Loughgall v Cliftonville, Portadown v Ballymena United.

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After Coleraine beat Portadown 1-0 at the Showgrounds to sneak into the top six ahead of the Ports, BBC Sport NI got the thoughts of Bannsiders boss Dean Shiels and Ports manager Niall Currie.

Shiels on the win: "I think both teams realised there was a lot on the line especially early on for us, the first 15 minutes the size of the game got to us but then we settled and controlled the game. Our whole ethos is about finding a way to win games and that is what we did second half."

On securing top six: "I'm really proud of the players, the start of the season we knew it would be difficult, there was no continuity, we turned lots of part-time players to full-time which is not easy then we strengthened again in January so now it's just about finishing this season as strong as we can and building again for next season."

Currie on the loss: "We're disappointed but it is nowhere near the end of the world. I am extremely proud of the players; they have been magnificent this season. Today was a frustrating day for both teams, we didn't have enough quality in the last third. The fact we were sitting in this position at this time of the season is magnificent."

On the Ports' hopes for the rest of the season: "The season starts again in two weeks and we'll give it another rattle, we have four home games and one away game. There's no reason with the home record that we have that we can't push for seventh place."

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After Crusaders edged Glentoran 1-0 at the Oval to seal their place in the top six ahead of the split, BBC Sport NI caught up with Crues goal scorer Philip Lowry and Glens manager Declan Devine.

Lowry on the victory: "There was a lot at stake here today with the top six, there were a few scary moments in the first half when they had a few scrambles that might have gone in, but we rode the storm. I always knew we would get one chance and thankfully we took it. We're delighted to secure the top six."

On scoring the winning goal: "I really did enjoy the goal, I haven't scored in a long time, and it has been a difficult few weeks with going out of the Irish Cup and a few bad defeats, but we have a lot of resilient players in the group. It was a real sweet victory, now we have to look at the next five games and finish as high up as we can."

Devine on the defeat: "It was complete domination of the game without having end product. Two or three off the line and one off the bar at the end. We switched off for the goal and we got punished, it was their first shot on target of the match."

On Glentoran's recent poor run of form: "It has been a disappointing couple of weeks we can't shy away from that but there is plenty still to play for. Injuries to key personnel which has really cost us but we're still in the hunt for second spot and that's where we need to make sure we end up in a couple of weeks, we have to believe."

Carrick Rangers manager Stephen Baxter said he had "nothing to say" after an incident in his side's defeat by Cliftonville involving his goalkeeper Jack McIntyre and a ball boy.

The incident occurred in the first half as McIntyre went to retrieve the ball from a ball boy for a goal kick in an attempt to restart play quickly.

The referee did not caution McIntyre after the incident, but Cliftonville fans voiced their displeasure by booing the goalkeeper throughout the game.

Baxter did not want to comment on the incident as he did not see it at the time and had not had a chance to watch back.

"I honestly didn't see it, I heard the crowd roaring, but I didn't see any push, so I have nothing to say," he told BBC Sport NI.

Cliftonville boss Magilton also said that he did not witness the incident at the time or had a chance to look at it again.

"If he has done that then he is lucky and only he will know," he said.

"I haven't seen it back so I can't comment, but if he has put hands on the ball boy and that is the rule then he was lucky not to be sent off.

"You'll have to ask Jack McIntyre whether he laid hands on the boy or not."

The Northern Ireland Football League has been approached for comment.

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Loughgall say they have reached "an amicable agreement" with former manager Dean Smith following his recent departure from the club.

An initial statement posted on X by the Irish Premiership club on 6 March indicated that they had "parted company" with their long-serving boss "by mutual consent".

However this was contested as a statement from the JWB Consultancy said: "We represent Mr Dean Smith. Our client has not agreed to terminate his contract."

Loughgall's statement released on Wednesday night revealed that the parties had resolved their differences and were parting on good terms.

"Loughgall Football Club and Dean Smith have reached an amicable agreement, inclusive of a confidential financial settlement, representing a full and final resolution of all matters," the statement read.

"It is acknowledged that the statement on Thursday 6th March issued on social media by Loughgall FC was the result of internal miscommunication. This statement has now been removed.

"Loughgall FC and Dean Smith have had a successful and lengthy period working together, and now part on mutually agreeable and good terms, with both parties keen to draw a line under recent events.

"To that end, there will be no further comment from either party in respect of the matter which both Loughgall FC and Dean Smith consider satisfactorily closed."

Smith led Loughgall to promotion to the top flight in the 2022-23 campaign and they finished ninth in the Premiership with 13 wins last season.

This term the Villagers have struggled however and sit 12 points adrift at the foot of the table and without a league win since November.

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The Irish League's January transfer window was dominated by one key phrase - "pre-contract agreements".

Joe Thomson put pen to paper with Glentoran, while Ronan Doherty and Levi Ives inked terms with Coleraine.

While all those deals were made with the intention of the players joining their new clubs upon the expiration of their current deals and in time for next season, ultimately all three made the move for a fee in January instead.

Linfield's star man Joel Cooper has also agreed to join the Bannsiders next season but, in contrast, the Blues refused to countenance allowing the former Glenavon man to depart early.

In what was a tricky situation for both player and club, Linfield's insistence on delaying Cooper's journey to the Ballycastle Road has worked to their advantage.

Eight of his 18 league goals this season have come after news of the impending switch and he has continued to be a talismanic figure for the champions.

You can read Jonathan Bradley's full feature on how the title was won here

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The win against Carrick was a first league start of the season for goalkeeper David Walsh.

Chris Johns had been Healy's number one since arriving from Coleraine in 2020 and, after settling in at Windsor Park, played a big role in Irish Premiership titles in his first two seasons.

The former Bangor man fumbled a corner prior to Ryan Corrigan's winning goal for Cliftonville at Windsor Park a week before the trip to Taylors Avenue with Walsh ever present between the sticks since.

The 22-year-old was named Northern Ireland Football Writers' Player of the Month for December and has rewarded Healy's faith with 11 clean sheets in 19 league games as a starter.

You can read Jonathan Bradley's full feature on how the title was won here

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Silverware is, of course, no guarantee of universal popularity among the Linfield faithful and even after pledging his future to the club Healy was still under pressure from some sections of the support.

League defeats to then champions Larne, fierce rivals Glentoran and Cliftonville, as well as a County Antrim Shield exit to Crusaders, across the space of eight autumn weeks caused plenty of consternation at Windsor Park.

When Linfield fell behind to struggling Carrick Rangers to Taylors Avenue, matters threatened to come to a head.

The visiting support were in an increasing state of unrest as Joe Crowe's goal looked set to cause an upset but Kyle McClean, Joel Cooper and Chris Shields all found the net in the final 13 minutes to secure a 3-1 win.

The victory moved Linfield five points clear at the top and they have not looked back, winning 14 of their subsequent 18 league games.

You can read Jonathan Bradley's full feature on how the title was won here

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With the Gibson Park heading back to Windsor Park, BBC Sport NI has taken a look back at Linfield's season and the major points that helped that win the Irish Premiership.

We'll start back in the summer when Scottish Championship side Raith Rovers came knocking for manager David Healy.

The Blues had started the campaign with three wins from three when the Kirkcaldy club came calling and, after news of the approach broke, it was widely assumed that a 5-1 victory over Loughgall would be his last in charge at Windsor Park.

However, Linfield chairman Roy McGivern said that the club were "determined" to keep hold of their manager since 2015.

He proved true to his word and Healy signed a contract extension until 2026 later that month.

As Healy prepares to get his hands on the Gibson Cup for a sixth time, one only has to look around the Irish League to see how valuable stability in the dugout can be.

You can read Jonathan Bradley's full feature on how the title was won here

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Linfield chairman Roy McGivern says it is a "fantastic achievement" for the club to win the Irish Premiership title with six matches remaining.

The Blues secured their 57th Gibson Cup on Tuesday after nearest challengers Glentoran were held to a 2-2 draw by Larne.

McGivern admitted it felt "a bit strange" not winning the title on the pitch but said there would be a "huge trophy presentation" at Windsor Park for fans to celebrate.

"We'll savour the success, it's been a very sweet one," McGivern told Good Morning Ulster.

"We haven't won the league for the past two seasons and there are massive expectations at Linfield.

"Huge credit to our manager David Healy, the staff and the players for this remarkable success."

• How Linfield regained the Gibson Cup in dominant fashion

Linfield's success ends the two-year run of Larne holding the Gibson Cup, and McGivern says his team want to "emulate" their rival's success by qualifying for European football.

Larne made history this season by becoming the first Irish Premiership team to reach the Uefa Conference League.

"There's no doubt when you reach the league phase of one of the European competitions then that is a massive challenge," McGivern said.

"I think we'll all learn from what has happened at Larne this season. From our point of view, I think you need to be playing domestic games as well as European games, but you have to balance your squad, a strong squad and invest in that squad.

"We'll embrace that challenge next year and try to emulate what Larne have achieved.

"It will be very hard getting through a number of qualifying games, but that's the challenge we face at Linfield."

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Glentoran boss Declan Devine says he expected better game management from his team after going two goals up before Larne hit back to draw 2-2.

Joe Thomson fired home a first-half opener and completed his double two minutes into the second half to put the Oval hosts in control.

Paul O'Neill pulled one back with a close-range finish and Andy Ryan levelled from a 66th-minute penalty.

"We've definitely dropped two points - when you're 2-0 up you expect better management of the game," Devine told BBC Sport NI.

"We had a lot of experienced players on the pitch and needed to see out the 15 minutes after the second goal.

"We had a brilliant opportunity opportunity to put the game to bed and score the third. It's frustrating but there's still a lot to play for."

The result ensured league leaders Linfield won the title with an unassailable 19-point lead over the second-placed Glens with six matches remaining.

Devine's team aim to stay second to secure an automatic European spot and they sit three points clear of Larne with Dungannon Swifts a further point back.

The Oval manager lamented dropping more points and criticised his team's defending for the Larne goals.

"We've left too many points behind us in recent weeks - we take a point tonight but we have to learn from it.

"The lads were excellent up until [our] second goal. Our defending for the two Larne goals was pretty poor."