Irish League Football

Image source, Inpho

Linfield's David Healy has been named as November's manager of the month by the Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association.

Healy joins Stephen Baxter, David Jeffrey and Ronnie McFaul as the only managers to have won the award on 20 or more occasions.

Linfield defeated Carrick Rangers, Ballymena United, Larne and Portadown, as they extended their lead at the top of the table to seven points.

The Blues' game with Dungannon Swifts on Saturday was postponed because of Storm Darragh.

"It's been a strange month, because we're not playing as well as we can but we are still top of the league," said Healy.

"The Larne win at Inver Park was the highlight of the month. We reached a high level and defended well. I want to see more performances like that."

Cliftonville striker Joe Gormley was named player of the month while Dundela forward Michael McLellan was named as November's top Championship player.

Image source, Presseye

Storm Darragh has wiped out Saturday's entire scheduled Irish Premiership programme, with all six scheduled games called off because of the adverse weather.

The match between Coleraine and Portadown, which was to start at 17:00 GMT, was the last of the games to fall victim of the high winds.

It was called off about one hour and 10 minutes before kick-off.

The game between Dungannon Swifts and leaders Linfield was called off just over an hour before the scheduled 15:00 GMT kick-off and came after Cliftonville's home game against Carrick Rangers was postponed.

The fixtures between Glentoran and Ballymena United at the Oval, Glenavon and Crusaders at Mourneview Park and Loughgall and Larne at Lakeview Park were called off on Saturday morning.

The match between the Glens and the Sky Blues was postponed following a pitch inspection at 10:30 GMT, with the games between the Lurgan Blues and the Crues and the Villagers and the Invermen following later.

Ulster Intermediate final off

It was revealed on Friday that Saturday's Ulster Club Intermediate Football Championship final between Arva and Ballinderry at Healy Park had been postponed.

Cavan's Arva and Derry side Ballinderry were due to face each other in Omagh at 17:00 GMT.

However, in a short statement on Friday evening, Ulster GAA said the match has been postponed "due to the amber weather warning".

The game has been refixed for Saturday, 14 December at the same venue with a 17:00 GMT throw-in.

An amber warning for wind has been issued for Northern Ireland from 01:00 GMT on Saturday until 21:00 on Saturday.

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An east Belfast derby between Championship side H&W Welders and Glentoran in the Irish Cup fifth round will be streamed live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport NI website.

The Welders host their near neighbours at the Blanchflower Stadium on Friday, 3 January with a 19:45 GMT kick-off.

Glentoran, who have won the Irish Cup 23 times, reached last year's semi-finals before losing out to Linfield.

The Welders will be trying to progress in the competition this time around having been knocked out at the same stage last season by Larne.

The teams met in September with Glentoran beating the Welders in a penalty shootout in the Co Antrim Shield.

There will be full coverage of Saturday's fifth-round matches (4 January) on Sportsound and online with in-game clips from selected games.

The 15 ties to be decided include another Championship-Premiership derby with Annagh United set to take on top-flight Portadown.

Remarkably, there is not one all-Premiership tie in round five of this season's Irish Cup.

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Presseye

Portadown forward Eamon Fyfe says high fitness levels, squad depth, a sense of togetherness and a never-say-die attitude are all factors in his side scoring regular last-gasp goals which have earned them crucial points this season.

The Ports occupy a lofty fourth place in the table going into Saturday's encounter with Coleraine at Ballycastle Road [17:00 GMT] thanks to eight wins and four draws from their 18 matches.

Goals deep into stoppage time have helped Niall Currie's side secure a 2-1 win over Dungannon Swifts, plus draws against Linfield, Coleraine and Carrick Rangers.

In addition, Shay McCartan popped up with an 88th-minute winner in a 1-0 victory over Larne and Ryan Mayse's strike six minutes into added time helped ensure a 2-0 win over Glentoran for the mid-Ulster team.

"The boys are all in it together and it shows on the pitch when we go to the very bitter end," said Fyfe.

"There have been very few times that we haven't shown some serious heart and desire on the field.

"It's a combination of things. We are a fit team - if you look at our stats, we're clocking up big numbers throughout the 90-minute period.

"The ones that come off the bench as well, our squad depth comes into play too."

'Digging out results'

Fyfe, who has also turned out for Coleraine and Dundela, acknowledges that his side often get stronger as the game goes on.

"There's lads that probably give 70 minutes and that's them finished but the depth in our squad is a massive factor in how we've been able to dig out results.

"I'd say most of our joy does come in the second half – we always feel if we are in and around the game around the 60-minute mark then there's a chance for us.

"That's the first stepping stone. It's kind of how we challenge as a team. We know we're fit enough and have the boys on the bench that have that quality to come on and see us through."

Image source, Press Eye

Cliftonville striker Joe Gormley has been named November's Player of the Month by the Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association.

Gormley, 35, scored seven goals in November and netted hat-tricks against Loughgall and Dungannon Swifts.

Cliftonville are second in the Irish Premiership table with three wins in their last five league matches.

"It's brilliant to win this award," said Gormley, who first won the award in 2013.

"It's nice to be back in the team and back scoring goals again.

"I always feel that I will score goals if I'm playing regularly. Thankfully, there are lots of team-mates creating chances for me."

Portadown goalkeeper Aaron McCarey was second and his team-mate Eamon Fyfe was third.

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Presseye

Carrick Rangers manager Stephen Baxter says his side will not consider themselves as major underdogs going into Saturday's Premiership game against in-form Cliftonville at Solitude.

The Reds sit second in the table on the back of a run of just one defeat in their last eight league matches.

Carrick lie 10th in the table with 18 points from 18 games, two points ahead of Glenavon and six above bottom side Loughgall.

The Taylors Avenue outfit have picked up 12 points from eight top flight outings since Baxter took over the reins in early October, their most recent result a 2-1 victory over Ballymena United last weekend.

"We don't go into the game thinking this is going to be a David vs Goliath tie. We have to go in with confidence and play the game the way we see it," said Baxter.

"We take with us what we've been working on and doing well with. We have to impose ourselves into this game.

"Cliftonville are a magnificent side right now. They pass the ball well and get into good areas of the football pitch. They've got a very experienced group of players who have been around. You just have to make sure you stay in the game."

Baxter added that his side's confidence has been restored somewhat after a difficult start to their season.

"It's been very positive. We have been very competitive in all the games we have played to date [since Baxter assumed charge].

"It's been a great response from the players. Everybody has reacted well to the changes that have been made and there is a lot of confidence in the squad now to try and win some matches.

"There are some very capable players so I think it was just a little bit of confidence and self-belief that we needed to instil in people and just reassure people that they've got that ability to deliver."

Image source, BBC Sport

Cliftonville v Carrick Rangers (Saturday, 15:00 GMT, coverage on Sportsound on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster)

Stephen Baxter has come in at Carrick and improved results, everyone has seen that while Jim Magilton and Cliftonville are on a very good run of form. They'll be disappointed that they dropped points at Larne last Sunday because they were very good. It'll be difficult game for Cliftonville but I still fancy them.

Prediction: 2-0

Dungannon Swifts v Linfield (Saturday, 15:00 GMT, coverage on Sportsound on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster)

I think this is probably the game of the day with both teams are coming off disappointing results in the cup. The Swifts have the best home record in the league and Linfield have the best away record. It's a really interesting fixture.

Prediction: 2-2

Glenavon v Crusaders (Saturday, 15:00 GMT, coverage on Sportsound on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster)

Paddy McLaughlin will be overjoyed after coming back from 3-1 down to earn a point [against Portadown last week]. That's given them a bit of confidence. because scoring goals at home has been a problem this year. It's a really tough fixture for Declan Caddell but if he wants to try and break into that top six, I think it's a game that they need to win.

Prediction 1-2

Glentoran v Ballymena United (Saturday, 15:00 GMT, coverage on Sportsound on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster)

Ballymena have been superb this season after a poor start and they should go to The Oval with no fear. Declan Devine has spoken all season about consistency. They've had big wins in the games against big teams. They've won three in a row against Linfield but it's the games after where they've struggled. Glentoran have only scored seven goals at home in the league this season and I expect that to increase on Saturday!

Prediction: 3-2

Loughgall v Larne (Saturday, 15:00 GMT, coverage on Sportsound on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster)

Larne will be happy after getting back into the game last week when maybe Cliftonville should've taken all three points. To get back into the title race, they need to be going to Loughgall and win and even though the hosts are coming off the back of a really good result last week, I still think Larne will have enough.

Prediction: 0-2

Coleraine v Portadown (Saturday, 17:00 GMT, coverage on Sportsound on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster)

If Portadown can go to Linfield and be competitive, they will go to Coleraine with a lot of confidence. Dean Shiels will be looking for a response from his players after throwing away a 3-1 lead at Glenavon. Coleraine will want to play and Portadown will want to be a bit more direct so expect a game full of goals.

Prediction: 2-2

Join Joel Taggart on Sportsound this Saturday from 14:00 GMT on BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website.

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Larne manager Nathan Rooney has hailed the "lift" that the return of midfielder Leroy Millar after a lengthy period out through injury has provided for his squad.

The former Ballymena player came off the bench to scored his side's fourth goal in a 5-0 BetMcLean Cup quarter-final win over Annagh United on Wednesday night.

Millar was a pivotal figure as Larne secured the first league titles in their history and was named Irish Premiership Player of the Year for the 2022-23 season.

He has been out of action since April with a groin injury however.

"Everything that he gives you, even before he steps on the pitch - you get the lift, you get the presence," said Rooney of his influential returning player.

"It's now getting some more work into Leroy and making sure he's up to speed over the coming weeks and hopefully we can get him to peak over the busy Christmas period."

'Building on progress made'

The recently appointed Larne boss began his tenure with a 1-1 Premiership draw with Cliftonville and faces a continuation of the club's busy schedule of fixtures across several fronts in the coming weeks - playing catch-up in terms of league matches, two more Conference League games, a League Cup semi-final and a County Antrim Shield final.

"We've added, but we've also continued to build on the great progress made as well," explained the former Bruno's Magpies manager of his approach to the job.

"We're clear, we've got loads of clarity going on with our prep and obviously we've just got to add a little bit more to our game in different ways.

"We need to keep that feelgood factor around the building as we transition slowly. The team will look slightly different over the course of the next two windows, maybe the style and the intensity, but if things aren't broken then continue with it and if they are then bring your own way."

Rooney has already been impressed by young players in his squad, such as Dylan Sloan and Matty Lusty, who grabbed a hat-trick in the victory over Annagh.

"They're embracing a new voice, different words of terminology in how the training structure looks and obviously the boys have got good careers ahead of them.

"They've got to be a sponge, take on as much information and input new things into their game.

"That's the mindset that we've got and I remind the players if they add to their game they're going to be better players in the long run."

Larne are away to Loughgall on Saturday as they seek to improve on their current ninth position and cut their 16-point deficit to league leaders Linfield, on whom they have four games in hand.

Image source, Pacemaker

Linfield boss David Healy spoke of his frustration after a "game we should have won" as the Blues' hopes of retaining the BetMcLean Cup were ended by Glentoran's 1-0 last-16 victory at Windsor Park.

James Douglas' 87th-minute winner gave the Glens their third win over their Big Two rivals this season.

"We had enough opportunities to score, to break the deadlock. We didn’t. We got done probably with a classic sucker punch at the end," said the Linfield manager.

"We didn’t do our jobs first phase, second phase. We switched off and we allowed a really poor goal against us. That’s why we’re out of the cup competition."

Despite the last defeat by the Glens, Healy is not convinced by suggestions that his players are now facing a psychological problem when facing Declan Devine's side.

"Apart from the second half where we lost here earlier in the season [4 October], we should have got something out of the game recently in the league [22 November]," he added.

"We’re down there [at the Oval] again on Boxing Day. It [the run of defeats] is something we will certainly try to address and will look to address starting on Saturday in our next game at Dungannon."

Linfield manager David Healy says Tuesday's BetMcLean Cup second round tie against big Belfast rivals Glentoran is "not about revenge or redemption".

The Blues are eight points clear at the top of the Premiership table but have lost both the league matches the 'Big Two' derby opponents have played this season to date.

The Glens ran out 3-1 winners at Windsor Park in October and then overcame David Healy's charges 1-0 at the Oval in November.

The sides will battle it out for a place in the last eight at Windsor Park, with a trip to Ballymena United the prize at stake in the quarter-finals.

"We have an opportunity in a different competition and we look forward to the challenge," said Healy.

"I don’t think you can go into any game talking about revenge and redemption. All I want to see is a fully fit squad busting a gut for each other, working as hard as we can. That’s what it’s going to take on Tuesday night.

"It may be little bits of quality that win the game for either side but if we do the hard yards we’ll see what the outcome is."

Declan Devine wants to see improvement from his Glentoran side after a 2-2 draw with Loughgall in the top flight on Saturday.

"There are a lot of things we need to improve on before we go to Windsor. We’ve got to be a lot better," said the Glens boss.

"It’s probably the hardest draw you could get in the second round of the League Cup, but if you want to win anything and be successful you have to beat the best."

Glentoran revealed on Monday night that defender Ciaran Coll had agreed to join the club on an 18-month contract, with the option to extend for another 12 months.

Coll spent six years at Derry City and will be available for selection from January.

Crusaders host Dungannon Swifts in the first of the BetMcLean Cup quarter-final ties on Tuesday evening.

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Larne boss Nathan Rooney says his team were a "little tentative" as the Premiership champions drew 1-1 with Cliftonville in his first game in charge.

Ryan Nolan headed in an 88th-minute equaliser for the Inver Park hosts after Joe Gormley fired home to give the Reds a deserved first-half lead.

Larne were in action just three days after losing 1-0 in Slovenia to Olimpija in the Uefa Conference League.

"It was a difficult game - it looked like the week caught up with us a little bit," said Rooney.

"We looked five to 10 yards off it in some periods and we were a little tentative in our approach.

"The ball wasn't sticking so we need that little period to try to get that physical side back into the players."

Cliftonville dominated for most of Sunday's encounter although Larne upped the tempo late in the game and went close before levelling.

"We had to make changes in the last 15 minutes - we tried to keep a couple on as long as possible as we were under the cosh in the first half.

"Some of our younger boys came on, the ball stuck, we got ourselves in the box on four or five occasions and probably should have nicked it.

"I'm happy in terms of the last 15 minutes, the resilience we showed but we didn't create anything in the first half so I think we need to take that forward and build from that."

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Ballymena United boss Jim Ervin said that he has "more questions than answers" from his side after their 2-1 defeat against Carrick Rangers.

Goals from Danny Gibson and Nedas Maciulaitis helped Stephen Baxter's side to victory, despite Daithi McCallion briefly levelling for the Sky Blues.

And Ervin was frustrated with his side's display, especially given that Carrick played the last 15 minutes with 10 men after Ross Glendinning was sent off.

"Our decision-making today was awful, the passing, crossing and finishing was poor we didn’t make the goalkeeper make a save," he told BBC Sport NI.

"It was really poor, we only started to play when we went a goal down and it’s frustrating.

"We said to the boys about getting the ball down to play but all we did was force things."

Ervin was disappointed that Ballymena passed up the opportunity to move up the table as their inconsistent form this term continued.

"We’re not good enough to carry players and when you are carrying players and they’re not on their game you will get punished," he added.

"We give away a good opportunity to move up the table again and we’re back asking questions."

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Carrick Rangers manager Stephen Baxter said that his side "played very well" in their 2-1 win against Ballymena United at the Showgrounds.

After a promising first half, Danny Gibson put Carrick ahead before Daithi McCallion responded for the Sky Blues.

Nedas Maciulaitis scored a fine winner for the Gers, who had to defend deep after goalkeeper Ross Glendining was sent off and Baxter was relieved they got over the line.

"We played very well here today we came with a game plan, letting them have the ball a bit and springing them on the counter attack which worked well," he told BBC Sport NI.

"Second half we got ourselves in front, we had to absorb some pressure and we are disappointed with the goal we conceded but the reply was superb," Baxter added.

"The quality of the goal, it should win any game but then you go get your goalkeeper sent off and you have to see the game out with 10 men, which we did so it’s a pleasing result."