Irish League Football

Image source, Presseye

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.

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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."

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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."

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Linfield boss David Healy said that his side were "made to work" for their 2-1 win against Portadown at Windsor Park.

A quickfire double from substitute Chris McKee helped the Blues to the win, which stretched their lead at the top of the table to eight points.

And Healy was pleased they produced a markedly better second half display to claim the win after a frustrating first period.

"It was a tough game, you have to give Niall Currie] and his team credit, they made us work for it," he told BBC Sport NI.

"First half we weren’t quite at the standard and we got our joy second half and we got big goals early in the second half."

Healy was pleased with the reaction from his side following last week's disappointing loss against rivals Glentoran at the Oval.

"There’s a lot of noise made about any result or performance and when you lose a Glentoran game it’s important to respond in a positive manner and we’ve done that."

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Portadown boss Niall Currie lamented "a couple of minutes of madness" early in the second half which cost his side as they were beaten 2-1 by Linfield at Windsor Park.

Two goals soon after half-time from substitute Chris McKee helped the Blues edge the Ports, with Paul McElroy pulling a goal back late on.

And Currie was frustrated with the manner of the goals after holding their own in the first half against David Healy's side.

"A couple of minutes of madness, second half we switched off for two minutes didn’t track runners and it has hurt us today," he told BBC Sport NI.

"First half we were really solid, there was nothing in the game and other than those two minutes we were a real match for Linfield."

Despite his disappointment that they were unable to salvage a point, Currie praised the approach from his players.

"I’m frustrated but I’m not dejected in any way and I’m proud of the players. We left everything out there and we went out on our shield."

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Glentoran manager Declan Devine said his side lacked "intensity and quality" as they were held to a 2-2 draw by struggling Loughgall at Lakeview Park.

Dylan Connolly had given the Glens an early lead but Loughgall fought back and went ahead through Lewis Francis and Nathaniel Ferris.

Jordan Jenkins had a goal disallowed for offside before Charlie Lindsay rescued a point and Devine was critical of his side's display.

"Really poor from us, it’s a difficult opponent but our intensity and quality was really lacking," he told BBC Sport NI.

"We scored the goal early and then the two we conceded are really poor. We've been working really hard on defending set pieces and to concede a goal from one is really disappointing."

The draw leaves Glentoran fifth in the table and Devine was frustrated that they were unable to build upon last week's impressive victory against rivals Linfield.

"We were nowhere near our best and consistently I’ve said we need to strive to get better and be more consistent," he added.

"Good character from the players to come back and salvage a draw but we have to defend better than we did today."

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Loughgall boss Dean Smith said his side showed "tremendous character" in their 2-2 draw against Glentoran at Lakeview Park.

Glentoran were ahead after just two minutes against the league's bottom side through Dylan Connolly, but the home side were quickly on terms as Lewis Francis levelled from close range.

Nathaniel Ferris put Loughgall ahead on 22 minutes, but Charlie Lindsay did level for the Glens on 64 minutes and Smith was pleased with the draw given their recent struggles.

"It was an old-fashioned blood and thunder game and when you go 1-0 down after 90 seconds you’re thinking ‘here we go again’ but tremendous character from the boys," he told BBC Sport NI

"For long periods of the game we were every bit as good as Glentoran and on the counter attack we were really dangerous."

Smith said that there was a hint of frustration with the goals they conceded and that they could not hang on for what would have been a valuable three points.

"I'm disappointed with the goals we give away, but given the opposition we would have taken a point before the game so we’re happy."