Irish League Football

Image source, Inpho

After Larne and Coleraine drew 1-1 at Inver Park, BBC Sport NI got the views of Larne boss Gary Haveron and Coleraine manager Dean Shiels on the game.

Haveron on the frustration with a draw:

"It's two points dropped for us. The boys were so good for long spells. Some of the football we played in the first half, I felt we controlled the game for long periods. Coleraine came into the second half and had a spell where they put us under a bit of pressure, but there was only one team that looked like it was winning it, and I'm disappointed for the boys not to have come away with what they deserve, but I'm proud of the work they put in."

Shiels on the game and the Larne goal:

"We are disappointed. Feeling disappointed with a draw at Larne says a lot about momentum and the good feeling about where we are at in this moment. I felt we had control in large spells. It's a tough place to come, and it's a point gained, and we move on. The goal is disappointing; he [Andy Ryan] looks offside. The referee let the game flow, but those two points mean a lot and could cost you. It's fine margins."

On the race for the top six:

"It's a massive week for where we want to go, and if it's not this year, it will definitely be next year. You can see the mentality shift in the last few weeks we've played really well. We look like a team, we look together, we look strong, and we want to finish the season as strong as we can. We improved the squad in January, and we will probably see the best of them next season. For now, it's about finishing as high as we can."

Image source, Inpho

After Portadown and Dungannon Swifts played out a 1-1 draw at Shamrock Park, BBC Sport NI caught up with Ports boss Niall Currie and Swifts manager Rodney McAree.

Currie on his side coming from behind to get a point:

"I'm proud of them, to come through that, playing half an hour with 10 men against a side as good as Dungannon and to get a point is credit to the players and we caused them problems even with a man less. That is what managers want from their players desire and enthusiasm."

On Dougie Wilson's red card:

"I've got to be very careful. The second incident is right beside me and from what I saw, it is a very harsh one. It's not worth me getting fined or suspended over."

McAree on the result which guarantees a top six finish:

"It is unbelievable for us that we have managed to stay where we have stayed for the majority of the season. It was hard work we could have made it easier for ourselves, the pitch wasn't easy to play on, but we came here to work hard and at least get a point and we have."

On what has helped them secure a top six finish:

"Good players, we have a talented bunch of boys, and we have a great togetherness, they buy in to what we are trying to do, we have no individuals, everyone is working hard to make us better as a team. We haven't had a lot of injuries which has also helped, we have had that consistency, and it gives us an opportunity to build momentum which we have, and it is credit to the players. We still have three ways of getting into Europe so we'll see, the disappointing thing today is we have dropped two points."

Image source, Inpho

After Linfield's 2-0 win over Glenavon at Windsor Park on Saturday, BBC Sport NI got the views of both managers.

A double from Joel Cooper, with the second coming from the penalty spot, secured the win which moves the Blues closer to lifting the Gibson Cup.

Linfield boss David Healy on the win:

"We're nearly there [winning the league], it was a tough game today. I didn't get it right in terms of selection and shape, we changed it at half-time and second half we got better, and we were comfortable winners."

On the prospect of winning the league on Tuesday if Glentoran lose against Larne:

"I'm not going to give you the answer that managers give you that we don't know where we are in the table, we know our main rivals are playing on Tuesday, of course I'll be keeping a close eye on it, and we'll see what happens after that and on Saturday."

Glenavon manager Paddy McLaughlin on the defeat:

"I'm bitterly disappointed, some of the football we were playing in the first half was incredible, we created numerous opportunities but just our final pass, if we got that right, we could have scored one or two.

"An individual error for the first goal and comical circumstances for the second, no one inside the ground knows what's going on, it's amateur league refereeing and that kills the game, you don't come back when Linfield go 2-0 up at home."

Image source, Carrick Rangers

Carrick Rangers manager Stephen Baxter says defender Cameron Stewart should make a full recovery after suffering a brain aneurysm earlier this week.

The club confirmed in a statement on Friday that the 28-year-old had "successful surgery" this week and is recovering in hospital.

"I spoke with him yesterday and he's in good form," Baxter told BBC Sport NI after his side's goalless draw with Glentoran.

"It's always a real shock when you hear of a young man getting a bleed on the brain, and having to operate to sort all of that out. Thankfully the surgeons were able to do all of that.

"They have said that he's a very healthy young man and will make a full recovery from all this so we're confident - providing there are no more haemorrhages - that things will be okay."

"We're confident he will be but they're monitoring him now very closely for the next seven days I believe before he'll be released and let's hope that he will be absolutely fine."

Stewart joined Carrick from Glentoran in 2022 after spells with Linfield, Ards and Glenavon.

Image source, BBC Sport

Women's Premiership champions Cliftonville will begin the defence of their league title against Linfield at Solitude on Friday 9 May.

Glentoran, who finished second last season, start their league campaign with an away trip to the Bluebell Stadium to face Lisburn Ladies.

Lisburn Rangers kick off their second season in the top-flight with a home game against Larne at Crewe Park, whilst Crusaders will take on Derry City at Seaview.

This year sees the introduction of a new format in the Women's Premiership, as the eight teams will play each other home and away over 14 rounds of fixtures before the league splits into two sections for three more games.

The Reds, who completed an 'invincible' league campaign last year as well as winning the League Cup and Irish Cup will face Glentoran at home on 23 May and away at the Blanchflower Stadium on 25 July.

Ahead of the return of the Women's Premiership, the newly introduced group stage of the League Cup begins on 11 April.

Each Women's Premiership team will play three group games, with the winners of the two groups earning their place in the final.

Holders Cliftonville have been drawn in Group A alongside Derry City, Linfield and Lisburn Ladies.

Group B consists of last season's finalists Lisburn Rangers alongside Glentoran, Crusaders and Larne.

Women's Premiership opening fixtures

All games on Friday 9 May with a 19:45 BST kick-off unless stated otherwise.

Cliftonville v Linfield - Solitude

Crusaders v Derry City (20:00 BST) - Seaview

Lisburn Ladies v Glentoran - Bluebell Stadium

Lisburn Rangers v Larne - Crewe Park

Find the full fixture list here, external.

Image source, Inpho

Dungannon Swifts boss Rodney McAree said that he was "over the moon" with their 2-0 victory against Cliftonville at Solitude.

After the Reds dominated the first half, second half goals from James Knowles and John McGovern helped the Swifts get back to winning ways in the league.

And McAree was delighted with his side's second half display to take home the three points that could prove vital in their quest to secure a top six place.

"I'm over the moon, we got off to a poor start, Cliftonville were outstanding first half and we struggled to get to grips with their shape and movement," he told BBC Sport NI.

"We were more compact in the second half, and we used the ball better. We get a free-kick on the edge of the box and Knowles scored and then it's a great delivery from Leo Alves and John McGovern rises to glance it in.

"We didn't show any nerves, and we restricted Cliftonville to very little and kept a clean sheet."

The Swifts boss praised goalkeeper Alex Henderson, who was making his first start of the season after Declan Dunne's red card at the weekend.

"Alex hasn't played any football really, he is a very capable goalkeeper, and he made three one-on-one saves in the first half, his handling was good, and he grew in confidence, and we're delighted for him."

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Glenavon assistant manager Colin Coates said that he was pleased with how his side played for the "majority" of their 3-3 draw with Glentoran.

Goals from Michael O'Connor and Harry Lynch had the Lurgan Blues 2-0 ahead at the interval at the Oval, before Glentoran fought back to lead 3-2.

Paul McGovern netted an equaliser for the away side and Coates admitted he was relieved they salvaged a point.

"We're disappointed to throw away the lead, but with the way the game transpired it was good to get away with the point," he told BBC Sport NI.

"It was a topsy-turvy game, and I was pleased with how we played for the majority of the game."

Coates praised his side's first half display as well as their resilience to rescue a draw in the second half that Glentoran dominated.

"First half was as good as we have played, we moved the ball really well and we went 2-0 up and could have scored another," Coates continued.

"Second half, we knew Glentoran would come out and lift the tempo, we probably gave them a soft first goal which gave them more of a lift and then we were on the backfoot and were wobbling.

"Then they got level and ahead and we were thinking we could go four or five down but fair play to the players they dug in and we got the goal and looked like we could have gone on and won it."

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Glentoran assistant manager Tim McCann said that his side have "mixed emotions" after their entertaining 3-3 draw against Glenavon.

The Lurgan Blues raced into a 2-0 lead at the break at the Oval, before Glentoran fought back, with half-time substitute Jordan Jenkins scoring twice after Joe Thomson had pulled a goal back.

And whilst pleased with the character shown to fight back to lead, McCann was disappointed they couldn't hold on for victory.

"Where do you start? It's mixed emotions that we went ahead and couldn't get the win, the game management needs to be better, and we need to switch on," he told BBC Sport NI.

"It was a great game, Glenavon were fantastic, they came here with a gameplan and played us off the pitch in the first half.

"It was the old football adage a game of two halves, they won the first half, and we won the second."

McCann was critical of the Glens' first half display but praised Jenkins for his contribution after his introduction.

"The first half performance was totally unacceptable, and the players have been told that in no uncertain terms," he added.

"We didn't turn up, there was no aggression and no fight. We spoke to them at half-time and you probably saw the real Glentoran in the second half, we scored three quick goals and unfortunately, we couldn't finish it off.

"JJ comes on and does what he does best, he pulled us through, and it was great to get him on at half-time with the energy he had."