Irish League Football

Image source, Inpho

Carrick Rangers boss Stephen Baxter said his side's Irish Premiership promotion/relegation play-off against Annagh United will be a "very tough task".

The first leg of the play-off will take place on Tuesday at Tandragee Park with the second leg at Taylors Avenue on Friday.

Annagh finished second in the Championship after winning their last eight games in a row and Baxter knows they come into the game as the form side.

"Saturday was their eighth win on the trot and that is some going in the Championship," he told BBC Sport NI.

"We've been able to watch all three of the teams challenging at the top of the division over the last couple of months so we're certainly very aware of how they play."

"They're very well coached and they play to their strengths. They have capable players who have played in the Irish Premiership, it is going to be a very tough task for us, but we need to be up to that challenge."

Baxter rested a number of key players as Carrick suffered a 4-0 defeat against Glenavon in their final league game on Saturday in order to have them in prime condition for the play-off.

"We need to have all the players fully fit and ready to play which I think they are, and we need to get our heads down over two legs and try win this game," he added.

"If your best is good enough you will win and get through."

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Former Glenavon boss Gary Hamilton has been appointed as the new manager of Premier Intermediate side Ballymacash Rangers.

Hamilton has been out of management since he was sacked by the Lurgan Blues in September 2023 after almost 12 years in charge of the Irish Premiership club.

The former Northern Ireland international took over as player-manager in December 201, steering them off the bottom of the table and helping them avoid relegation during his first season in charge.

He THEN led the Mid-Ulster club to two Irish Cup successes in 2014 and 2016, four third-place finishes, and the European football that came with that.

Lisburn-based club Ballymacash finished fifth in the third tier this season.

Image source, Press Eye

Larne boss Gary Haveron said that the post-match scenes in their goalless draw with Glentoran were "really unsavoury".

After the full-time whistle, a mass brawl broke out on the pitch at Inver Park, with punches thrown.

Aaron Donnelly and Conor McKendry were sent off for the Inver outfit whilst Christie Pattison and Fuad Sule were dismissed for the Glens.

And Haveron was disappointed that those scenes will overshadow the result which ensured that Larne finished second and secured automatic European qualification.

"Passions were running really high, sometimes they boil over and it was really unsavoury," he told BBC Sport NI.

"It is not something you want to see at games. We pride ourselves on being a family club, there are a lot of kids in the stand and that is not how you end the game of football, but when someone comes on and attacks one of your teammates it is only natural you are going to react to it and that Glentoran would react to that."

"It's not something we want to be associated with, and it is disappointing that that is what the talking points will be and not the grit and determination to get over the line against a good Glentoran side that threw the kitchen sink at us but couldn't break us."

Haveron said that having watched the brawl back he hopes that the main perpetrators will be dealt with accordingly.

"You have to say to the boys to step back because it drags on and on but there was an antagonist," he added.

"People will get punished and rightfully so, I hope the antagonist is punished the most."

Glentoran boss Declan Devine said that he would be "more frustrated if my players lay down and took punches" following ugly scenes after his side's goalless draw with Larne.

After the full-time whistle, with the result having secured Larne second place and automatic European qualification, a mass brawl broke out on the pitch at Inver Park, with punches thrown.

Christie Pattison and Fuad Sule were sent off for the Glens whilst Aaron Donnelly and Conor McKendry were dismissed for Larne.

Whilst admitting he "didn't see much of it" and condemning that violence was used, Devine defended his players.

"My players stood up for each other on and off the pitch. I'd be more frustrated if my players lay down and took punches," he told BBC Sport NI.

"I'm extremely proud of the players, I want fight and commitment, maybe not to the level after the game, but it takes two to tango.

"There are certain players in our changing room who are frustrated with certain members of the Larne team instigating fights."

Devine says he intends to watch the post-match scenes back to get a "clearer picture" of what happened.

"There were a lot of handbags. Tensions were really high and there was a big prize at stake," he added.

"Of course, you shouldn't lift your hands on a football pitch in the 90 minutes and there were a few digs thrown in the 18-yard box in the second half, but no room for violent actions at all during and after the game."

The Glens boss will now have to pick his players up for the European play-offs.

"My only focus now is on the frustration that we didn't win this game. We didn't lose second place here today we lost it last week at Dungannon and before that at Crusaders when we dropped points."

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Larne will be unable to host European matches at Inver Park next season should they qualify for the Uefa Conference League after their home ground failed a Fifa Pro Standard pitch test.

The two-time Irish Premiership champions, who this season lost their crown to Linfield, have nominated the Ballymena Showgrounds as their potential home venue.

Larne have said improvements to the pitch at Inver Park are an "important component" of their application for funding from the Northern Ireland Football Fund.

"As the playing surface at Inver Park comes to the end of its natural lifespan for European competition, we have been unsuccessful in the latest Fifa Pro Standard pitch test," said a club statement.

"An upgrade of the artificial surface at Inver Park is an important component of our recent application to the Northern Ireland Football Fund, alongside a much-needed rebuild of our stadium's main stand."

Larne reached the league phase of the Conference League this season and used Linfield's Windsor Park for home matches against Shamrock Rovers, St Gallen and Gent.

They were, however, able to play qualifying rounds at Inver Park, including a famous victory over Lincoln Red Imps.

Two seasons ago, issues with the playing surface at their home ground in east Antrim saw the Inver Reds play their European games at Cliftonville's Solitude ground.

Larne said there was a "single issue" that prevented them staging games in 2023-24 that was rectified for this season.

With the pitch now in its eighth year, a similar fix "was not a possibility" this time around.

Gary Haveron's side are second in the Irish Premiership going into the final day of the season on Saturday and will qualify for Europe should they avoid defeat at home to Glentoran in a game to be streamed live on the BBC iPlayer and website.

Even if they lose out on second place to the Glens, Larne could still make it into the Conference League qualifying rounds through the Irish Premiership European play-off.

Dungannon Swifts have also had to put forward an alternative venue, listing Solitude rather than Stangmore Park.

Rodney McAree's side would qualify for Europe if they win the Irish Cup final against Cliftonville on 3 May or come through the play-off.

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Larne boss Gary Haveron said his side are "preparing to face the best version of Glentoran" during Saturday's final round of Irish Premiership fixtures.

Haveron's side occupy second place in the table and know a draw against third-place Glentoran at Inver Park will be enough to seal the runners-up spot and automatic European qualification.

Glentoran can still snatch second and avoid the play-offs with a win and Haveron believes his side must treat the game like a cup final.

"That has to be the mentality going into it, it's a winner takes all game, yes we can get a draw, but we never set the team up to draw, and Saturday will not be any different," he told BBC Sport NI.

"We know what we're going to face with the Glens, they're a quality side and we're preparing for the best version of Glentoran to come to Inver Park."

The Larne boss admitted it has been a "long, long season" due to the club's participation in the league phase of the Uefa Conference League that left them playing catch-up in the Irish Premiership.

However, he believes clinching the runners-up spot and getting back into Europe without having to go through the play-offs would be the perfect way to round off a historic season.

"Given the season we have had, it would be nice to get it [European qualification] wrapped up on Saturday. It has been incredibly tough at times and there has been a lot of learning," he added.

"The European campaign, I wouldn't have changed for the world, it was unbelievable to be a part of. We want to create more memories and get back into Europe.

"It's very much still in our hands; we have clawed ourselves back to second and that is where we aim to stay."

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David Healy, Jim Magilton and Rodney McAree lead the nominations for Manager of the Year at the annual Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association awards.

Healy guided Linfield to the Irish Premiership title and the Blues made history by becoming the first team to secure the trophy before the split.

Magilton's Cliftonville won the BetMcLean Cup in March and will look to win a cup double when the Reds face Dungannon Swifts in the Irish Cup final on 3 May.

On top of the Irish Cup decider, Dungannon have had a superb campaign under McAree and have broken into the top six in the Irish Premiership, and have also won the Mid-Ulster Cup this season.

The Swifts also have a nominee in Irish Premiership Player of the Year through midfielder Gael Bigirimana, while Linfield's Joel Cooper and Cliftonville's Joe Gormley are also up for the award.

The same three clubs are represented in Young Player of the Year through Dungannon forward John McGovern, while Cliftonville's Shea Kearney and Linfield's title-winning defender Matthew Orr have also been nominated.

After helping Bangor to promotion, Ben Arthurs is nominated for Championship player of the Year, along with Michael McLellan, the league's top scorer and Limavady United midfielder Stephen Lowry.

Northern Ireland legends Steven Davis and Stuart Dallas will be inducted into the Dr Malcolm Brodie Hall of Fame at the awards on Sunday, 4 May.

Liverpool defender Conor Bradley has been named International Player of the Year, while Northern Ireland winger Danielle Maxwell was named Women's Premiership Player of the Year after helping Cliftonville to an unbeaten campaign.

Manager of the Year: David Healy (Linfield), Jim Magilton (Cliftonville), Rodney McAree (Dungannon Swifts)

Player of the Year: Gael Bigirimana (Dungannon Swifts), Joel Cooper (Linfield), Joe Gormley (Cliftonville)

NIFWA Young Player of the Year: Shea Kearney (Cliftonville), John McGovern (Dungannon Swifts), Matthew Orr (Linfield)

NIFWA Championship Player of the Year: Ben Arthurs (Bangor), Stephen Lowry (Limavady United), Michael McLellan (H&W Welders)

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Crusaders made it two wins from two in the group stage of the Women's League Cup with a big 7-1 victory against Larne at Inver Park.

Jessica McGuinness gave the Crues an early lead on two minutes.

New signings Michelle McDaid opened her account for the north Belfast side by adding a second four minutes later.

In a lively opening to the game, Ella Parker pulled one back for Larne on nine minutes.

Crusaders re-established their two-goal cushion after Darcie McNeil scored a penalty before the break.

Maureen Quinn then netted a fourth for the Crues in the second half.

McNeill got her second and Crusaders' fifth goal again from the penalty spot on 77 minutes.

Substitute Jessica Rea and McDaid scored late to round off the scoring for Jonny Tuffey's side.