Irish League Football

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

Image source, Inpho

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

Image source, Press Eye

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."

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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."

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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."

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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."