Crusaders battle back to win Irish Premiership title

Summary

Ballymena 1-2 Crusaders
Glenavon 0-0 Coleraine
Linfield 1-2 Cliftonville
Glentoran 1-3 Ballinamallard
Ards 3-4 Dungannon
Warrenpoint 2-3 Carrick

Live Reporting

Michael Morrow and Alvin McCaig

Plaudits despite Bannsiders title agonypublished at 17:01 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
Glenavon 0-0 Coleraine
Quote Message
The reaction from the Coleraine fans at the end was fantastic - their team gave their all but were just lacking that bit of quality to get the win. Oran Kearney deserves plaudits for transforming this team into title challengers. It was unfortunate for Coleraine today but they can be winners next Saturday in the Irish Cup final.
Scott Young, Saturday Sportsound summariser
The Mallards face the droppublished at 16:57 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
----and Carrick finish in the play-off spot
Image source, BBC Sport NI
Final day scoreboardpublished at 16:56 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
Image source, bbc
Image caption,
Irish Premiership Results
Ballinamallard United are relegated to the Championshippublished at 16:54 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
Image source, bbc
Image caption,
Ballinamallard United are relegated to the Championship
Irish Premiership Champions 2017/18 - Crusaderspublished at 16:54 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
Image source, BBC Sport
Image caption,
Crusaders win the 2017/18 Gibson Cup
Crucial equaliserpublished at 16:53 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
Ballymena Utd 1-2 Crusaders
Watch Philip Lowry's equaliser for Crusaders at Ballymena.
Media caption,
Philip Lowry gets an equaliser for Crusaders
FULL-TIMEpublished at 16:52 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
Glentoran 1-3 Ballinamallard United
Ballinamallard end their six season Premiership tenure on a high with a solid win at the Oval.
In the end, it wasn't enough to save them but they have ended the season on a five game unbeaten run, with three wins and a couple of draws.
FULL-TIMEpublished at 16:52 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
Ballymena Utd 1-2 Crusaders
That's it!
The final whistle blows at the Showgrounds and Crusaders have wrapped up their third league title in four seasons.
Champagne on ice for Cruespublished at 16:50 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
Ballymena Utd 1-2 Crusaders
The new of Coleraine's draw at Glenavon has filtered through to the Showgrounds where Crusaders only have to see out the remainder of stoppage time.
FULL-TIMEpublished at 16:50 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
Warrenpoint Town 2-3 Carrick Rangers
Ballinamallard are relegated as Carrick's fine first half performance confirms their place in next week's promotion / relegation play-off against Newry City.
GOALpublished at 16:50 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
Ards 3-4 Dungannon Swifts
Long-serving Terry Fitzpatrick scores a late penalty in his final match for Dungannon Swifts.
FULL-TIMEpublished at 16:49 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
Glenavon 0-0 Coleraine
The match is over and so is Coleraine's challenge for the Gibson Cup unless Ballymena manage to score twice in the dying seconds against Crusaders.
GOALpublished at 16:48 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
Ards 3-3 Dungannon Swifts
Rhyss Campbell levels for the visitors.
Coleraine's title hopes fading fastpublished at 16:47 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
Glenavon 0-0 Coleraine
It's looking bleak for the Bannsiders now - even if they win they have to hope Crusaders concede a late goal at Ballymena. If not the title is going to Seaview and not the Showgrounds.
GOALpublished at 16:45 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
Glentoran 1-3 Ballinamallard United
The hosts gets one back through Calum Birney.
GOALpublished at 16:43 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
Ballymena Utd 1-2 Crusaders
David Cushley fires Crusaders in front at the Showgrounds.
The substitute controls Sean Ward's pass before drilling a shot into the bottom corner to edge Crusaders closer to the league title.
GREAT SAVE!published at 16:41 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
Ballymena Utd 1-1 Crusaders
A save of the season contender from Brian Jensen to somehow turn Kevin Braniff's header around the post and prevent Crusaders from going behind again.
How crucial could that stop be?
McCauley misses outpublished at 16:40 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
Glenavon 0-0 Coleraine
A big opportunity wasted by Coleraine as Darren McCauley smashes his 20-yard free-kick straight into the Glenavon wall.
GOALpublished at 16:40 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
Warrenpoint Town 2-3 Carrick Rangers
Now then...
Danny Wallace gets another back for Warrenpoint. The dramatic season keeps on giving.
CLOSE!published at 16:40 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
Ballymena Utd 1-1 Crusaders
Gavin Whyte stands up a cross from the right but Jordan Owens's header doesn't have the power to beat Glendinning.