With the pre-split in the Premiership, Championship and Premier Intermediate League divisions of the Irish League winding down, the drama that has proved such a valuable selling point of Northern Ireland club football has again been reprised with five games of the split to go.
In the Premiership, a first-time title winner could be upon us, while what had appeared a clear-cut relegation battle for much of the season so far is not quite that heading into April. The Gibson Cup is still to be truly sealed, plus there are tantalising prospects and pressure situations at both the top and bottom ends.
The same is true within the Championship, where a nerve-shredding play-off situation could soon be on the cards, while at the basement it is still a four-club race to determine who will face a tricky, as-yet-unidentified runner-up in the Premier Intermediate League. There are some noteworthy resurgences to speak of, too, as the business end lies nigh.
Before the big questions that are still to be answered are conclusively closed, it is worth looking back at what takeaways can already be made. Lots of intriguing talking points abound as ever.
1. Smart strategy paves the way for Larne’s title push
The rise of Larne from the bottom half of the Championship to a status as favourites for the Irish League title going into the split has been meteoric.
In the six years since Kenny Bruce first invested in his home town Inver Reds, a lot has changed on and off the pitch around the club.
Their Inver Park home is a sleek, modern, fan-friendly venue, and instantly recognisable with a swift glance across from the Harbour Highway. Regularly attracting attendances of 2,000 and more – equivalent to 10% of the town’s population – on matchdays, the east Antrim stadium is a heartbeat of the area and a community bastion.
A totally professional full-time model has enabled them to consistently challenge among the division’s pacesetters on the pitch, while the recent unveiling of the new Academy For Sport training complex ensures they set a high bar in this department too.
It is a project that has cost money. Millions of pounds, in fact, and that may tempt one into believing money has been the sole factor.
The investment has helped, no doubt about that, but crucially a clear strategy and culture has maximised the reward.
Getting the locals onside is an all-important aim of every football club in the Irish League, and this is not a department Larne are falling short in.
Add that to shrewd transfer business – the full-time model has allowed them to tap more into markets abroad, with Scottish imports such as goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson, defender Shaun Want and striker Andy Ryan each valuable parts of the playing operation – as well as a smart loan system and enticing Academy setup, and you have an insight into why Tiernan Lynch’s Invermen are pulling their weight on the pitch.
A resolute spine comprising Ferguson, Want, former Cliftonville man Aaron Donnelly, the experienced Albert Watson and cross-water pedigree of Cian Bolger, with the tempo-setting and tenacious Fuad Sule shielding in front and the all-action duo of Tomás Cosgrove and Micheál Glynn outside, has set defensive benchmarks this campaign.
With Ryan, Glynn, Joe Thomson and Thomas Maguire linking up in the winter, none of those four have taken long to gel – and that’s not even mentioning star men like Lee Bonis and Leroy Millar at the top end.
Lynch deserves credit for tweaks made, while chairman Gareth Clements and the Larne hierarchy have earned their dues for identifying where there were holes before and finding solutions to plug them.
And having already completed a Co Antrim Shield three-peat, a treble including the league and Irish Cup could yet happen.
2. Cliftonville continue to fly the part-time flag
Despite the admission of manager Paddy McLaughlin that Cliftonville’s primary focus is now on that all-important second-place spot, guaranteeing automatic Europa Conference League qualification via the league, it is still commendable that the north Belfast club continue to mix it so capably with the full-timers.
Last season, they pushed Linfield all the way in a pulsating Gibson Cup pursuit, taking them right down to the wire with David Healy’s Blues defending their Irish League crown by one point.
Cliftonville are that same minuscule margin off their capital rivals once again – the Windsor Park pride, who recently claimed silverware in the shape and form of the BetMcLean Cup, sit in second-place presently and still want to keep the pressure ramped on Larne above them – and are looking at a strong end to the campaign that would save them the extreme tension of a European play-off.
Of course, Larne winning the Irish Cup – that’s assuming the likely event that they finish as one of the Premiership’s top two – makes the third-position the Solitude club currently reside in an automatic European spot as well.
One doubts, though, that the manager would want to leave anything to chance.
There can be little debate by now that former Institute chief McLaughlin ranks among the very best this league has to offer in terms of head coaches – and his decision to expand the nights the players train on from two to three a week has proved valuable in order for Ireland’s oldest football club to retain their place.
He has said that he would support the move if Cliftonville are to become a full-time outfit in the not-too-distant future, but for working with the resources he has at his disposal, he is getting a fine tune out of them.
The recruit of star marksman Ronan Hale, who arrived in the capital as Aaron Donnelly went the other way to Larne, has proved inspired business as the 24-year-old leads the side’s scoring charts on 25.
The dynamism of his older brother Rory from midfield, veteran campaigning of professional goal-getter Joe Gormley, the focal-point style of Ryan Curran and youthful exuberance of teenage winger Sean Moore have also contributed to a fluid and lively frontline.
While they are an outside bet on the title – not mathematically out of the chase but, with a seven-point margin and inferior goal difference to the Inver Reds, it is admittedly highly unlikely – they are fearless in the face of an evolving climate.
Perhaps the main disappointment from a Reds supporter’s point of view would be the lack of a trophy to show for this season.
While they won the BetMcLean Cup in dramatic fashion a year ago, Coleraine got their own back from a 4-3 extra-time reverse when they eliminated their red-shirted foes on penalties in the semi-finals. Linfield bested them by the same metric in the Co Antrim Shield last-eight, while relegation-threatened Dungannon Swifts caused a seismic shock in the Irish Cup quarter-finals as they extended the north Belfast club’s 44-year drought in the competition with a 1-2 away victory at Solitude.
And speaking of Coleraine, similar plaudits must be afforded to Oran Kearney and his Bannsiders camp. Although they had the bitter taste of agony again to salivate in the BetMcLean Cup decider – it was Linfield to break their hearts this time around thanks to Joel Cooper and Chris Shields goals – a lengthy unbeaten run and a bright return from some stylistic tweaks on the pitch inspire optimism that they can keep up the fight.
They, too, show part-time clubs can still hold out. A 20-point margin between top and bottom-half, however, must be an obvious point of concern to address.
3. Portadown’s spirit is a credit to themselves
It had, up until recent weeks, appeared a foregone conclusion that Portadown would be relegated.
But some positive results have fuelled belief among supporters that perhaps the greatest of great escapes could be on the cards.
Appointed as Paul Doolin’s successor with one point on the board following a dreadful start, Niall Currie returned to the hotseat after a successful spell with east Belfast outfit Dundela, where he guided them from rock-bottom in the second-flight to the promotion conversation in the space of only 12 months.
His second stint with the Ports, the local favourite – who is a naturally upbeat character, however bleak the four-time Premiership champions’ situation has looked – has sought to do what he didn’t achieve the first time around and keep them up. There have been highs and lows, perhaps principal among the latter being a controversial player eligibility issue surrounding attacker Alberto Baldé resulting in the points being ceded despite an exceptionally precious victory at relegation rivals Newry City, but to Currie’s credit he has made his stamp and now results are coming.
A Mid-Ulster Derby win over Glenavon at Shamrock Park was followed up by success over Dungannon Swifts by the same 3-1 scoreline. While a reverse to Carrick Rangers was a blot in their copybook, they swiftly atoned by beating Newry with a stunning late turnaround – they were 3-2 down on 90 minutes, but Josh Archer (90+2’) and Benny Igiehon (90+4’) hit the mark to seal a famous night at The Showgrounds.
A 2-2 draw with Europe-chasing Crusaders means that, at the time of writing, they have picked up 10 of the last 15 points available. They gained just six in the 27 outings prior.
Could it be too little, too late? Maybe, but being seven points from safety with six to go, they can’t definitively be condemned yet.
Irrespective, they aren’t accepting their place – and that must bring pride to all of a Portadown persuasion.
Two new mid-season signings in Paul McElroy and Alan O’Sullivan were the scorers against the Crues, while separately former Ballymena man McElroy delivered a hat-trick against Dungannon and ex-Warrenpoint Town feature O’Sullivan chipped in a brace versus Glenavon.
Currie has rebuilt much of the squad in January, with former Duns figureheads Igiehon, Chris Rodgers, Lee Chapman and Eoghan McCawl joining their former manager alongside the likes of Czech Manchester United loanee shot-stopper Ondřej Mastný and line-leader Cathair Friel. The players are gelling within the system and fighting for each other, fighting for their manager and the badge, and that is a credit to their mentality.
With some pleasing performances prior to this most recent five-game run, it has felt like such a streak was building up.
The question, of course, is if they can keep the fight going into the post-split – and at that, the desire to win must be matched by consistently seeing the three points out. But that this is even the conversation we are having is testament to what Currie his instilled in the outfit.
4. The potential for a final Ultimatum
Above the Ports are two teams who are neck-and-neck. It is all but certain that of the Co Armagh club, Dungannon Swifts and Newry City, one will stay up outright, one will finish in the play-off and one will go down automatically.
Newry, the Premiership’s promoted side this season, are currently in the safety of 10th. But that is very much ‘safety’ in inverted commas.
Merely goal difference splits Darren Mullen’s City and Dean Shiels’ Swifts, with both teams tied on 23 points going into their last five. It was the latter who left Currie disappointed as, even with Portadown picking up a very creditable point against Crusaders, they mounted an astonishing late comeback away to the Seaview club’s north Belfast rivals Cliftonville to extend their breathing space from the bottom to seven points. Padraig Lynch and Joe Moore hit the mark as the Tyrone visitors stole a 1-2 scalp, repeating the feat they also achieved at Solitude a fortnight prior in the Irish Cup.
Border team Newry enjoyed a strong first half, however just five points picked up since the middle of December has put the onus on the Mourne men to enjoy a strong post-split.
Indeed, they were not far off raking in a shock against Cliftonville themselves when they entertained the Reds last Saturday, but impressive 18-year-old Donal Scullion’s late leveller was not to translate into any points when Ryan Curran struck an even later winner. That 1-2 reverse – a match where boss Mullen was also sent off – showed spirit and steel, but they really need points.
If they do end up in the play-off position, their most likely opponent will be from just a couple of miles up the road.
Aspiring for an immediate bounce-back to the top-tier, it was Warrenpoint Town’s void that Newry filled when they achieved promotion.
The ‘Point appear, on paper, to be the favourites to secure second-place in the Championship and the right of a play-off. Dungannon and Newry face off at Stangmore Park on the final day in what could truly be a winner-takes-all tie.
Regardless of the result, a ‘Mourne Ultimatum’ play-off between Warrenpoint – who could be a poisoned chalice – and Newry would be talked about in South Down for many, many years.
Barry Gray has been trusted to get his team back to the big time quickly, and with the statement addition of last season’s Irish Cup Final goal hero Johnny McMurray in the winter window, they would be no pushover.
You can guarantee the players would relish it. Perhaps less so the supporters on each side of the divide.
5. Small in stature, but destined for the top table?
Championship leaders Loughgall are six points clear of Warrenpoint, and the favourites to secure automatic promotion.
A stable second-tier side since their most recent relegation from the top-flight in 2007, they have had their eyes fixed on a return for the past few years with third-position finishes in both 2020 and 2022.
Now, Dean Smith’s charges have surged into pole, and despite the departure of star man Nedas Mačiulaitis to Carrick Rangers in January, they have held their nerve and found a semblance of consistency in a regularly oscillating league.
Their nickname, fittingly, is the Villagers, given their location inside a small Co Armagh village near the city of Armagh itself.
That village’s population, per the 2011 Census, is 282. If they gain promotion, it would make the settlement the smallest place per the number of inhabitants to have a top-tier football club throughout Europe. It truly makes the blue-shirted club a heartbeat of the location it represents.
With German shot-stopper Berraat Turker way out in front as the division’s shut-out king, and a variable level of attacking impetus posed by the likes of Mark Patton, Robbie Norton, Benji Magee, Aaron Duke and Nathaniel Ferris in addition to the seven-goal Ben Murdock from defence, Smith has succeeded in fine-tuning all his resources, making them a formidable unit on both sides of the ball. Their recent form has been sublime, sustaining only one league defeat since January’s end as the void of Mačiulaitis was filled.
Some cup results imply that they could dine at the top table, too. They knocked Glenavon out of both the League Cup and Mid-Ulster Cup this season, and led at half time away to Coleraine in the Irish Cup fifth round – although that would eventually culminate in a 3-1 reverse.
Loughgall find their fate firmly within their own grasp as top billing for the split is all but sealed.
It is all about keeping their cool now.
6. A tale of two halves
A top-half place may have eluded them by the skin of their teeth, but the turn in fortune that Harland and Wolff Welders have experienced since the turn of the year has been nothing short of outstanding.
By the time 2023 rolled around, the Welders were fighting a battle against the drop. Now, as March transitions to April, they have missed out on a top-six billing for the split by just a single point as their form turned for the better.
Add an Irish Cup quarter-final place – navigating trips to Premiership outfits Newry City and Glenavon to get there – where it took Irish League leaders Larne until second-half added time to break them down, and you have a picture painted of a proud unit on a good path.
Paul Kee deserves acclaim for the work he has put in. The former Institute and Omagh Town manager replaced Glentoran icon Gary Smyth as boss of the east Belfast institution, delivering a threatening attacking force in due time that consists of the likes of Michael McLellan, Jonny Frazer and Matthew Ferguson.
With McLellan and Ferguson having contributed 34 strikes between them, and the energy and industry of Frazer there to harry opponents in waves, they have shaped up to be as good as any in the Championship since December’s tail end.
The winter recruit of the impressive Canadian goalkeeper Michael Argyrides on loan from Glentoran has further solidified a rear-guard containing centre backs Kyle Owens – the younger brother of Crusaders record goalscorer Jordan Owens – and Callum Byers, making it a well-balanced unit that has been cultivated by Kee at Blanchflower Park.
The means are there to go on to even bigger things come the turn of next term.
7. Tension ramped at the bottom
At the conclusion of the 33 pre-split rounds in the Championship, the race to avoid the relegation play-off is of particularly high drama.
Dergview occupy the dreaded 11th position ahead of the final five matches with a slightly inferior goal difference to promoted Newington directly above them, while Derry/Londonderry outfit Institute are only one point better off in ninth.
Consider also that Knockbreda, the division’s basement team, still have two games in hand – they entertain Dundela at Breda Park home this Saturday before Ballinamallard United make the long trip from Co Fermanagh next Tuesday – and it could feasibly be a toss-up scenario come the final day.
‘Stute, who were a Premiership club as recently as 2020, would be desperate to avoid a drop to Intermediate football merely three years on, while The ‘Ton – in their first-ever campaign as a Senior status club – would surely consider survival as an excellent season achievement.
Castlederg troopers Dergview, one of just two Co Tyrone representatives in the Irish League alongside Dungannon Swifts, have counted notably on the 15-goal exploits of Mikhail Kennedy to prop themselves up, and boss Tommy Canning would also appreciate that staying up in the wake of a slew of top assets moving on last summer represents a solid return.
It is a similar situation for east Belfast boys ‘Breda, who have had Anto Burns to light their fire when it comes to hitting the target. Bearing in mind they had the three points reversed due to a player registration mistake in their 0-2 victory at Newington – the 2021 Steel and Sons champions profiting from that in their own bid – this could yet prove a distinguisher.
What is for certain, though, is that nothing is signed and sealed. It is a spell for opportunity and capitalisation.
The survivalists among this quartet will be the ones who make the most of it when their rivals fall.
8. The surge back of a once-fallen force
17 wins in 19 league games. The Steel and Sons Cup. A televised Irish Cup sixth-round date with Crusaders.
Just a few of the highlights of what has hitherto been a season of dreams for Bangor in the Premier Intermediate League.
Seven years removed from their drop-out of the then-named Championship 1, the Seasiders are top of the third-tier by eight points and with games in hand on those around them. With a later start to the split in the PIL than in the top two flights, top spot has already been sealed in that final-five metric for Lee Feeney’s men – but they are not champions yet.
After suffering play-off agony at the hands of Knockbreda last term, nothing has been left to chance. It has been a surge to the summit with only five points dropped in total, with striker supremos Ben Arthurs and Adam Neale bagging 30 in the league between them and a record-breaking 23 clean sheets upheld across all competitions by the seaside.
Optimism has been fuelled that automatic promotion is in the pipeline – however, this is the Irish League, and resilience must be upheld to the last.
9. Students and new boys keen to teach a lesson
The two sides closest to Bangor are the two new sides to the division for this campaign.
Split by only one point in the standings, Queen’s University and Ballymacash Rangers – the latter having a game in hand on the former – are holding their own in the fight at the top end, still harbouring hopes of an automatic promotion place but with the play-off also decisively on the line.
In a recent clash of the clubs, it was promoted west Lisburn outfit The ‘Cash who came out on top, defeating their south Belfast foes on their own patch by a 0-3 scoreline. It could be important come the end of the season and, given the two will meet once more in the post-split, there will be much riding on that too.
The Premier Intermediate was an 11-team division last year, and it has been restored to 12 as with the top two flights due to the lack of any relegation and Mid-Ulster Intermediate A champions Ballymacash’s promotion, which they earned by virtue of defeating St James’ Swifts in the final fourth-tier play-off.
Lee Forsythe has inspired the club, who bear a distinctive skull and crossbones on their crest, to a strong first taste of Irish League football.
Meanwhile, James Lavery’s Queen’s – relegated as the Championship’s last-placed team last season – visit Bangor in their last pre-split match and know a win is all but essential to keep any hopes of first alive.
It promises to be a tantalising endeavour as the Students, nicknamed after the academic institution they represent, aim to prove they are still top of the class.
10. Clear signs of a White resurgence in Ballyskeagh
After a start to the season that had some, perhaps expected, turbulence in the wake of a widespread squad overhaul, Lisburn Distillery have found their groove since January’s end.
It was feared that they would spend this campaign perennially looking over their shoulder, but now they are very much a side looking upwards. Appointed during the summer to lead the rebuild, Barry Johnston has guided the Whites to a position where they can plausibly think about being in the top half post-split.
With much of the fulcrum being based on youth, and having it at their disposal to field one of the Irish League’s youngest starting teams, all the players appear gelled within the system and results are reflecting the increased positivity.
Also deserving of credit for their improvements this season are Moyola Park and Tobermore United, who can seriously think about a top-six placing after finding their battle much closer to the bottom last time.
Featured image from Larne FC official website.
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