Tag: County Antrim
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Cup progression further inspires Linfield to do talking on the pitch after turbulent week
In the first of two successive Sunday specials against Championship opposition for Linfield, round one passed with little hitch. Although the BetMcLean Cup showpiece against Portadown is on the seventh day by design, with crowds of over 11,000 flocking to Windsor Park each of the previous two editions, their visit to Institute was more through…
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Why Cliftonville’s latest quest for Irish Cup glory draws so much from success of 1979
Cliftonville are within touching distance of the Irish Cup Final – a sound that sets alarm bells ringing more than anything these days. The Reds’ progression in Ireland’s oldest footballing cup competition, of which they are a founder member and have won eight times but only once since 1909, is akin to an ambitious mountain…
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More than meets the eye behind quartet of Premiership vs Championship Irish Cup ties
The Sports Direct Premiership is on pause for a weekend and the Clearer Water Irish Cup is at the centre of attentions as the top-flight’s leading four each face clashes of a different kind. NI Football League CEO Gerard Lawlor has previously put on record his vision of a so-called ‘weekend of football’ stretching from…
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Larne have played January market to a tee and will keep competitive edge because of it
At the start of the winter window of 2024, I wrote on this site that January would play a key role in deciding who would emerge as Sports Direct Premiership champions come the close of the season. Larne took that notion to heart on Friday night, and it is no surprise that they are in…
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Back-to-back victories inspire brighter days for Moyola Park after battling third-tier drop
A month makes a big difference in football – a statement that’s rung true for Playr-Fit Premier Intermediate League basement battler Moyola Park. February started with a whimper for the Castledawson club with defeats to the two main sides around them, but what followed were a couple of results that have painted a contrastingly different…
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In-form Annagh United saving their best for last… and could still make their Play-Off say
The Playr-Fit Championship never disappoints – and twists in the title race weren’t the only piece on the agenda this weekend. At the summit, Dundela succumbed to a heavy defeat that invited those among the chasing pack to close the gap; an opportunity taken gleefully by all three of their closest challengers. A simultaneous 4-0…
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Mentality monsters Larne will be wary that outsiders Glentoran can still dent title race
The race for Gibson Cup glory took one fresh turn in the path in midweek and will wind down another on Friday night. Question marks hanging over Linfield are now Cliftonville’s to bear the brunt of following the visitors’ 3-0 success at Solitude in midweek, as a trio of second-half strikes put the Blues back…
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Midweek goal blast across PIL delivers priceless results at both ends of the standings
Of the three Premier Intermediate League encounters to take place during midweek, each carried a potentially priceless significance at both ends of the table. In the division’s promotion hunt and relegation battle, the trio of matches taking place on Tuesday night all produced winners who will reap the rewards of three important points. A battle…
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