Tag: County Derry/Londonderry
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Steven McCullough’s crucial goal in relegation play-off seals him as a Ballymena United great
There’s been a change in priorities for Ballymena United during recent years – albeit not necessarily the type supporters would’ve perhaps wanted. In 2019, the Braidmen were the second best team in the Irish League. Runners-up behind Linfield that year, and just seven points adrift of top spot, the peak years of David Jeffrey’s tenure…
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Premiership title picture changed beyond recognition in 120 seconds… but twists not over yet
Have you caught your breath yet? Small moments can make the biggest differences. One goal or, in this case, two just seconds apart across two sides of the same city can change the entire complexion. Deep, deep into added-time, Linfield were shooting above Larne to the Sports Direct Premiership summit by a point as they…
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Championship hitting new heights for quality and entertainment… that must be celebrated
The Championship is the ultimate in ‘any team can beat any team’, they say. A hive of chaos where you can quickly find yourself a bit red-faced when you look at your accumulator and notice that nothing has gone to plan. Well, in this league, there is no plan. There is no script nor playbook.…
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It’s been far from a classic season for Coleraine… but top-six place shows their resilience
Credit where it’s due – it’s been a turbulent campaign for Coleraine but, barring a miraculous five-goal victory for Carrick Rangers on Easter Tuesday, a top-six spot for the split has been secured and a place in the European play-offs guaranteed. It’s been far from easy, and the Bannsiders know to expect better from themselves…
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Removal of post-split schedule misaligns Premier Intermediate from rest of Irish League
There’s been much change in the Playr-Fit Premier Intermediate League however you see it. What was a 12-team league, in alignment with the Premiership and Championship at least in respect of its size, is now a restructured 14-team division as of the summer of 2023. As we all know, administration was the domineering talking point…
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Bunched-up PIL summit and big twists tee up tense title hunt to go right to the wire
The Playr-Fit Premier Intermediate League promotion race took some fresh turns at the weekend, thus a climactic end to the campaign is in the pipeline with the prize of dining among the ranks of senior-status football in 2024/25. A couple of crunch clashes between top-five rivals, namely Armagh City’s hosting of leaders Limavady United and…
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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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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…
