Tag: Dean Smith
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Six managers who could bring the glory days back to Glentoran and drive them to success
By Callum McFadden Glentoran will be on the search for a long-term successor to Warren Feeney in the summer of 2024, hoping to guide the club to better days after what has proved a disappointing 2023/24 Sports Direct Premiership campaign. After exiting the Irish Cup at the semi-final stage at the hands of Big Two…
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Principled Loughgall’s fantastic season down to spirit, trust and honesty in themselves
Dean Smith didn’t pull any punches at the weekend when reflecting on the pre-season perception of his newly-promoted Loughgall outfit. “If you’d have read every report the week before the season started, every single person had us tipped to go down – and straight down,” he said. “Probably with five games to go, they had…
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Tying down revelatory Shea Kearney to 2027 may already be Cliftonville’s signing of the summer
If you’re picking out a breakthrough star from the Sports Direct Premiership this season, the meteoric rise of Cliftonville’s Shea Kearney can hardly be overlooked. The Lurgan lad has been in spectacular form for the Reds – and it was music to the ears of the supporters when news of his two-year contract extension at…
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Newry’s fight isn’t over… but they paid penalty for missed chances in key two-game stretch
Newry City were made to pay the penalty at Lakeview Park on Tuesday night, compounding 96 hours or so where opportunity knocked but they failed to make the most of it. A goalless draw with Loughgall, who leapfrogged Coleraine into sixth-place with five rounds of Sports Direct Premiership fixtures left until the split, was a…
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Five managers who could succeed legendary supremo Stephen Baxter at Crusaders
By Callum McFadden Stephen Baxter has announced that he is stepping down as Crusaders manager in the summer of 2024 after 19 years in charge of the club. Speculation will be rife in the coming months as to who may replace the man who is the longest-serving manager in world football at the moment. I…
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Loughgall’s brilliant Benji Magee reaping the rewards of his non-linear path to stardom
Flying forward Benji Magee has been one of the Irish League’s top-performing young guns this campaign. The Loughgall starlet, who plundered a dramatic late winner to sink Larne at Lakeview Park having already lofted in a sublime leveller against Crusaders at Seaview, added a fresh string to his bow on completing his first senior hat-trick.…
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Likeable Loughgall’s impressive start is down to staying true to what makes them great
It has been a most impressive start to the season for this season’s newly promoted team to the Premiership, Loughgall. Having returned to the top-flight after a 16-year absence, there is a refreshing air about the Villagers and how they have handled the step up from the second-tier. While they recently suffered a heavy 6-0…
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