Irish League Football

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Dungannon Swifts striker John McGovern says he would "definitely" be interested in playing full-time football once he completes his education.

The former Newry City player, who also represented Down in inter-county Gaelic football, has scored 11 goals in the Irish Premiership this season for Rodney McAree's Irish Cup finalists.

The 23-year-old is due to complete a degree in Business and IT this month which would allow him to make the switch.

"If the opportunity comes, I would definitely go for it," he said.

"I've got my university degree hopefully in the bag now."

McGovern says he has "loved every minute" of his season at Stangmore Park but that he always planned to turn his attention to full-time football after completing his education.

"That was always the thing for me," he added. "I was always driven by my dad to get my education first and then give it a crack.

"I could give it a try and I might not like it. Then I could come back to part-time football while working. It's about having those options."

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Cliftonville striker Joe Gormley says his form at Solitude this season has led him to rethink his retirement plans.

The club's record goalscorer had expected to hang up his boots at the end of this season.

However, after 18 league goals this campaign, as well as netting the winner in the BetMcLean Cup final against Glentoran in March, the 36-year-old feels he "might have guaranteed" another year in Jim Magilton's squad.

"This was going to be potentially my last year," he said.

"I didn't think I'd have played as much this year. I didn't think I would have scored as much.

"I think I might have guaranteed myself another year. Potentially next year could be my last year."

The former Peterborough United player, who has scored 292 goals for the Reds and stated his ambition to reach 300, added that family will guide any decision on his future.

"My oldest [son] has started to play a bit of football and I love going to watch him," he added.

"It might be time for me to be going to watch him rather than them coming to watch me.

"I don't want to kid myself, I don't want to be picking up a wage if I'm not fit enough. 

"Who knows? Last year I thought this year was potentially my last year and here we have it, I'm hoping to get another year. 

"Fingers crossed, I'll be injury free and we'll see what happens."

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Northern Irish teenager Ceadach O'Neill has signed his first professional contract at Arsenal.

The 17-year-old ed the Gunners from Linfield last summer and has been playing regularly for their under-18 side and has trained with Mikel Arteta's first team.

The winger made his Irish Premiership debut for the Blues as a 15-year-old against Ballymena United in November 2023.

O'Neill has captained Northern Ireland at under-17 level and told Arsenal's club website that he was "delighted" to sign his first professional deal.

"I knew it was going to be a bit of a challenge moving over, but I think I settled in well," he said.

"It's always a surreal moment just being able to be in the same pitch with the first teamers, so I really enjoy growing up with them and learning from them.

"The rest of this season, I just want to finish it off strong, just keep trying to score goals and get assists and carry on into next season."

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Larne remained one point behind Glentoran in the battle for second place in the Irish Premiership thanks to a 2-1 win at Ballycastle Road.

Andy Ryan gave Larne an early lead, before Declan McManus equalised before half-time and then Paul O'Neill netted the winner from the penalty spot in the second half.

Larne manager Gary Haveron: "Really hard fought. We had to be gritty, we had to show character. We had to dig in, we had to defend at times, but that's exactly what the boys did.

"To a man today we were outstanding. To come away from here with any result is incredibly difficult, especially in the second half of the season the way they have really kicked on.

"It's been a hard run, that's 10 out of 11 games away from home for us. It's been really difficult, anything we've achieved this season we've had to do it the hard way. It's been a long hard season up to this point.

"Now we're down to the business end and we have to keep digging in."

Larne are at home to Linfield and Glentoran in their final two fixtures of the campaign.

Coleraine manager Dean Shiels: "It's disappointing to lose. We haven't had that losing feeling recently and it's a hard one to take.

"Especially under the circumstances of the penalty that was given it's extremely disappointing.

"Those are the fine margins in a game where we had all the play, all the territory. It's disappointing that a referee's decision has decided the outcome.

"I thought we were the likelier team to win it but you never switch off with the quality that Larne have.

"We've just got to lick our wounds and move on now."

Cliftonville beat Glenavon 2-0 at Solitude to strengthen their grip on seventh place in the Irish Premiership table, Ryan Curran and Eric McWoods scoring the second-half goals to secure three points for the Reds, who are unbeaten in five.

Jim Magilton on the game:

"Delighted with the win, keeping the momentum going. We knew Glenavon were going to come and make life very difficult because they've so many good players, technical players, so we had to be patient and today we were.

"There was a lot of possession-based football without any keeper being tested. In the second half, we had to play with more urgency and tempo in our play, and I thought we did that."

Magilton on whether there should have been more goals:

"Yes, probably, but we are just trying to manage the group. It's been a long season, but we are trying to make sure that everybody gets minutes. Some are nursing injuries, and we have to be wary of that.

Magilton on Eric McWoods' form:

"He has that explosive pace, and he is providing real competition, which is exactly what we want, and at this time of the year, it's important you have options.

It was similar last year when we got to a cup final, and it's the options off the bench that helped us win the cup. We have to manage the next couple of games before we look forward to the 3rd of May".

Paddy McLaughlin on the defeat:

"Even up to an hour, I thought it was evenly matched, then Cliftonville scored the first goal, and then we dropped our heads.

"I know it's a hard place to come, but there was nothing between the sides before the goal. Then they went up the gears. We should have battened down the hatches and weathered the storm after the first goal, but we sort of rolled over.

"We are giving a lot of young players game time to get them ready for next season. Disappointed with the result, but our performance for up to an hour was good."

McLaughlin on not testing the goal enough:

"For all our good football, I don't think we ed too many shots on goal. Ben Wilson, who was superb for us, was the only one to get a shot away. We've good players in the final third, but to not create anything of note over 90 minutes is frustrating."

McLaughlin on Mark Byrne's saves:

"That's the difference at both ends of the pitch. Our keeper has had to make two brilliant saves as well as conceding two, so that's four efforts on our goal, and we've none on theirs, and that's the difference.

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After Glentoran's thumping 4-0 win against Crusaders at Seaview, BBC Sport NI caught up with Crues manager Declan Caddell and Glens defender Kodi Lyons- Foster.

Caddell on the defeat: "I thought we were very good for 30 minutes, we had three very good opportunities, and we don't take them because of poor finishing. Glentoran's first attack, they score and within five minutes they had another one, we were giving away goals and it was an uphill battle from there.

"They had five shots on target and scored four, so they punished us. Ultimately we can't concede goals like that and expect to win a game."

On being out of the race for second: "It's a hard day at the office, we need to galvanise ourselves and go again for the last weeks of the season. The last time we had a result like that against Dungannon we went on a wee run so I'm hoping we can do the same now."

Lyons-Foster on convincing win: "It was a professional performance for us, we wanted to come out and get a clean sheet, it had been a while since our last one, but it was a good day at the office. The job isn't done yet we still have two big games to come but it is a massive result."

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Cliftonville started their defence of the NIFL League Cup with a 6-0 victory over Derry City.

Caitlin McGuinness scored a hat-trick for the Reds, while two goals from former Northern Ireland captain Marissa Callaghan and a Katie Markey effort gave the holders a commanding win at Solitude.

Elsewhere in Group A, Cora Chambers netted twice as Linfield won 4-1 away to Lisburn.

Chambers scored the opening two goals before Eve Reilly and Keri Loughrey netted, and Jessica Hall pulled a goal back for Lisburn as a consolation.

In Group B, Emily Wilson scored a hat-trick as Glentoran ran out 9-2 winners in Larne.

There were five goals in the opening 12 minutes at Inver Park as Wilson, debutant Mia Moore, Rachel Rogan and Demi Vance scored for the Glens, while Ella Parker pulled one back for Larne.

Moore, Rogan and Wilson all scored their second of the game before Hollie Johnston pulled another goal back, but Sophie McKnight and Wilson rounded out a comfortable win for Kim Turner's side.

In Friday's fourth and final game, Rebecca Mann scored the only goal of the game as Crusaders Strikers defeated Lisburn Rangers at Seaview.

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Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree believes striker John McGovern has "put himself in the shop window" with his performances this season.

McGovern, who ed the Swifts from relegated Newry City at the start of the season, has netted 17 goals in all competitions to help his side secure a top-half finish and a place in the Irish Cup final.

And McAree itted that his goal tally so far this season will inevitably lead to interest from other clubs in the transfer window.

"He's been brilliant, I said before he is someone I was interested in taking at Glentoran when I was there, I couldn't prise him away at that stage, but I managed to get him to come to Dungannon and I think it has been a great move for him," McAree said.

"He has probably put himself in the shop window and there will be a lot of people interested in him, but he is a grounded kid, and he is fully focused on what he wants to achieve with us this season and there will be no talk of anything else until the season is over."

The Swifts are fifth in the table ahead of their meeting with champions Linfield at Windsor Park.

McAree conceded that his side would need "a miracle" to finish in second place and secure automatic European qualification, but that they want to end the league season strongly with the Irish Cup final to come.

"We will certainly be trying to win against Linfield, it but it is a case of sharing minutes [around the squad]," he added.

"We are nowhere near settled on who is going to play in the cup final so it is a case of trying to get everyone to play a certain way and the final will look after itself further down the line.

"I'd rather go into the final with good performances and a bit of momentum than going in off the back of three hammerings."

Image source, Russell Lever

Glentoran have re-signed midfielder Mia Moore from Crusaders ahead of the new Women's Premiership season.

Moore made her first team debut for the Glens aged 15, before moving to Linfield, where she scored 10 goals in her debut season for the Blues.

The 17-year-old then ed Crusaders last year but suffered an ACL injury which ruled her out for the entirety of the campaign.

The under-19 Northern Ireland international has fully recovered from that long-term injury and told Glentoran's club website she was "buzzing" to be back at the club as they look to regain the league title won by Cliftonville last year.

"This club has always felt like home to me. It's where I fell in love with playing football and to return means a lot to me and my family," she said.

"The past year has been tough both mentally and physically, coming back from a serious injury, but it also gave me the chance to reset.

"I've worked incredibly hard during my rehab and I'm coming back hungrier than ever. I'm ready to hit the ground running."

Moore is in line to make her debut on Friday night as Glentoran face Larne at Inver Park in the revamped Women's League Cup.

The 2023 champions begin their Women's Premiership campaign with an away game against Lisburn Ladies on Friday, 9 May.

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After Cliftonville recorded a thumping 5-0 victory over Ballymena United at Solitude BBC Sport NI got the opinions of Reds boss Jim Magilton and Sky Blues manager Jim Ervin.

Magilton on the ruthless nature of the win: "Our record against Ballymena this year was played four, lost four so today was important to build momentum and it was an indication of the appetite the players have to win. First half I was slightly disappointed we weren't more clinical. Second half was different we were really clinical."

On finishing the season strongly ahead of the Irish Cup final: "The Irish Cup is secondary at the minute it is about winning league games and building consistency. We are on a run now which is important and there is competition for places. We have to finish with a real flourish and go galloping into an Irish Cup final."

Ervin on the defeat: "It was extremely poor. Second half, we absolutely fell to pieces. The last 15 minutes, for whatever reason, we gave up. At 2-0 you're still in the game but the goals we conceded in the last 15 minutes were so soft. It's a game we'll want to forget but we need to look at."

On the race for seventh and a potential European play-off: "I thought we needed to win the game to keep the fight for seventh going. They now have a six-point gap with nine games to play it is still mathematically doable and Cliftonville have a cup final to look towards too so who knows how they will prepare in the next couple of weeks. We have to do our own job and today we didn't do it."

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After a dramatic 2-2 draw at Seaview, where Crusaders fought back twice to claim a point against Larne, BBC Sport NI got the thoughts of Crues boss Declan Caddell and Larne manager Gary Haveron.

Caddell on the result: "At the end I was happy with a point considering we came from behind twice. The first half was a bit of a non-event, and we get done by a set-piece. Second half, we looked like the only team going to win it.

"We got the equaliser and then conceded straight after, but the boys showed a bit of character to get a goal back, so I'm proud of the performance."

On Stewart Nixon's late equaliser: "It's a great strike and I'm so pleased for him this season has been a bit stop start for him it seems to be injury after injury, but he's been back a few weeks contributed against Glentoran and today gets the equaliser, it's good to see him with a smile back in his face."

On Jordan Stewart's late red card: "I think it did warrant a red card, it was a bit reckless, but I have to see it back to see it clear."

Haveron on the draw: "Massively frustrated with the amount of chances we created. We got our noses in front and should have seen the game out. We should have killed the game off in the first half, but we allowed them to come back into it second half."

On the race for second place: "When that result comes in [second place Glentoran losing against Linfield] you think you want to take full advantage, we didn't manage to do that today but there are going to be more twists and turns and points dropped so we just turn to the next one."

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After Jamie Glackin scored a late winner to help Coleraine beat Dungannon Swifts 3-2, a result that moved the Bannsiders into contention for second place, BBC Sport NI caught up with Coleraine boss Dean Shiels and Swifts manager Rodney McAree.

Shiels on the victory: "We started the game so well going two goals up and we were really comfortable. Their goal was an exceptional goal from John McGovern which turned the game.

"We let them back into it second half and it was just about finding a way as it has been the last few weeks. We needed the goal at that stage, Dungannon were pressing really hard and our winner came against the run of play, but it's points over performance at this time of the season."

On pushing to finish second: "It's crazy we're only five points off second place again and we just want to finish the season as high as we can."

McAree on the defeat: "We give ourselves a mountain to climb with the goals we concede early on. It was a difficult start, but I thought we responded well. It's a wonderful strike from McGovern and second half I thought there was only one team that was going to win it and wanted to win it. We pushed and pushed, and we very nearly got there but we got hit by a sucker punch".