Irish League Football

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Glenavon manager Paddy McLaughlin has emphasised that the club's ambitions for next season will be much higher than just Premiership survival after they banished any lingering relegation fears by picking up a point in Tuesday's 1-1 draw with mid Ulster derby rivals Portadown at Shamrock Park.

McLaughlin took over the reins at the Mourneview Park outfit in mid-November with the club languishing perilously close to the drop zone following Stephen McDonnell's departure from the club.

"I said to the players after Tuesday night, congratulated them on getting themselves out of trouble, on getting us out of the relegation zone and securing our status but it wasn't something to be celebrated.

"We patted them on the back for that but it's not a position we want to be in year on year. You want to climb the division, you want to compete against the top sides.

"There's no reason why not, the potential at Glenavon is incredible and it's up to us to deliver more on the pitch."

McLaughlin explained that top flight survival had been his primary objective when he took charge of the club but expectations would be raised for next term.

"We always aim high, we are ambitious as a club. But when we came to the club our first mission was to survive because Glenavon were in a bad place," reflected the former Cliftonville boss.

"They had three wins from 18 league games and were four points off the bottom of the league.

"We were definitely in a relegation fight and we have pulled away from that. From being four points ahead of them we're now 21 points ahead of Loughgall.

"Carrick were ahead of us on goal difference with a game in hand and we're now 13 points ahead of them. That swing is incredible and the players deserve all the credit in the world."

McLaughlin added that his side had shown themselves capable of competing with the top teams in the league in individual games but "it was not good enough to be fighting for survival".

"The club and the ers deserve more and it's up to me and the players and the staff to improve that.

"Next year we don't want to be fighting for our lives come the run-in, we want to be in the top six, challenging for Europe and getting into cup finals.

"We're more than capable of doing it, it's maybe just that bit of belief."

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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Ballymena United manager Jim Ervin says he has been pleased with the impact made by January transfer window recruit Success Edogun but has been encouraging the forward to get himself into more goalscoring positions.

The 23-year-old ed the Sky Blues from Finn Harps at the end of January and has scored three goals in 10 league outings, including two in Tuesday's 5-2 win over Loughgall at the Showgrounds.

Ervin, who signed a new full-time contract with the club until 2028 on Friday, said Edogun's physical presence had made him "very effective" for the side.

"We'd spoken to him before about getting in the right areas as he does so much hard work outside of the box," Ervin said.

"He's a big powerful runner but in order for him to score goals we want him to stay closer to the goal and in and around the penalty area where he's going to score his goals."

'Training levels have gone through the roof'

The striker's double against the league's basement side in midweek keeps his club in contention for the seventh place which could book them a berth in the end-of-season European play-offs.

The Braidmen lie ninth in the table, three points behind Cliftonville and one adrift of Portadown above them in the race to top the bottom half of the table.

"His [Edogun's] two goals that he scored the other evening weren't spectacular but with his presence and his pace and his power he frightened the defenders and forced them into mistakes. He was in the right areas at the right times.

"No-one really cares what sort of goals you score as long as you score, especially when you are a centre forward.

"I'm frustrated that he hasn't scored more goals than he has but he's looking to add more in the four remaining league games. He's been a big plus for us and he's done extremely well since he came in."

Ervin hailed the impact made by Kian Corbally, Patrick McEleney and on-loan Conor Barr, who were also added to the Ballymena ranks in January.

"I'm really pleased with how they have all done but it has also driven the other boys in the squad to make sure that they're on the ball.

"The training levels have gone through the roof, everyone is competing not just for a place on the starting XI but also to get onto the bench. As a manager it gives you a headache but it's a nice headache to have."

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While there is still plenty left to play for in the Irish Premiership this season, the destination of the Gibson Cup has already been decided.

Linfield's imperious season saw them crowned champions with six games remaining and they will be presented with the league title trophy after Saturday's game with Glentoran live on BBC Two NI, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.

We'll bring you live coverage of the final 'Big Two' game of the season from 12:45 BST with the trophy presentation to follow after full-time.

Gavin Andrews will be ed by former Linfield manager David Jeffrey and former Glentoran captain Paul Leeman at Windsor Park with Derry City manager Tiernan Lynch alongside Thomas Kane in the commentary box.

If you can't get to the screen to watch, Sportsound will be on from the earlier time of 13:00 BST on Radio Ulster and BBC Sounds with live audio commentary of Linfield against Glentoran followed by the rest of the day's games.

And we'll have every game covered on the BBC Sport website too with all the goals and updates from every game in the Irish Premiership.

Saturday 5 April - Irish Premiership fixtures

Linfield v Glentoran (13:00) - live on BBC Two NI, iPlayer & BBC Sport website

Carrick Rangers v Portadown (15:00) - listen on Sportsound on Radio Ulster & BBC Sounds

Cliftonville v Ballymena United (15:00) - listen on Sportsound on Radio Ulster & BBC Sounds

Coleraine v Dungannon Swifts (15:00) - listen on Sportsound on Radio Ulster & BBC Sounds

Crusaders v Larne (15:00) - listen on Sportsound on Radio Ulster & BBC Sounds

Glenavon v Loughgall (15:00) - listen on Sportsound on Radio Ulster & BBC Sounds

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Larne head coach Gary Haveron says he will be happy to fulfil whatever role the club want him to do in the future.

Haveron was elevated to the top job from his previous position as part of the backroom coaching staff at the Irish Premiership club in mid-December after newly appointed manager Nathan Rooney switched to become head of football because he did not possess a Uefa Pro Licence.

Rooney has since successfully enrolled to undergo his Pro Licence training and is expected to resume his place as manager of the Invermen in the future.

"I'm more than happy to fulfil any role that Larne Football Club want me to fulfil," said Haveron.

"It's maybe difficult when you have to make tough awkward decisions [as head coach] but that comes part and parcel with the job.

"Nathan is obviously on the Pro Licence and I hope it all goes according to plan with him and I'll do whatever role Larne FC want me to do."

Larne's domestic season to date has seen them lose to Glentoran in the County Antrim Shield final, exit the BetMcLean Cup at the semi-final stage to eventual winners Cliftonville and suffer a disappointing Irish Cup fifth-round defeat to Limavady United.

Their European exploits in qualifying for the league phase of the Uefa Conference League have hindered their domestic progress as they have been forced to play catch-up with their Premiership fixtures.

Despite failing to mount a significant challenge for a third successive Irish League title however, the east Antrim outfit remain well in contention for the runner-up spot which would secure automatic European qualification for next season

Haveron's side are two points behind second-placed Glentoran with four rounds of matches still to play.

"This season has been full of positives. So many people have written us off over the course of the season and we still find ourselves in the mix for second place in the league," added Haveron, whose side are away to Crusaders on Saturday.

"Some people are saying it's been a disastrous season for Larne and we maybe didn't put enough pressure on Linfield, but we had so many games to catch up on it obviously ended up being detrimental to us.

"At the same time our season, if you offered it to any other team in the Irish League, they would have taken it."

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Glentoran moved back into second place in the Irish Premiership thanks to a 2-1 victory over Coleraine at the Oval on Tuesday night.

BBC Sport NI caught up with both managers after the first post-split fixture for the top six sides.

Glentoran boss Declan Devine on ending a run of five games without a win in all competitions: "Our guys, even though there was a bit of anxiety over recent performances and results, we needed to stand up and be counted.

"I felt every single player that went on that pitch really gave a shift and really worked hard.

"That's testimony to the players, there's been nobody hurting more than them over the last couple of weeks."

On finishing the season with four away games: "We're playing potentially at home for the last time this year.

"Our fans have been incredible right throughout the year in good times and bad times.

"They've stuck by us and really got behind us. The message tonight was to please send them home happy with three points."

Coleraine manager Dean Shiels on missed chances in the second half: "It was unbelievable that we didn't come away scoring three or four. 

"When you come to the Oval, it's very difficult to create as many clear cut chances as we did.

"It's very disappointing to come away with nothing."

On the fight for European play-off seeding in the top six: "This is a year we're trying to finish as high up the table as we can.

"Every game is important, because it's so congested with ourselves and Dungannon and Crusaders.

"We know that one win can take you up one or two places. Every game is going to be difficult.

"We've four left, three at home, one away, and we'll keep fighting to the end."

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The Irish Premiership split begins on Tuesday night and there is a tight race for European football with five matches to play.

Linfield have already been crowned champions and will lift the Gibson Cup for a record-extending 57th time against rivals Glentoran on Saturday, 5 April.

Behind that, the race for a second place and automatic European qualification is tight, with just five points separating the remaining five teams in the top half of the table.

Larne, whose two-year title run was halted by Linfield, and Glentoran are in a strong position to contend for second place.

Both are level on points and Larne only hold the advantage by just two goals.

If either slip up, then Dungannon Swifts and Crusaders are poised to pounce with a late charge.

Just four points off second, the Swifts and Crues are level on 50 points. Not only do the Swifts have a small goal difference advantage, but Rodney McAree's side are also in the Irish Cup final and can secure automatic European qualification if they beat Cliftonville in the Windsor Park decider.

Coleraine are also in the mix after a recent upturn in form. The Bannsiders are an outside bet for the automatic spot, but know their run of six matches undefeated has guaranteed them a play-off place no matter what happens above them.

You can watch Dungannon Swifts v Larne on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website on Tuesday, 1 April at 19:45 BST.

Image source, Press Eye

The post-regular season split in the Irish Premiership begins on Tuesday and there is still plenty to play for with five games to go.

In the bottom half of the table it seems a case of if, not when, Loughgall's relegation to the Championship will be confirmed.

The Villagers, who will play their first match under new manager Darren Murphy on Tuesday against Ballymena United, are nine points behind Carrick Rangers, and have a worse goal difference.

Should Loughgall lose to Ballymena, and Carrick defeat Cliftonville, then Loughgall's relegation would be all but confirmed.

Stephen Baxter's Carrick are in no man's land in 11th, and will likely face a relegation/promotion play-off against a Championship side.

Irish Cup semi-finalists Bangor are currently eight points clear at the top of the second tier and look set for automatic promotion, while there are a host of teams behind - including H&W Welders, Limavady United and Annagh United - who could take on Carrick for the final place in next season's Premiership.

Glenavon are also isolated in 10th position, but above that there is a race for the European play-off spot.

Cliftonville currently hold that advantage in seventh, and are level on points with Portadown, while Ballymena United are just three points behind.

The team that finishes in seventh position will qualify for a European play-off, but Cliftonville can also qualify for Europe by winning the Irish Cup.

In the event that Jim Magilton's Reds win the Irish Cup and finish seventh, the European play-off will consist of teams in the top half.

However, if Cliftonville finish outside the top seven and beat Dungannon Swifts in the Windsor Park final, then it is likely that seventh will face sixth in a play-off quarter-final before third through fifth enter at the semi-final stage.

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Bangor manager Lee Feeney said everyone in the Seasiders' dressing room had been left with the same feeling of a missed opportunity after they lost 2-0 to Dungannon Swifts in Saturday's Irish Cup semi-final.

Kyle Owens' first-half own goal and Dean Curry's headed goal 10 minutes from time condemned the Championship leaders to defeat against Rodney McAree's charges, who sit fourth in the Premiership table.

"The one word is regret. We felt going in at half-time that because of the conditions, we had the wind for us in the second half, and we felt we were going to do a bit better," Feeney told BBC Sport NI.

"Everyone in the changing room comes away with the same feeling of regret because we feel like we could have made something happen there.

"We should have done a wee bit better with qualities and deliveries and intelligence in the final third but if we had got a wee bit of luck and had got the second goal with a bit of time left they would have felt the pressure and their mentality would have changed and so would ours, for the better.

"It wasn't to be and they defended really, really well at times, so congratulations to them. We weren't consistent enough, we played in wee periods here and there."