QuoteMaybe its an ironic / sarcastic nickname ? !Originally Posted by OwlsFan
Was his nickname not "Gentleman Jim Magilton" or am I imagining that ?
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
Maybe its an ironic / sarcastic nickname ? !
Two points in it and April 13: Linfield v Larne
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
Larne surely have to be favourites Owlsfan?
Gary Cronin is he the right man to manage Longford Town?
I'd never bet against Linfield. They've only won the League close on every second year since its inception.
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
Unlucky really ! ! !
Larne 8-1 Cliftonville (!) but Linfield snatch a late winner away at Crusaders.
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
What's going on at Cliftonville ? !
Having a good season overall with a sold-out cup final to look forward to.
And pretty much guaranteed Europe next season (I'm assuming).
"Can Larne do it?"
Certainly can - drew 1-1 at Linfield tonight, leaving them 3 points ahead of the Blues, with one game each remaining, but Larne with a 17 goal superior GD.
And it was a very interesting finish to the season post-split. Prior to tonight the advantage had switched between the two teams a couple of times in recent weeks, so that by the previous round of games a week ago, Linfield were beating Coleraine 2-1 at the 90 minute mark, which would have taken them to 85 points. Meanwhile Larne were drawing 1-1 at Glentoran, which would have left them on 84 points going into tonight's encounter.
Then Linfield conceded an equaliser to Coleraine, while Larne got the winner at The Oval, courtesy of a Glentoran own goal(!), both in the very dying seconds.
Oh dear.
How sad.
Never mind.
Last edited by EalingGreen; 22/04/2024 at 9:18 PM.
Fair play to Larne they must be by far the richest club in the NIFL!
Gary Cronin is he the right man to manage Longford Town?
Possibly the richest (not certain), but even if so, it's certainly not "by far". I wouldn't be surprised if Linfield, traditionally prudent (read "tight") with their money, have now upped their budget to meet the challenge by Larne. They've certainly gone completely full-time over the last couple of seasons, as have the Glens. Remember, too, that Limnfield receive a big income from the IFA for Windsor every year.
While at Glentoran, I heard they've had to install bigger drains in the Directors' toilets, since they're p i s sing so much money up the walls.
Meanwhile, there's a helluva race for promotion from the Championship. Portadown are already up as Champions, in place of Newry. While the 2nd placed team gets a play-off against Ballymena U, who will finish 11th (i.e. 2nd lowest) in the Prem.
Which is where it gets v.interesting:
"Incredibly, with just one round of fixtures left, Bangor, Dundela and Annagh United are tied in second spot on 67 points, while Institute are just one point back on 66.
With a place in the Premiership’s Promotion/Relegation Play-Off against Ballymena United up for grabs, Friday night’s games will be nail-biting affairs.
As has been well documented, Dundela cannot gain promotion due to the size of their Wilgar Park pitch, so the race for the Play-Off spot is between the other three sides.
That means the game at Tandragee Road between Annagh and Bangor is a winner-takes-all affair, with the victor guaranteed a shot at Ballymena for a place in the Premiership.
Things will get interesting, though, if Annagh and the Seasiders draw. If that happens and Institute defeat already-promoted Portadown at Shamrock Park, it will be the Londonderry club that takes on the Sky Blues.
If, however, Stute fail to beat the Ports in that scenario, Bangor will nick the Play-Off spot on goal difference."
https://www.nifootballleague.com/cha...024/standings/
Incidentally, should Annagh (a Portadown club) achieve promotion, that would be pretty remarkable for football in Mid-Ulster, since there would be four Premiership teams within just a few miles of each other, Annagh, Ports, Glenavon and Loughgall. This would see Lurgan to Loughgall as the furthest distance to travel at 13 miles (incidentally with Dungannon Swifts just another 10 miles further west), making Armagh 'The Derby County"!
Last edited by EalingGreen; 24/04/2024 at 10:44 PM.
I saw the game on TV. Well done Larne but I was surprised to see all the empty seats for this top of the table clash."Can Larne do it?"
Certainly can - drew 1-1 at Linfield tonight, leaving them 3 points ahead of the Blues, with one game each remaining, but Larne with a 17 goal superior GD.
And it was a very interesting finish to the season post-split. Prior to tonight the advantage had switched between the two teams a couple of times in recent weeks, so that by the previous round of games a week ago, Linfield were beating Coleraine 2-1 at the 90 minute mark, which would have taken them to 85 points. Meanwhile Larne were drawing 1-1 at Glentoran, which would have left them on 84 points going into tonight's encounter.
Then Linfield conceded an equaliser to Coleraine, while Larne got the winner at The Oval, courtesy of a Glentoran own goal(!), both in the very dying seconds.
Oh dear.
How sad.
Never mind.
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
Its mad that in the top flight there isnt really too many Co Armagh teams in it. I have relatives livin in Armagh City do they have a side in the lower pyramid in NIFL lads?
Gary Cronin is he the right man to manage Longford Town?
I was at an Armagh City game a few years back when they were top flight
I think they were relegated for licensing reasons a couple of years later and may be third tier now
I'm not so sure about that. Glenavon and Portadown have always been fixtures in the top flight, notwithstanding Ports screwing up a couple of times in recent seasons and dropping (usually briefly) into the second tier. While Armagh City and Loughgall have also had spells up there.
Remember, too, that there are only ever 12 places in the top flight, with only one automatic relegation place (plus another play-off possibility). Then consider that Belfast (1/3rd of the population of NI) and Antrim (most populous county) are both traditional football centres and take up the majority of places. Then add in Ards, Bangor, Newry and Warrenpoint (Down), Dungannon (Tyrone), Ballinamallard (Fermanagh), Coleraine and Institute (Derry), who are all established top flight teams or contenders, and you'll see that there aren't too many places for Co. Armagh.
Finally, while football is well represented in the north of the county, the south of the county is strong GAA territory. So that I'd say Armagh having three top flight teams next season, never mind a possible four, is actually pretty good representation.
Tbh, I'd say that the top two tiers of the pyramid reflect a very wide representation of football throughout Northern Ireland.
Yes, Armagh C are in the Premier Intermediate League (3rd tier) and hoping for promotion to the Championship.
Limavady are already promoted as Champions, but the team finishing second gets to play Dergview FC, who finished second-bottom in the Championship, for a second promotion place.
And with one game left in the season, this could be another close call.
Armagh C are second on 49 points, with a GD of +18. They're at home to mid-table Lisburn Distillery on Saturday, need a point to ensure 2nd, and may not even need that (as follows).
Rathfriland Rovers, in their first ever season at this level, are 3rd on 46 points with a GD of +22. They are at home to Ballymacash Rangers, who are 4th on 46 points with a GD of +21.
Meaning Armagh must be strong favourites.
https://www.nifootballleague.com/pre...024/standings/
Last edited by EalingGreen; 25/04/2024 at 10:16 PM.
Thats the thing with the NIFL down south Im only aware of the top flight and the championship and not the division below! Had heard of a few of the 3rd tier teams before years back and was wonderin where they had disappeared to?
Gary Cronin is he the right man to manage Longford Town?
Well, that was against the odds!
Annagh and Bangor drew 0-0, while Stute won 1-0 at Ports, meaning Stute get the play-off vs B'mena.
Here is what the Derry News had had to say before this final round:
In the 44th and final game of a season no-one expected, Institute can clinch a promotion play-off spot, but only if things go their way at Shamrock Park and elsewhere tomorrow night.
Kevin Deery and Mo Mahon could surely not have expected to be in this position when they took over at a club bereft of confidence last summer, but here they are, nine months later, on the verge of something remarkable if they can pull one last performance out of their squad.
Just a few short weeks ago, ‘Stute were right in the title picture, but a return of one win in four, and especially, five dropped points at home in the last two weeks, has denied them that possibility. Yet hope still remains, and a win at the home of champions Portadown, plus a draw between Bangor and Annagh elsewhere would mean ‘Stute finishing second and in that play-off spot.
There is currently just one point between second place and fifth, where ‘Stute sit, and anything can still happen at the end of the most remarkable promotion battle the Championship has seen for many years.
“It's incredible. It's so tight,” Kevin Deery agreed. “We've only lost three games away from home this year. Our away form has been much better than our home form so we'll take positives from that.
“We've 66 points now. It's a big turnaround for a team that didn't accumulate that in two seasons, who, by the skin of their noses, just saved themselves a relegation play-off against Ballymacash and now we've been challenging for promotion all year.
“We have a competitive budget, one of the most difficult in the league and we've had a great, great return on what the players have given us and we can only be positive about them. But to get better we need to try and grow the club and get more investment, and sign the better players that are willing to come to us.”
Portadown have beaten ‘Stute twice this season already, but Deery’s side did beat them at the Brandywell back in November. With the title won, the hosts have nothing left to play for, and that could be a factor n how results go tomorrow night. Whatever happens, ‘Stute know they must win at Shamrock Park.
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