Failed Statelet Premier League & Other Divisions 2021/22

[Clockwork]

Thanks for the heads up - I hadn't, as it happens, and no doubt would have been on here complaining about missing the first half...
Should be a cracker, Crues looking to put a spanner in the title hopes of the other half of the Big Two.

For the neutrals, would be great to see Cru’s put a dent in both to keep it going right to the wire eh?[emoji41][emoji108] Just a shame Stephen Baxter’s side had such a poor mid season run. After hammering the Glens last week, they should have been right in the mix too!

[Clockwork]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61135060
I think mick McDermott has lost the plot a wee bit lately.

I’ve a wee bit of sympathy for him tbh, Gary Haveron had previously intimated the same. Even after his Cup win McDermott felt there was a core of dissenters within the support. He’s not a Media friendly manager that’s for sure, probably why recently he’s sent out McAree to do the post match stint. Not sure he does the Glens many favours either though![emoji15] I don’t think Glentoran have had less or more than the their fair share of poor ref decisions either since the turn this year. Glenavon, Ballymena, Larne and Crus’ have had some shockers in recent weeks.

[Jacksgranda]

Coleraine v Cliftonville at the Showgrounds. Routine win for the Reds the way the Bannsiders have been playing.

[Clockwork]

Coleraine v Cliftonville at the Showgrounds. Routine win for the Reds the way the Bannsiders have been playing.

Doesn’t sound like they had it all their own way though@Jacksgranda. Similarly a tense affair on the Shore Road tonight, who’s nerves will hold out the longest!?

In the Championship Newry extend their lead to six points with a comfortable win over H&W Welders and after Annagh United are held to a goalless draw at Dergview.
At the foot of the table, Queens find themselves bottom again after losing at home to Dundela 2-1 after taking an early lead. Knockbreda nudge back in front of them after coming back from 3-1 to secure a point (3-3) in injury time at Dixon Park, Ballyclare.
Away wins for Institute at Ards (0-1) and Loughgall at Ballinamallard (1-2) completing tonight’s fixtures.

[Jacksgranda]

2-1 away wins in both cases. Crusaders v Linfield was a bit flat, I thought, Crusaders made 8 changes with an eye on the Irish Cup Final, but Linfield had no such excuses, However, they did enough to win, just about deserved it.

10 man Coleraine (how many times have I written that this season?), although the Reds were 2 up before the dismissal. A late Eion Bradley goal made the visitors sweat, but they held on, to remain one point behind the Blues.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61157021

Goals from Seaview and the Ballycastle Road: - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/61157504    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/61157501

Linfield top with 79 points from 36 games, second Cliftonville 78 points from 36.

Warrenpoint relegated, despite winning 1-0 at Ballymena. Carrick lose a late goal and the points at home to Glenavon, 1-0 to the Lurgan Blues. Swifts draw at Portadown.

Ninth Dungannon Swifts P 36 Pts 32, tenth Carrick Rangers P 36 Pts 31, eleventh Portadown P 36 Pts 25, bottom Warrenpoint Town P 36 Pts 18

Two games to go, I can't see the Ports making up the difference, nine goals and 6 points in it.

[Clockwork]

2-1 away wins in both cases. Crusaders v Linfield was a bit flat, I thought, Crusaders made 8 changes with an eye on the Irish Cup Final, but Linfield had no such excuses, However, they did enough to win, just about deserved it.
10 man Coleraine (how many times have I written that this season?), although the Reds were 2 up before the dismissal. A late Eion Bradley goal made the visitors sweat, but they held on, to remain one point behind the Blues.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61157021
Goals from Seaview and the Ballycastle Road: - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/61157504    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/61157501
Linfield top with 79 points from 36 games, second Cliftonville 78 points from 36.
Warrenpoint relegated, despite winning 1-0 at Ballymena. Carrick lose a late goal and the points at home to Glenavon, 1-0 to the Lurgan Blues. Swifts draw at Portadown.
Ninth Dungannon Swifts P 36 Pts 32, tenth Carrick Rangers P 36 Pts 31, eleventh Portadown P 36 Pts 25, bottom Warrenpoint Town P 36 Pts 18
Two games to go, I can't see the Ports making up the difference, nine goals and 6 points in it.

Yep think Carrick might just have done enough despite last nights late winner for Glenavon, sounded like they missed a couple of really good chances either side of the break too.
It will be interesting to see the line up that Baxter goes with at Seaview on Saturday teatime given the number of changes he made last night to a team that was ‘on a roll’?

[Clockwork]

Glens lose their appeal. 
Newry City will play their Cup Semi final against Ballymena this coming Tuesday evening. 

 

[Jacksgranda]

Noticed that last night, haven't read the piece but don't think there could have been any other verdict.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61193515

Bit disappointed in the Glens going down that route, but it's all money nowadays I suppose. And they were entitled to appeal etc, it's not as if they've done anything wrong. (Apart from field an ineligible player, of course .)

[Jacksgranda]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61167245

Crusaders v Cliftonville and Linfield v Larne. I think this will go to the wire, although I can see the Crues taking points off the Reds.

At the other end of the table the Ports need a big win against Glenavon at Mourneview and hope Carrick get a hiding at Ballymena. And the same next week.

[Jacksgranda]

Some game at Seaview, Cliftonville take the lead, Crusaders up the ante to lead 3-1 with 17 minutes to go, but the Reds come storming back with 2 in six minutes to level. Ends 3-3.

By contrast Linfield and Larne was a bit of a damp squib, 0-0.

Title race goes to the final day.

At the bottom the Ports and Carrick both lose, so Carrick are safe and Portadown are in the play off.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61204814

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61203987

Edited April 23, 2022 by Jacksgranda
Update

[Clockwork]

Some game at Seaview, Cliftonville take the lead, Crusaders up the ante to lead 3-1 with 17 minutes to go, but the Reds come storming back with 2 in six minutes to level. Ends 3-3.
By contrast Linfield and Larne was a bit of a damp squib, 0-0.
Title race goes to the final day.
At the bottom the Ports and Carrick both lose, so Carrick are safe and Portadown are in the play off.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61204814
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61203987

Terrific game at Seaview, fair play to both sides in serving up such an entertaining watch. Had the other game on at Windsor too, surprised at how cautious Healy remained throughout (even when he must have known that Crusaders were 3-1 up). Perhaps the boos at the end from a few of the Blues support, testament to that, in that they didn’t really go for it with so much in their favour?
What a goal for Crus’ equaliser though (Billy Joe Burns) & what a miss by McDaid at Windsor. All onto next Saturday then. Will the Glens do their bit for Linfield at home to Cliftonville[emoji15] or will the unpredictable Bannsiders force another twist in the title run in? Fascinating stuff!!
(Just relief in Carrickfergus tonight, more than any celebration that the Ambers’ will get the chance to rebuild for a more settled season in the Danske Premiership next year).

[Clockwork]

Ballymena United secured a place in the Irish Cup Final against Crusaders next month with a 1-0 win over Newry City at Mourneview Park last night.
The long awaited Semi-Final (due to the Glentoran disqualification dispute) never really caught fire and descended into a scrappy stop start affair that neither side could be commended for. The highlight being a Steven McCulloch direct free kick shortly after the break. City Keeper Steven Maguire’s positioning didn’t perhaps do his side any favours but maybe that’s a little harsh on United’s big number 11 who expertly negotiated the assembled wall.
In a game of few chances thereafter, it was perhaps no surprise that David Jeffrey’s side seemed content to spoil and frustrate their Championship opponents, the number of niggling fouls culminating in the 72nd dismissal of Kym Nelson after another melee and a succession of deliberate indiscretions that both sides had a hand in. Newry we’re unable to take advantage of the extra man, as Ballymena waltzed into the final at Windsor Park on May 7th.
Newry will hopefully be satisfied in securing promotion to the top flight this weekend as adequate compensation for their semi final defeat.

Irish Cup: Steven McCullough's stunning free-kick sends 10-man Ballymena through to final https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61238297

[Jacksgranda]

I only saw the last 15 minutes, I forgot about it (well, it was only Ballymena!), but that was all Newry, without them creating very much.

Crusaders must be favourites, but Ballymena will give them a game.

[Clockwork]

I only saw the last 15 minutes, I forgot about it (well, it was only Ballymena!), but that was all Newry, without them creating very much.
Crusaders must be favourites, but Ballymena will give them a game.

Aye, can’t see anything past a Crus’ win in the final.@Jacksgranda

Quick summary in the Championship going into the final set of fixtures on Saturday....

Newry City all but there, a point at home to Dergview would make things a formality. 2nd place Annagh United will have already secured their play off with Premiership Portadown by the time they conclude proceedings away at Loughgall.

Newry City PL 37 - PTS 70 / GD +33
Annagh Utd PL 37 - PTS 67 / GD +20

At the bottom....Queens Uni could still catch Knockbreda if they can win at home Vs Ards and Breda lose away at Institute.

Knockbreda PL 37 - PTS 34 / GD -32
Queens Uni PL 37 - PTS 31 / GD -32

The first leg of the play off, Annagh United Vs Portadown will take place on Tuesday 3rd May at the BMG with the return game on the Friday 6th May just up the road at Shamrock Park. Should hopefully be a decent turnout for both games.

[Jacksgranda]

5 minutes ago, Clockwork said:

The first leg of the play off, Annagh United Vs Portadown will take place on Tuesday 3rd May at the BMG with the return game on the Friday 6th May just up the road at Shamrock Park. Should hopefully be a decent turnout for both games.

What's the chances of Annagh United winning, in your opinion?

[Clockwork]

What's the chances of Annagh United winning, in your opinion?

Annagh United are certainly one of the Division’s most entertaining sides, outscoring anyone else by some margin. Stephen Murray can be a real handful, aided and abetted in the box by former Portadown striker Pete Duffin. They’ve an experienced line across the middle, in Ryan Moffat, Niall Henderson and Ryan Harpur and a defence that likes to go forward and play their way out (Jordan Campbell, Lee Upton & Aaron Rogers), but it’s fair to say they’ve leaked their fair share of goals this season. Watched Ballyclare put four past them in their own back yard back in October.
Young Craig Taylor (Mid/Right Wing) is the player that makes them tick for me though when he’s on his game, (started out at Dungannon Swifts), and has also chipped in with decent haul this term.

I haven’t seen much of Portadown this season apart from a narrow defeat at Carrick back in Sept and the weekly TV highlights but know they’ve been on a miserable run before and since the departure of Matthew Tipton in January. Surprising that they’ve notched up such a meagre points total this season though given the side they’ve got even without Lee Bonis.
Annagh have spluttered over the last couple of weeks though in the race for the title. I think it’s going to be close, heart says United go up, head says Portadown cling on, but hopefully with plenty of goals over the two legs.

[Jacksgranda]

Final day title decider - how we got here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61216718

Streamed live on BBC NI

[Clockwork]

Final day title decider - how we got here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61216718
Streamed live on BBC NI

Fascinating prospect to look forward to later this afternoon. Will follow both games. Prediction time? A few twists still to come but just got a feeling it isn’t going to go the way of the Blues.
Linfield 1 Coleraine 1
Glentoran 1 Cliftonville 2
Cliftonville win the title by a single point. What do you think@Jacksgranda [emoji848]?

[Jacksgranda]

I want Coleraine to win. But that would probably mean handing Cliftonville the title, which I wouldn't particularly like, after them knocking us out of the Irish Cup in (slightly) controversial circumstances, and then beating us in the League Cup Final, again controversial incidents.

So hoping Glentoran win! 

But I think your prediction may be right.

[LongTimeLurker]

Portadown potentially relegated again? Changed days from two or three decades ago. Guess it pays to always get your paperwork in on time.