Irish League Football

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Larne manager Gary Haveron said that Conor McKendry's match-winning goal against Linfield was "absolutely first-class".

Substitute McKendry rifled home a first-time finish from close-range two minutes from time to complete Larne's comeback after Andy Ryan had cancelled out Kalum Thompson's opener.

And Haveron was delighted with McKendry's impact after being introduced off the bench as Larne leapfrogged Glentoran into second place with the 2-1 win.

"Conor's finish was absolutely first-class, he has had to be patient and wait for opportunities, he is coming off the back of a dead leg so to come on and to score with that type of finish, he is so talented," Haveron told BBC Sport NI.

The Larne boss conceded that his side were "not at the races" in the first half but buoyed by a raft of changes in the second period, they managed to fight back and take home a valuable three points.

"It wasn't our best performance of the season by any stretch of the imagination but the only thing we wanted to come away with was three points to give ourselves an opportunity next week and that is what we have done," he added.

"We were a shadow of ourselves first half, but the boys dug in, and we came out with the result."

Larne's attentions now turn to their final league game against Glentoran next weekend at Inver Park, with the winner of that fixture set to finish second and earn automatic European qualification.

"It's a game we want to be excited for, it's a winner takes all game, so we will have to be prepared for it.

"Glentoran are a good side, we have had some tight games with them this year, but it's important we put our best foot forward next week."

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Holders Cliftonville made it back-to-back wins in the group stage of the League Cup as they edged Linfield 3-2 at Midgley Park.

The Reds, who beat Derry last weekend, went ahead on seven minutes as Fi Morgan headed home from Grace McKimm's cross.

Cora Chambers drew Linfield level nine minutes later, but Ellen Hampton's own goal before half-time restored Cliftonville's lead.

Chambers equalised again for the Blues soon after the break, but substitute Carla Devine scored the winner from close-range against her former side.

The other Group A game between Derry City and Lisburn Ladies that was set to take place on Friday was postponed.

In Group B, Glentoran secured a second successive group stage win with a 2-0 win against Lisburn Rangers at Crewe Park.

The Glens, who thrashed Larne last Friday, broke the deadlock against Lisburn on 63 minutes through Nadene Caldwell before Demi Vance doubled their advantage.

The other Group B meeting between Larne and Crusaders will take place on Wednesday night at Inver Park.

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Glentoran manager Declan Devine has rejected suggestions his team disrespected Linfield by not giving the new Irish Premiership champions a guard of honour prior to the Windsor Park contest on 5 April.

Both Dungannon Swifts and Crusaders had performed the gesture for the Blues in previous weekends following their runaway title success.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, Devine insisted that he congratulated Linfield boss David Healy and his backroom staff "on their amazing season and winning the league title" at the Harry Cavan Youth Cup Final in the week prior to the 5 April game.

"From my point of view, I'm not going to comment on guards of honour, I've more important things to concentrate on. I always give respect to anybody who achieves," said the Glentoran manager.

"I also texted David – people don't understand. I won't make any comment on a guard of honour, but Declan Devine as a human being is the first to congratulate any fellow manager because I know how difficult it is.

"That's my outlook. I congratulated David in front of his own staff and also did it privately. My sole focus going into football matches is to win."

With two series of games to go, Glentoran are currently in the second spot in the Irish Premiership table which secures European football - albeit they are 25 points adrift of the new champions.

The Glens will be keeping a close eye on Friday's contest at Inver Park as third-placed Larne welcome the Blues.

Larne will have the opportunity to move above the Glens into second place in the table but defeat for Gary Haveron's side would mean Devine's players would have the opportunity to guarantee the runners-up spot by winning at Dungannon Swifts on Saturday.

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Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton says that the club's board and "all seem delighted" with the takeover proposals accepted by the club's hip at an extraordinary general meeting on Wednesday night.

The takeover by Canadian consortium, the Toronto Investment Group (TIG), could see the north Belfast club moving to a full-time model and making improvements to their Solitude home.

Following Wednesday's meeting, a Cliftonville statement said the next stage in the process would involve the club's legal representatives engaging with their counterparts at TIG.

Speaking on Thursday, Magilton said he hasn't "been involved in any of it".

"The club wants to redevelop and I think they're looking forward to that aspect of it," added the Cliftonville boss.

"The competition in the league is so fierce now. Obviously finances does and will help you try and bring maybe a different level of player.

"We'll still go about our business the way we do in of recruitment and try and look at the characteristics of the player and that won't change.

"I haven't spoken to anybody from the group, so I won't know that until I'm invited into that conversation."

Magilton added that "somewhere down the line, I [will] get an opportunity to speak to them and see what their vision is".

"Even when I was an outsider looking in, it's a club with massive potential," continued the Reds boss.

"That's brought to the fore with an Irish Cup final, when you see the numbers coming in, the tickets selling so quickly and the redevelopment of the ground etc. It puts Cliftonville on the map."

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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.