After an extended break due to Covid, the NI Premiership starts back tonight with a local derby.
This weekend's matches are:
Coleraine v Ballymena United
Cliftonville v Glentoran
Larne v Dungannon Swifts
Linfield v Carrick Rangers
Warrenpoint Town v Crusaders
Glenavon v Portadown
Northern Irish Football Season 2020/21
We now have separate topics for all four 'countries'! 
In NI we support Ballymena United and Crusaders!
I see several similarities between NIFL Premiership and Cymru Premier!
None of the national team players of NI and Wales play for clubs of the NIFL Premiership or Cymru Premier. FW Shayne Lavery (22 years old) who plays for Linfield was called up in September 2020 though. 7 current NI national team players play for Scottish clubs.
All stadiums of NIFL Premiership clubs are situated within 100 km; about 190 km for Cymru Premier club stadiums!
NI club Derry City plays in the League of Ireland (ROI) Premier Division. Welsh clubs Swansea City and Cardiff City play in the English Championship.
NI had its lowest UEFA country ranking in 2019 (52nd out of 55 ‘countries’). Its highest ranking was in 1968 (22nd out of 33 countries).
Wales had its lowest UEFA country ranking in 2016 (51st out of 54 ‘countries’). Its highest ranking was in 1971 and 1972 (8th out of 33 countries).
In NI we support Ballymena United and Crusaders!I see several similarities between NIFL Premiership and Cymru Premier!
None of the national team players of NI and Wales play for clubs of the NIFL Premiership or Cymru Premier. FW Shayne Lavery (22 years old) who plays for Linfield was called up in September 2020 though. 7 current NI national team players play for Scottish clubs.
All stadiums of NIFL Premiership clubs are situated within 100 km; about 190 km for Cymru Premier club stadiums!
NI club Derry City plays in the League of Ireland (ROI) Premier Division. Welsh clubs Swansea City and Cardiff City play in the English Championship.
NI had its lowest UEFA country ranking in 2019 (52nd out of 55 ‘countries’). Its highest ranking was in 1968 (22nd out of 33 countries).
Wales had its lowest UEFA country ranking in 2016 (51st out of 54 ‘countries’). Its highest ranking was in 1971 and 1972 (8th out of 33 countries).
First round of games is complete.
Coleraine 0-1 Ballymena United
Cliftonville 1-0 Glentoran
Larne 3-0 Dungannon Swifts
Linfield 5-1 Carrick Rangers
Warrenpoint Town 0-1 Crusaders
Glenavon 2-4 Portadown
Surprise results in the 2 derby matches with Ballymena holding on with 10 men to beat Coleraine, and newly promoted Portadown won 4-2 in the Mid Ulster Derby.
Reigning champions Linfield started well as they look for a record 55th league title with striker Andy Waterworth grabbing a hat trick as Linfield cruised to a comfortable 5-1 win. Larne and Crusaders will also be happy to win matches they would have expected to, to start the new season well.
Big spenders Glentoran will possibly be disappointed to lose to an 86th minute goal as Cliftonville capitalised on a mistake by midfielder Dale Gorman.
Coleraine 0-1 Ballymena United
Cliftonville 1-0 Glentoran
Larne 3-0 Dungannon Swifts
Linfield 5-1 Carrick Rangers
Warrenpoint Town 0-1 Crusaders
Glenavon 2-4 Portadown
Surprise results in the 2 derby matches with Ballymena holding on with 10 men to beat Coleraine, and newly promoted Portadown won 4-2 in the Mid Ulster Derby.
Reigning champions Linfield started well as they look for a record 55th league title with striker Andy Waterworth grabbing a hat trick as Linfield cruised to a comfortable 5-1 win. Larne and Crusaders will also be happy to win matches they would have expected to, to start the new season well.
Big spenders Glentoran will possibly be disappointed to lose to an 86th minute goal as Cliftonville capitalised on a mistake by midfielder Dale Gorman.
This week's matches start tonight with yet another 2 local Derby matches. Full list for match day 2 are:
Crusaders v Cliftonville
Carrick Rangers v Larne
Dungannon Swifts v Warrenpoint Town
Glentoran v Glenavon
Portadown v Coleraine
Ballymena United v Linfield
Crusaders v Cliftonville
Carrick Rangers v Larne
Dungannon Swifts v Warrenpoint Town
Glentoran v Glenavon
Portadown v Coleraine
Ballymena United v Linfield
And Game week 2 is done.
Final results are:
Crusaders 1-0 Cliftonville
Carrick Rangers 1-2 Larne
Dungannon Swifts 0-2 Warrenpoint Town
Glentoran 1-1 Glenavon
Portadown 0-3 Coleraine
Ballymena United 2-3 Linfield
After 2 matches Linfield's Andy Waterworth remains top scorer with 3 goals after his hat trick last week against Carrick.
Meanwhile Sean O'Neill and Crusaders are the only team to have kept a clean sheet in both games so far
Final results are:
Crusaders 1-0 Cliftonville
Carrick Rangers 1-2 Larne
Dungannon Swifts 0-2 Warrenpoint Town
Glentoran 1-1 Glenavon
Portadown 0-3 Coleraine
Ballymena United 2-3 Linfield
After 2 matches Linfield's Andy Waterworth remains top scorer with 3 goals after his hat trick last week against Carrick.
Meanwhile Sean O'Neill and Crusaders are the only team to have kept a clean sheet in both games so far
League table is as follows in the format of played - won -drawn - lost - for - points
Linfield - 2 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 8 - 3 - 6
Larne - 2 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 5 - 1 - 6
Crusaders - 2 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 2 - 0 - 6
Coleraine - 2 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 3 - 1 - 3
Warrenpoint Town - 2 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 2 - 1 - 3
Ballymena United - 2 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 3 - 3 - 3
Cliftonville - 2 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 3
Portadown - 2 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 4 - 5 - 3
Glentoran - 2 - 0 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 2 - 1
Glenavon - 2 - 0 - 1 - 1 - 3 - 5 - 1
Carrick Rangers - 2 - 0 - 0 - 2 - 2 - 7 - 0
Dungannon Swifts - 2 - 0 - 0 - 2 - 0 - 5 - 0
Linfield - 2 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 8 - 3 - 6
Larne - 2 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 5 - 1 - 6
Crusaders - 2 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 2 - 0 - 6
Coleraine - 2 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 3 - 1 - 3
Warrenpoint Town - 2 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 2 - 1 - 3
Ballymena United - 2 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 3 - 3 - 3
Cliftonville - 2 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 3
Portadown - 2 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 4 - 5 - 3
Glentoran - 2 - 0 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 2 - 1
Glenavon - 2 - 0 - 1 - 1 - 3 - 5 - 1
Carrick Rangers - 2 - 0 - 0 - 2 - 2 - 7 - 0
Dungannon Swifts - 2 - 0 - 0 - 2 - 0 - 5 - 0
This Larne team must be quite good, right now they are at the top of the league.
Bad start for Coleraine and Glentoran, the EL teams of august/september.
Bad start for Coleraine and Glentoran, the EL teams of august/september.
International break hater
A couple of questions for Northern Ireland users: will the league be completed as planned (38 matchdays) or just 33 matchdays? The games to be played are still many.
Will ECL Play-Offs be played? And the Irish Cup?
Will ECL Play-Offs be played? And the Irish Cup?
Last edited by matt on Tue Mar 02, 2021 23:30, edited 1 time in total.
International break hater
Will the ECL playoffs be played? As far as I know, yes. The playoffs will be played as well. Still no word on the Irish Cup
Irish Cup is planned to start and finish in May. Already four lower league teams have withdrawn following the announcement (only the top division is playing at the moment).
The league is still 38 games, however, there is speculation that it may be reduced to 33 but nothing official.
In my opinion a 38 game league and the cup could just about be completed in time but the ECL play offs would need an extension. Again there is speculation that UEFA may be asked to extend the nomination deadline.
The league is still 38 games, however, there is speculation that it may be reduced to 33 but nothing official.
In my opinion a 38 game league and the cup could just about be completed in time but the ECL play offs would need an extension. Again there is speculation that UEFA may be asked to extend the nomination deadline.
Very unusual happening in the first Irish Cup semi final this afternoon, during the penalty shoot out the Crusaders goalkeeper was sent off for moving off his line too often 
At 3-3 in the shoot out keeper saves but moved too early, kick retaken and Larne score.
Next penalty he faces (now 4-4) he saves but moves too early again, yellow card and kick retaken. He again saves the retake but has again moved too early, second yellow card and sent off, kick retaken and scored with an outfield player in goals.
Full story https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57163683
Edit: video here but may need to be UK based (or VPN) to view https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/57165301
At 3-3 in the shoot out keeper saves but moved too early, kick retaken and Larne score.
Next penalty he faces (now 4-4) he saves but moves too early again, yellow card and kick retaken. He again saves the retake but has again moved too early, second yellow card and sent off, kick retaken and scored with an outfield player in goals.
Full story https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57163683
Edit: video here but may need to be UK based (or VPN) to view https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/57165301
I can watch it here, so apparently no geo-restrictions.cochise wrote: ↑Tue May 18, 2021 20:27 Edit: video here but may need to be UK based (or VPN) to view https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/57165301