BetMcLean Cup winners to receive massive European boost as part of competition shake-up
In what has been described as the most lucrative sponsorship deal in the competition's history that will also see the Play-Offs sponsored by BetMcLean, for the first time the stakes have been raised for the champions beyond just the prestige of winning the trophy.
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Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Northern Ireland star backed to kick on at Championship club after marking his home debut with stunning strike
Galbraith stepped up to the Championship when he joined the Swans over the summer from Leyton Orient, who were defeated 1-0 by Charlton Athletic in the League One Play-Off Final. Although the Welsh outfit lost their 2025/26 League opener 1-0 away to Middlesbrough, with Galbraith playing 63 minutes at the Riverside Stadium, it was a happier tale for the former Manchester United Academy player at home against Crawley Town in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night. With Brazilian winger Ronald and Bobby Wales having already hit the net in the First Round tie, Galbraith struck a long-range piledriver in second-half stoppage-time that picked out the bottom left corner and ensured Swansea's progression with a 3-1 victory over their League Two opponents. Sheehan believes 24-year-old Glengormley native Galbraith's display at the Stadium could be a sign of things to come. 'He is a player we are integrating,' he said. 'He has good technical ability. We just need to get that level of consistency and he can be a very good player for us.' Former Linfield youth player Galbraith will look to pick up his first League win with his new side when Swansea entertain Sheffield United on Saturday afternoon. Making his Northern Ireland debut as a teenager in 2019, he has seven senior caps to his name having risen to particular prominence under Michael O'Neill over the past year. Swans boss Sheehan added: 'It's important to win, no matter what competition it is. 'Obviously, the League is the most important thing. We would have liked a point (at Middlesbrough), I think it was a 0-0 game. 'I think it was really good response by the players.'
Belfast Telegraph
2 days ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Four PIL clubs book place in next round of BetMcLean Cup
Premier Intermediate League clubs Ballymacash Rangers, Coagh United, Lisburn Distillery and Newry City booked their place in the next round of the BetMcLean Cup. Gary Hamilton's Ballymacash made light work of Oxford Sunnyside, winning 5-1 at Knockramer Park. Reiss Neill, Ross Hunter and Adam Neale all scored for the Lisburn side with Jonathan Doyle hitting a brace. Adam Salley scored a late consolation goal for the Lurgan hosts.
Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Top German outfit make move to sign impressive Northern Ireland defender with eight-figure bid
The club from Lower Saxony are determined to prise the Ballymena native away from the Stadium of Light. However, Sunderland will be reluctant to sell one of their most important players ahead of their return to the Premier League. At the very least, the owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus is likely to demand far in excess of the £10m on offer. Wolfsburg finished 11th in the Bundesliga in the 2024/25 season and are managed by Dutch coach Paul Simonis. Full-back Hume began his career at Linfield, enjoying a loan stint at Ballymena United during the 2020/21 season. He joined Sunderland from the Blues in January 2022. The 23-year-old has played 132 games for the Black Cats, helping the club to promotion to the Premier League in the 2024/25 campaign thanks to a Play-Off Final victory over Sheffield United at Wembley. Hume made his senior debut for Northern Ireland in 2022 and has since earned 22 caps.
