Latest news with #CarrickRangers
Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
How splitting Premiership's opening weekend across Saturday and Sunday helped Irish League enjoy the limelight
Donal Rocks hit an early contender for Goal of the Season, Carrick Rangers produced one of the most memorable comebacks in years, Kieran Offord silenced his critics and Joel Cooper lived up to the pre-season hype.
Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Annagh United boss Ciaran McGurgan eyes another promotion shot
Annagh United manager Ciaran McGurgan has promised that his side will 'go again' after the disappointment of losing 8-3 on aggregate to Carrick Rangers in the Promotion/Relegation Play-Off.
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Comebacks, stunners and 'Super Cooper' - the Irish Premiership returns
The Irish Premiership returned at the weekend with all 12 teams in action across Saturday and Ballymena United, Carrick Rangers, Coleraine, Glentoran and Linfield all began their campaigns with opening day first six games of the season served up the debuts of plenty of new signings, new kits and goals galore with some interesting Sport NI looks at five of the biggest talking points from the weekend's action. Refereeing controversy at Seaview There was an early contender for game of the season at Seaview and few could have envisaged Carrick Rangers fighting back to win 4-3 when they fell 3-0 behind after 32 minutes against Crues, who look to be trying to evolve their playing style under Declan Caddell this year, played some scintillating football in that first half unearthing Kieran Offord from Scotland last season, they seem to have hit the jackpot again in that market again with some of their latest Bryden and Adam Brooks scored on their debuts, Elliot Dunlop was a constant thorn in Carrick's side with his pace and directness, and Finley Thorndike, as he did at Glentoran, showed glimpses of his Baxter's decision to sign a number of former Crusaders players looked to have backfired as their lack of pace in defence was exposed, but they showed ruthlessness when chances presented themselves to stay in the Gibson produced two clinical finishes whilst Jack Scott twice held his nerve from the spot to help them to a remarkable comeback awarding of both those spot kicks was contentious with Crues boss Caddell less than impressed with referee Mark Dillion, who had a tough afternoon in north decision to award the first spot kick when Aidan Steele was taken down by Dunlop proved to be something of a turning point as Scott converted to spark the ire lay firmly with the fact Dillion's assistant had initially signalled for a throw-in to Crusaders and the referee overruled him to award the penalty."Two huge calls from the referee that has given Carrick Rangers three points today," Caddell said post-match and it is hard to argue the referee's decisions did not have a huge bearing on the game. Rocket from Rocks nets Sky Blues three points As well as a game of the season contender on opening day, we also had a goal of the season contender from an unlikely source in Ballymena United's Donal industrious midfielder is not renowned for his goal scoring prowess but his double on Saturday helped the Sky Blues to a 2-0 opening day win over Glenavon at Mourneview nipped in at the back post to tuck home the opener in the first half and then produced a stunning strike for his second, lobbing goalkeeper Jacob Carney from long range to seal all three of taking the plaudits post-match, Rocks admitted to BBC Sport NI the shot was more hit and hope than Wayne Rooney esque!"My legs were getting a bit heavy as it was the first game of the season, but I looked up and caught the keeper off his line, struck it well and it went in off the underside of the crossbar," he said. Dream start for clinical Bangor Bangor marked their return to the top flight with a first Irish Premiership win since December 2008 and they were well worth their 3-1 victory over Cliftonville at Clandeboye Park Lee Feeney said that he had trialled three different formations in the build-up to the game due to injuries and he landed on a winning well-drilled Seasiders did their homework as they frustrated Cliftonville and took their chances when they came, exploiting the Reds' weakness in the Arthurs and former Reds striker Michael Morgan both headed home from good deliveries to hand Bangor a valuable three was a difficult afternoon for Jim Magilton's side, who struck the crossbar three times but failed to really create many clear-cut Ryan Curran's equaliser they had a spell when they looked like they might go on and win the game, but they switched off defensively and were duly games against Coleraine, Larne and Linfield to come this month, Magilton will hope that result will be a huge wake-up call. Super Cooper New team, same old Joel year's Player of the Season Cooper scored the winner on his debut for new-look Coleraine to get his and their season off to a former Linfield man showed his signature composure as he buried a low shot beyond Rohan Ferguson with four minutes left at the Coleraine Showgrounds to edge a tense encounter against was a game that looked to be drifting towards a goalless draw before Cooper sprinkled some magic to earn a crucial win for Ruaidhri was the difference for Linfield on a number of occasions last year as they romped to the title, with many of his 19 goals helping to decide will hope for a similar impact this year as they look to mount a serious title Larne, it was a familiar tale of a tired side after their European exploits on Thursday as they were punished for a lapse in concentration in defence for the goal. Hat-trick hero Offord It's safe to say that Offord has yet to hit the heights at Linfield as he did in his six-month loan spell at 21-year-old striker's characteristically hard-working attitude has not waned at all, but after arriving at the Blues in January, he struggled in front of impact in Linfield's European campaign to date has been minimal too, but his hat-trick in Sunday's 3-0 win against Dungannon Swifts may just be the start of the Scotsman re-discovering his clinical stroked home a penalty for his first goal, showed composure to stick his second through Declan Dunne's legs and persistence to complete his hat-trick a minute later, heading home after his initially effort was Healy has a 19-goal Cooper hole to fill and with no more additions looking likely, Offord scoring regularly may be just the remedy he needs."For me, he is just getting started. He had the bedding in period last season and now he can show what he can do as he did today," Healy's assistant Ross Oliver said after the forget to follow all of our Irish Premiership coverage on our dedicated Irish League Football page
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'Fans got full value for money'
Carrick Rangers manager Stephen Baxter was thrilled with his team's composure in their comeback 4-3 win at by three after 32 minutes, Baxter still felt his team could turn things around and they did just that in superb it was far from the perfect performance, Baxter felt "the fans got full value for money" and the win was a good way to start the new season."It was a tremendous game of football for an opening game," he told BBC Sport NI."There was some tactical stuff that will drive me and the coaches mad, but on the while, you have to give tremendous credit to the players a 3-0 down to come back and win."I turned to the boys on the bench when the third goal went in and there was no panic. We were 3-0 down to Cliftonville here many a year ago when I was Crusaders' manager and won 4-3. No panic, find your way into the game and we did that."You have to have the confidence to build on things. We weren't tight enough in our defensive shape and they got through us too easily, so these are things we'll work on."
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'Big calls changed the game' - Caddell on Carrick loss
Crusaders manager Declan Caddell felt big calls went against his team as Carrick Rangers came back from three down to win 4-3 at Crues looked to be on course for an impressive win when hitting three goals inside the opening 32 minutes, but the decision by referee Mark Dillon to award a penalty when Aidan Steele was taken down by Elliot Dunlop proved to be something of a turning point as Jack Scott from Daniel Gibson either side of the break brought the visitors level, but another big call in injury time would lead to Scott stroking home a second penalty, awarded when a cross struck the hand of Robbie didn't feel his team produced the goods in the second period, but was frustrated by both big calls which ultimately cost his team."The first 35 minutes we dominated, scored three goals and could have had five or six, but a big call and a big decision has allowed Carrick to get back into the game," he told BBC Sport NI."You try to calm down over the summer, forget about things and look forward to a new campaign, but at 3-0 up we are cruising. A big call, which I think he got wrong, changed that game and from that we lost our way."I can take a bit of responsibility for that in the second half, as to how the players performed. I don't think they were at it, but big calls change games."Even the last penalty, I'm not sure again, so it's two huge calls from the referee that has given Carrick Rangers three points today." 'It's frustrating but we'll move on' Caddell does not believe the introduction of VAR into the Irish League is the natural step to rule on such big calls but instead feels the decisions that went against his team are easily fixed."You don't have to go VAR, they are basic decisions," he continued."On the sideline, I look for the reaction of my players and the opposition first one: the linesman is four yards away has given a throw-in to us, which was the right call, but the referee overrules him."The second: there referee says handball. It has hit his hand, but he hasn't made himself bigger, so they are huge calls."We lost our way and that can happen when calls go against you. It's frustrating, but we have to move on."
