Latest news with #PremierIntermediate
BBC News
19-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Bangor win Championship to earn promotion to top-flight
Bangor have been promoted to the Irish Premiership as Championship winners after a 1-0 victory against H&W Welders at Blanchflower Feeney's side will return to the top-flight for the first time since Morgan's first half goal helped the Seasiders past the Welders to give them an unassailable five-point lead at the top of the table with one league game left to is a second promotion in a few seasons for Bangor, who won the Premier Intermediate title in 2023 to return to the second the other end of the table, Newry City suffered a second successive relegation after a 3-2 defeat by who were demoted from the Irish Premiership last season, will play in the Premier Intermediate League next campaign after their 12th place finish was confirmed.
BBC News
27-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Coverage details ahead of Irish Cup semi-final
And then there were finalists for the Irish Cup final on 3 May will be confirmed this weekend and here's how you can follow all the action across BBC Sport NI. Who is in the semi-finals? We have Premiership v Championship in both last four ties with Ards facing holders Cliftonville at Windsor Park on Friday and Bangor up against Dungannon Swifts at Seaview on Saturday. Where can I watch the games? Both games will be live on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website with Ards v Cliftonville kicking off at 19:45 GMT on Friday and Bangor against Dungannon Swifts kicking off at 17:30 GMT on also have live radio coverage of Bangor v Dungannon Swifts on BBC Radio Ulster and BBC will be live text updates and in-game clips from both games on the website too. How did the clubs get this far? Holders Cliftonville began the defence of the Irish Cup with a routine 4-0 home win against Premier Intermediate side Banbridge Rangers in the fifth Magilton's side required extra-time to see off fellow Premiership side Glenavon 3-2 to secure their passage to the quarter-finals before Ryan Curran and Alex Parsons helped them overcome north Belfast rivals Crusaders 2-1 to book their place in the last in 1974, Ards caused an upset in round five by beating Premiership side Ballymena United 2-1 and then eased past Premier Intermediate outfit Moyola Park 3-1 in the next the last eight, John Bailie's side beat Premiership strugglers Loughgall 2-0 to book their first semi-final appearance since who won this trophy in 1993, needed extra-time to edge past Newington 2-1 in round five before easing to a 3-0 win against Annagh United in round Feeney's side then produced a stunning performance to knock out Glentoran in the Swifts are the only side left in the competition who have never won it. They thrashed Rathfriland Rangers 5-0 in the fifth round before a 2-1 extra-time win over Coleraine booked a quarter-final appearance against Carrick McAree's side then came from behind to win that one 3-1 to seal their place in the final four. What's their league form been like? It would be fair to say that Cliftonville have been a cup team this year given their inconsistent league Reds won the League Cup earlier this month but they have fallen way short in the league and find themselves in the bottom six. If they can retain the Irish Cup, they'll secure all important European football for next season. Ards have had a good Championship campaign, finishing the 'regular' season in the top half and have momentum after winning their last four league has been a dream season so far for Bangor as alongside their unlikely cup run, they are leading the way for promotion to the Seasiders are top of the Championship table, eight points ahead of nearest rivals H&W Welders with five games to it's been equally impressive for Dungannon Swifts, who have combined a cup run with an impressive league campaign. McAree's side have broken into the top six ahead of the split, sitting in fourth position and currently sit four points off Larne in the race for second and automatic qualification for European football.
BBC News
30-01-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Stadia funding welcomed but £36.2m 'falls significantly short'
The Irish FA and Northern Ireland Football League [NIFL] have "welcomed" investment in local football from the Northern Ireland Executive but called for further initially being announced in 2011, £36.2 million will be provided by the NI Executive to improve stadia and facilities for football clubs across Northern Thursday, Communities minister Gordon Lyons announced that applications are open for clubs to receive a share of the who are eligible will be able to apply for a slice of the Northern Ireland Football Fund Performance FA president Conrad Kirkwood says it is a "positive step forward" but "long overdue" and "falls significantly short".Gerard Lawlor, chief executive of NIFL, says he welcomes the announcement with "cautious optimism".Clubs in the men's Premiership, Championship and Premier Intermediate leagues and NIFL Women's Premiership are eligible to apply, along with League of Ireland outfit Derry City. Lawlor said the announcement was an "important milestone" but added that the "current fund will unfortunately have nowhere near the impact as initially intended".He added: "As the minister himself has stated, much more is needed to have the required impact."Lawlor also pointed to the decision not to develop Casement Park ahead of the Euro 2028 finals and said a "legacy" needs to be implemented."In the correspondence to not develop Casement Park for Euro 2028, the Secretary of State and UK Sports Minister stated that they 'remained committed to building a legacy for football across the whole of the UK'. "This is their big chance as now is the time to step up and deliver."The NI Football Fund requires more money. The Lord Justice Taylor Report was published in 1990 and football in Northern Ireland still hasn't received its proportion, so we strongly feel that UK Government funding is long overdue. "We will continue to lobby and make our case to both the NI Executive and UK Government as the role and impact our member clubs play in their communities and society simply cannot be understated." IFA president Kirkwood added the funding allocated by Stormont falls "significantly short of the Department for Communities' own estimated £200 million required to upgrade performance club grounds, grassroots facilities and establish a National Football Centre for Northern Ireland".He said that "fit for purpose stadia" will leave an impact for "the people of Northern Ireland for generations to come"."We, alongside our partners at NIFL, are dedicated to working closely with the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that our game benefits from the UK and Ireland's hosting of the UEFA Euro 2028 tournament."Minister Lyons admitted additional funding will be required and he is "determined this is only the beginning"."It is my ambition that this is a rolling programme of awards and project delivery over the coming years," said Lyons, who added the funding goes "beyond football" and helps communities."This will require additional funding in due course and I will be seeking to sustain the fund with further investment from a range of sources."Lyons has also pledged cash for grassroots football and a national training centre, but this is not included in the initial release of funds designed for clubs and their stadia. 'I left in 1996 and it hasn't changed one bit' Glentoran manager Declan Devine believes the facilities for football in Northern Ireland "needs to move with the times".When the £36.2 million was initially announced in 2011, the club's Oval ground in east Belfast was earmarked for £10 million to help towards its redevelopment."If we want football in Northern Ireland to grow, we've got to provide our fans - irrelevant of what club – with modern facilities to enjoy what is a brilliant product," said Devine."We need a hub which we can use all of the facilities for the people of east Belfast. We have to work with our community. "We need to bring this back into the 2025 world because I left here in 1996, came back last year and the thing hasn't changed one bit."Devine, who has also managed Derry City and Bohemians in the League of Ireland, feels the stadia "aren't up to scratch" and that Larne's success in Europe will only be replicated with better facilities."We've just had a club qualify for the Conference League Group stages [in Larne]," he said. "If we want to showcase our country, we need to showcase our facilities. We need investment. "If you look at the current Northern Ireland international team, the many players who have come through this league. We have a brilliant product. "We have a brilliant future ahead of us but we need the stadia, the grounds and the clubs to be supported by our government to take us to the next level."
