Latest news with #RelegationPlay-Off
Belfast Telegraph
5 days ago
- General
- Belfast Telegraph
Northern Ireland lead Bosnia in decisive Nations League clash
Live | The equation for Tanya Oxtoby's side is simple. If they win or draw with Bosnia in Zenica they will finish second in the group and qualify for the Promotion Play-Off for a place in League A. If they lose, they will finish third and drop into the Relegation Play-Off where they must fight to avoid the drop into League C.
Belfast Telegraph
5 days ago
- General
- Belfast Telegraph
Updates from Zenica as Northern Ireland face Bosnia in decisive Nations League clash
Live | The equation for Tanya Oxtoby's side is simple. If they win or draw with Bosnia in Zenica they will finish second in the group and qualify for the Promotion Play-Off for a place in League A. If they lose, they will finish third and drop into the Relegation Play-Off where they must fight to avoid the drop into League C.
Belfast Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Scottish Premiership boss looking to former Cliftonville hero to fire his side to safety: ‘He's been real bright spot for us'
The Staggies are locked in a Relegation Play-Off against Livingston to save their top-flight status, and Cowie believes Hale's fine goalscoring contributions have been a huge lift ahead of the crucial two-legged tie. The 26-year-old has scored 16 goals across all competitions and 12 in the League since he swapped north Belfast for Dingwall in the summer of 2024, with only seven players outscoring him in the League in his first season in Scottish football. He has also completed a switch of international allegiance back to Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland and, while he is still awaiting his first senior cap having not featured on the pitch when called up by Michael O'Neill for the March international break, Cowie believes the disappointment of missing out on game-time then has in fact spurred him on at club level. The numbers back that up, with Hale having scored four goals in County's last six matches in the League, and Cowie has saluted his confidence in front of goal ahead of the Livi clashes. 'Over the last four or five weeks, Ronan has been a real bright spot for us,' Cowie told the Inverness Courier. 'He just thrives on scoring goals. It just means everything to him and you can just see him getting more and more confident as each week goes by given the goals he is scoring. 'He was a bit disappointed for a spell prior to that. He went away with Northern Ireland and didn't manage to get his first cap, but the message from us was 'keep performing well for Ross County'. 'If so, we know he will get those opportunities again, that first cap will come. 'So, he has got his head down and worked hard. You can see how much it means to him out there on the pitch and, for us as a team, having him in fine form and scoring goals is a real positive.' Former Larne and Crusaders hitman Hale's last game for Cliftonville was their memorable first Irish Cup triumph in 45 years when he struck twice in extra-time to seal a historic 3-1 success over Linfield at Windsor Park. In an ironic twist, current Livi duo Daniel Finlayson and Matthew Clarke were in the Blues squad that day and will oppose Hale once again as they look to inspire David Martindale's side back into the Premiership at the first attempt following their relegation last season. But the in-demand Hale, who is reportedly wanted by a host of EFL clubs including Luton Town, Reading, Wigan Athletic and Wrexham, will look to prove the difference for County and inspire them to a third successive Relegation Play-Off victory.
