Northern Ireland Round-up (March 26th 2018)

With Northern Ireland in action over the weekend the Irish League games were scattered between Friday and Monday night.

Coleraine once again sat proudly on top of the table on Friday night by virtue of Crusaders not being in action to Monday night.

There was drama at the Coleraine Showgrounds as there has been all season with Carrick Rangers going in leading at the break courtesy of Darren Henderson’s strike.

Oran Kearney’s men looked in danger of slipping to only their second league defeat of the season before Josh Carson levelled early in the second half.

Aaron Burns put the home side ahead just before the hour mark before Carson got his second seven minutes from time.

Michael Smith pulled one back for the visitors but it proved to be a mere consolation as Coleraine crucially claimed all three points.

Crusaders weren’t in action until Monday night and they travelled to Warrenpoint in the knowledge that they needed a win to retain top spot.

It was all too easy for Stephen Baxter’s men as Paul Heatley bagged a hatrick with Darren Murray striking in between times to make it 4-0.

Thomas Murray scored a consolation for the home team with two to play but it was the ‘Crues’ who regained top spot.

Ballinamallard and Linfield played out a draw after some late drama in Ferney Park. The Mallards took the lead in the fifty seventh minute through Ryan Curran.

But David Healy’s men would overturn that advantage with Mark Stafford striking and Andrew Waterworth slotting home a penalty.

Ballinamallard went down to ten men inside the last ten minutes as Josh McIlwaine saw red. But a Sean Noble goal in injury time was enough to ensure a share of the spoils.

Jay Donnelly netted a hatrick as Cliftonville claimed a routine 3-0 win at home to Ards.

Ballymena beat ten man Glentoran at the Oval thanks to goals from Cathair Friel and Kofi Balmer. Curtis Allen scored for the Glens while William Garrett saw red deep into injury for the home side.

  The goals were in plentiful supply at Stangmore Park as Dungannon Swifts took on Glenavon. Swifts went into a 2-0 lead as Daniel Hughes grabbed a brace.

Gary Hamilton’s men scored twice in three minutes to restore parity Robbie Norton and Sammy Clingan netting.

However the drama didn’t end there as the Tyrone side nabbed a winner in injury time through Seanan Clucas.

Ballymena and Ballinamallard played their second game in three days on Monday night as Ballymena grabbed a top six finish thanks to a Matthew Shevlin brace.   

IRISH LEAGUE RESULTS IN FULL

FRIDAY MARCH 23^RD 2018

BALLINAMALLARD 2-2 LINFIELD

CLIFTONVILLE 3-0 ARDS

COLERAINE 3-2 CARRICK RANGERS

DUNGANNON SWIFTS 3-2 GLENAVON

GLENTORAN 1-2 BALLYMENA UNITED

MONDAY MARCH 26^TH 2018

WARRENPOINT TOWN 1-4 CRUSADERS

BALLYMENA UNITED 2-0 BALLINAMALLARD