NI Premiership Round-up - Week 24
Credit:
Cliftonvillle maintained their six point advantage at the summit of the Danske Irish Premiership in an absorbing weekend’s action were Gary Twigg announced his arrival in the league by scoring on his debut to give Portadown a 1-0 victory over Donegal Celtic.
Twigg signed for Ronnie McFall’s side back in November but had to wait until the transfer window opened to make his first appearance for a Portadown side who were struggling to match last year’s heroics were they finished runners up in the league. The former Shamrock Rovers player showed little sign that the break had blunted his unerring eye for goal and he connected with a looping cross just after half time to put Portadown ahead and earn three much needed points for his team as they seek to break into the top six.
Leaders Cliftonville had to wait until Monday night, and the visit of Sky TV cameras, to welcome Glentoran to Solitude. The delay became even more suspenseful for Tommy Breslin as both Linfield and Crusaders recorded victories on Saturday to reduce the Reds once commanding lead to just three points.
Crusaders piled the pressure on their North Belfast rivals by defeating Glenavon in a pulsating encounter at Mourneview Park as another former League of Ireland striker, Mark Farren, made his debut for the home side. The former Derry City’s player’s stint with Glenavon did not get off to the best of starts as he was substituted just before the end after he pulled up with what looked to be an injury as the game drew to a close.
The game itself was packed with goals and scoring opportunities as Glenavon took the lead through Mark Haughey on fourteen minutes before Gary McCutcheon equalised for Crusaders with his tenth goal of the season just after the half hour mark.
Another former Derry City player, Ciaran Martyn, restored the hosts advantage shortly afterwards but a Paul Heatley volley meant that the teams went at half-time with the game all square.
Both sides has opportunities to add to the score in a frenetic second half but Declan Caddell’s 65th minute header ultimately gained the points for Crues and kept them very much in the hunt for the title while Glenavon are fourth from bottom after suffering four league defeats in a row.
A Matthew Tipton hat-trick meant that Linfield’s recent good form continued as the Champions made it ten games unbeaten in the league and move, for a short while at least, to within seven points of Cliftonville at the head of the table.
The Welsh man opened his account on eight minutes and added his second just before half-time to make it 3-0 overall after Brian McCaul had got the second with a ninth minute penalty. Coleraine briefly entertained of thoughts of a second half comeback when Curtis Allen pulled one back shortly after the re-start but Mark McAllister restored the Blues three goal lead and by the time Tipton completed his hat-trick with five minutes to go the game had long been over as a contest.
The pressure was now on the leaders to get a result against Glentoran in the Monday night fixture and that pressure increased greatly when Stephen Carson swept in an early goal to give the visitors a deserved lead. Carson went from hero to villain on 43 minutes when his bodged clearance fell to George McMullan in the Glens box and the Cliftonville captain volleyed home, much to the delight of the nervous home support.
McMullan then put his side further ahead early in the second half before Liam Boyce and Thomas Cosgrove rounded out the victory that restored the Reds six point advantage going into next week’s break for the fifth round of the Irish Cup.
Elsewhere Dungannon Swifts eased the pain of their first choice keeper Niall Morgan electing to join up with Tyrone senior footballers with a much needed 1-0 victory over bottom side Lisburn Distillery and former Drogheda and Athlone midfielder, Shane Dolan, scored on his debut for Ballymena United in their 3-0 win over Ballinamallard United.
