| Venue: The Showgrounds, Coleraine Date: Friday, 16 February Kick-off: 19:45 GMT |
| Coverage: Live stream on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website with live text commentary and in-game clips |
The 2023-24 Irish Premiership title race has turned into a compelling three-way battle between champions Larne, Linfield and Cliftonville.
With 10 rounds of games remaining, it’s Larne who have managed to get their noses in front, but just three points separate the leading trio so the destination of the Gibson Cup remains very much in the balance.
Linfield sit second, one point in arrears, with Cliftonville just two points further adrift of the pacesetters.
BBC Sport NI assesses the prospects of each of the contenders for the premier piece of silverware in the Northern Ireland domestic game, with the help of regular pundit and three-time league winner, ex-Crusaders captain Colin Coates.
larne
By their own high standards they set last season, Larne made an indifferent start to the defence of their crown, dropping nine points in their first nine fixtures.
Uncustomary defensive lapses saw Tiernan Lynch’s men held to a 4-4 draw in their league opener at Inver Park and while they continued to keep in touch with the summit, a 1-0 defeat at Loughgall at the end of September came as something of a wake-up call for the Invermen.
Since that setback, the east Antrim club have put together a stunning run of 15 wins and four draws from 19 league matches, a sequence that has seen them hit the front with the title run-in now coming into sight.
Their renowned rearguard frugality has returned to such an extent that they have conceded the least goals of the three league challengers – 16 up to this point.
Larne are also unbeaten so far in five meetings with their title rivals, including home and away victories over Linfield and one win against Cliftonville.
Striker Andy Ryan was a key player when he arrived for the second half of last year’s campaign and the 14 goals he has scored so far in the current term, including his recent prolific spell in front of goal, suggest his role will be crucial again.
Colin Coates says: “Larne have started to show their grit. At the start of the season they had a few draws and a surprise defeat to Loughgall but now they look pretty formidable.
“They’re scoring plenty of goals and probably even more importantly from Tiernan Lynch’s point of view they’re not really conceding any, so if you’re doing that it’s always a recipe for success.
“They’re building on the experience they’ve gained from last year and they know how to get over the line.
“Andy Ryan has found his touch in front of goal again and Cian Bolger is a big player for them at the back. If he’s unavailable, like he was earlier in the season, it leaves a bit of a hole for them with everything he brings to the team.
“For me, those two have been the key players, and obviously bringing in Chris Gallagher in January was a brilliant piece of business for them.”
Remaining fixtures before split: Ballymena United (a), Glentoran (h), Coleraine (a), Glenavon (h), Cliftonville (a)
Linfield
Just a few weeks ago Linfield appeared to be in pole position to regain the title they lost to Larne last season but a couple of disappointing results have seen them surrender top spot in the standings.
A home loss to Dungannon Swifts was followed by Glenavon salvaging a last-gasp point at Mourneview Park on Saturday, a result which saw Larne leapfrog their rivals and consign the Blues to second position, for now at least.
Nobody will be writing off the 56-time winners however and with key figures like Chris Shields and Stephen Fallon returning to the fray after injury, fans of the south Belfast club’s fans will be confident of their side overhauling their fellow title hopefuls.
Their squad boasts experienced players who have ‘been there and done that’ in terms of knowing how to clinch league titles, allied with a group of hungry youngsters chasing their first major trophy success.
Linfield’s defeat by the Swifts was their fourth of the campaign and Healy’s side have conceded 30 goals so far, comfortably the most of either of the clubs either side of them in the league.
In Joel Cooper, they had perhaps the in-form player of the early months of the season and although the wing wizard has had his injury problems of late, he should have an important part to play as the campaign approaches its conclusion.
Colin Coates says: “In a season-long title race you’ll have a period of time that you’re not at your best, similar to what Larne had earlier on in the season. David Healy will hope that they are coming out the end of that wee patch at the minute.
“It’s just a matter of Linfield snapping out of that as quickly as possible. It was a surprise defeat to Dungannon at home and then drawing with Glenavon, not results that you would have expected.
“Chris Shields being back is a big boost for them in the middle of the park. He brings a lot to them.
“They are a wee bit light in some positions. Euan East went off on Saturday, but if they can get their best players out on the pitch they will always be there or thereabouts.
“Joel Cooper has missed some games over the last couple of months and he is such a key player to Linfield, he’s that elite level within our league, he’s one of the top, top players, who can score goals out of nothing and create things for you.”
Remaining fixtures before split: Coleraine (a), Cliftonville (a), Ballymena United (h), Newry City (h), Carrick Rangers (a)
Cliftonville
The appointment of Jim Magilton was met with a lukewarm response by some Reds supporters but it’s fair to say the former Northern Ireland midfielder has won over any doubters with his side’s progress up to this point.
Cliftonville have scored the most goals of any of the top three (65) and are on a fantastic run of form of 11 wins and two draws from their last 13 top flight outings.
Their last reverse was a 2-1 defeat by Larne on 23 November, having earlier lost twice to Linfield and once to Glentoran.
The north Belfast Reds’ current run has them right in contention for their first Irish League crown since 2014, the club having come agonisingly close to prising the most coveted prize from Linfield in 2022 when they took the race to the final day of the season.
Colin Coates says: “I’m not sure why people didn’t expect them to be challenging. They’ve been there or thereabouts the last couple of seasons and just fallen short. It’s no surprise to me that they’re right up there.
“That squad is full of quality players right throughout the team. The likes of Ronan Hale has really shown this season what he can do. Jim Magilton has added to what was there already, brought in some good players.
“Ben Wilson has been a star for them up front and Jim has them playing a very attacking brand of football which is good to watch.
“From what I hear the players love working with him and they have all bought into the training methods. He’s done a great job and will be quietly confident in the background about what his team can do.
“They have some big games coming up. They play Linfield and Larne, both at Solitude, in the next month, so those are huge games and it’s just about who blinks first.
“Whatever happens from here on in it will be deemed a good season but having got themselves into this position the team will want to push on and win the Gibson Cup.”
Remaining fixtures before split: Glenavon (h), Linfield (h), Dungannon Swifts (a), Loughgall (a), Larne (h)
