Irish League Football

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Irish Premiership champions Larne have completed the signing of 24-year-old defender Sam McClelland.

McClelland arrives at Inver Park following a four-year spell in England and Scotland.

Having moved to Chelsea from Coleraine's academy in 2018, McClelland had a loan spell in the EFL with Barrow in the 2022-23 season.

Following this stint with the League Two club, McClelland moved north of the border to sign for St Johnstone in 2023.

His spell at McDiarmid Park included a successful loan spell with Dundee United, where the defender helped the Tannadice club to the Scottish Championship title.

On the international stage, McClelland has been capped at youth level up to and including 10 appearances for the under-21 side.

He went on to make his senior international debut against Ukraine in a friendly in June 2021.

The defender missed the last year because of a ruptured Achilles injury but has returned to fitness in time to boost the east Antrim club's squad before their European and domestic campaigns.

"Sam is a player I've always liked. He is a player who has been tipped for big things from an early age," said Larne manager Gary Haveron.

"He unfortunately picked up a bad injury and was maybe too brave for his own good, trying to play through it when he probably should have been taken out.

"He is back fully fit now; he flew through his medical. I'm really excited to see Sam in Larne shirt, because he had the potential to be one of the best centre halves in the Irish League."

"Sam is hungry to kick on. He will bring a presence, leadership and composure on the ball – so we're delighted to bring him to the club."

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Defender Rhys Breen has become the first signing of David Jeffrey's tenure as Portadown manager.

The former Linfield and Ballymena United boss was appointed as Niall Currie's successor at the end of April.

Breen began his career with Glasgow Rangers, coming through the youth system prior to signing a professional contract, and went on to have loan spells with Partick Thistle, Queen of the South and American side, Orange County SC, during his time at Ibrox.

The central defender made a permanent switch to Dunfermline in the summer of 2021, spending four seasons at East End Park, which included a loan spell with Annan Athletic, and being part of the Pars' League One winning campaign in 2022/23.

The 26-year-old featured 34 times during that memorable season.

Rhys spent 2025-26 with East Kilbride, helping them to the Scottish League Two title.

Jeffrey told the Portadown FC website that he was delighted with his first acquisition.

"I'm absolutely delighted to attract and secure someone with the ability, talent and desire of Rhys.

"The time was right for us and for Rhys to make the move to Shamrock Park and I must give tremendous credit to David Douglas for his persistence in tracking and getting this deal done. It really was something else.

"I'm very excited by this signing, especially taking into account Portadown's long history and success with players from Scotland. After speaking with Rhys, I can tell our supporters first hand how infectious, keen and grateful he is to become part of our club and get started."

Breen commented: "I'm really happy to get this deal done as I feel it's another step up for me in my career.

"I can't wait to get over and get on the grass and show what I can do and impress and do well for the club.

"I want to come and make a massive impact in the defensive area and help the team as much as possible by being a leader on and off the pitch."

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Coleraine have signed Scottish winger Jay Henderson as manager Ruaidhri Higgins continues to boost his squad ahead of the new season.

The 24-year-old is a product of the St Mirren academy and has experience of playing in both the Scottish Premiership and Championship.

He went on to play for the first team at the Paisley-based side and for the Scottish national youth squads.

Henderson spent the 2022-23 season on loan at Inverness Caledonian Thistle and played in the Scottish Cup final against Celtic at Hampden Park at the end of that campaign.

He subsequently joined Ross County on a three-year deal and spent a season on loan at Ayr United during the 2024-25 term, before departing his parent club in the summer.

"I'm really excited by what Jay can provide for us," said Higgins on the Coleraine FC website.

"He's a very dynamic attacking player who has a lot of talent and I've no doubts that he will excite our supporters.

"We've obviously lost players in that area of the pitch this summer and Jay brings a real quality to our squad and he's capable of changing the game in an instant.

"How we play will suit his game and the talent around him will also bring the best out of him."

The Bannsiders' new recruit said it was "an opportunity he is really looking forward to".

"It's a different league and environment and the plans that the club have are exciting and something I look forward to being part of," he said.

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Irish Premiership champions Larne will host Irish Cup winners Coleraine at Inver Park in this year's Northern Ireland Football League Charity Shield on Friday, 3 July.

The match will act as a useful warm-up for both sides as they prepare to enter European club competition during July.

The fixture was traditionally held as a curtain-raiser to the new Irish League season but since 2023 has been used to prepare for participation in Europe.

Larne will compete in the first round of the Champions League qualifiers the following week while Coleraine will enter the Uefa Conference League qualifiers at the second round stage.

Dungannon Swifts won last year's Charity Shield by beating Linfield 5-3 on penalties after a goalless draw between the sides at Windsor Park.

Image source, Inpho

Striker Andy Ryan is leaving Irish Premiership champions to return to play football in his native Scotland.

During a three-and-a-half year spell with the Invermen, the prolific forward played a pivotal role in securing three league titles for the east Antrim club, as well as helping secure qualification for the Uefa Conference League league stage and a County Antrim Shield success.

The 31-year-old made 121 appearances for Larne, scoring 70 goals.

"We can confirm Andy Ryan will depart Inver Park upon the expiry of his contract at the club," a statement released by the club on Monday read.

The former Hamilton Accies frontman clinched Larne's place in the Conference League league phase when he scored a hat-trick in the second leg of the Qualifying Round against Lincoln Red Imps in August 2024.

"When Andy arrived there is no doubt Larne were knocking on the door for major honours, but when he came in he was the catalyst to kick us on for the success which followed," said Larne manager Gary Haveron.

"His hat-trick against Lincoln Red Imps will no doubt be one of the main standout memories to clinch qualification for the Conference League.

"Every team needs a goalscorer and Andy provided that for us. He was the talisman who came up trumps time and again.

"One thing many people won't know is his leadership in and around the group. He sets standards in how he trained and if something needed said in the changing room he would have said it and he was above reproach because he would have done his job."

Ryan reflected on his time at the club with satisfaction and thanked everyone at Larne for welcoming him warmly.

"I have really enjoyed my time at the club in what has been a successful period for everyone connected with it.

"During that time I have met so many amazing people – many of them have become friends along the way.

"I just felt it was the right time for me to move on, with three league winners medals it feels like the right time, having lifted one more Gibson Cup."

Jana McCabe
BBC Sport NI journalist

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Linfield vice captain Chris Shields said "with a bit of luck" he will be fit to return to the Blues' squad for the upcoming Uefa Conference League qualifiers after missing the majority of last season through injury.

Shields has been sidelined since September due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury which required surgery.

The Blues finished a disappointing fourth in the Irish Premiership, but secured European football this summer by beating Dungannon Swifts in the European play-off final at Windsor Park.

"I'll be back in pre-season and I'll be able to run around with the lads," Shields told BBC Radio Foyle.

"With a bit of luck, I'll be there in the European squad. Recovery has gone really well. Just on a bit of a break now, so I'll come back in to meet the physios and get back and hit the ground running.

"It doesn't suit me being a patient, so I'll be pushing to be back for Europe. It's just whether I'm actually medically cleared is the problem for my wife and for the physios."

David Healy's side, who won the Premiership two years ago with six games to spare, could not push to defend their title and finished 17 points off champions Larne.

However, they added the BetMcLean Cup to their trophy cabinet after beating rivals Glentoran in the final.

"If you don't win the league or the Irish Cup, it's a disappointing campaign, but probably from a personal standpoint it was disappointing to miss the year," he continued.

"The lads dug in, and I always say when you're not winning leagues you have to at least stay in amongst the trophies and the lads did manage to do that.

"Finishing fourth obviously is not a deal by anyone's measures, but to get over the line and win the European play-off at least gives us European football to look forward to in July, given the importance of European money in football now."

Image source, Inpho

Cliftonville record goalscorer Joe Gormley has signed a contract extension which will keep him at Solitude until the end of the 2026-27 season.

Gormley has scored 309 goals in 574 appearances for the north Belfast side and netted 15 times during the 2025-26 campaign.

The 36-year-old considered retiring at the end of the 2024-25 season before a rich vein of form - which included a winner in the BetMcLean Cup final - led to him signing a new deal.

Writing on X, Gormley said "I promise this is my last" with a glancing eyes emoji.

The forward made his Reds debut in 2011 and won Irish Premiership titles in 2013 and 2014 before a two-year stint with Peterborough United between 2015 and 2017.

Since returning to Cliftonville, he has won two BetMcLean Cups, the Irish Cup and the County Antrim Shield.

News of Gormley's new deal follows confirmation that defender Jonny Addis is leaving Solitude after five seasons at the club.

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Jonny Addis says he will leave Cliftonville with "memories that will go with me for the rest of my life" after confirming he will seek a fresh start.

The 33-year-old central defender has opted not to sign a new deal with the Reds, confirming "now is the right time to move on" after five seasons at Solitude.

Addis moved to the north Belfast outfit from Ballymena United in June 2021, winning the club's Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year by his team-mates at the end of his first season as he established himself as a fan favourite, scoring 19 goals in 227 appearances for the club.

A member of the 2024 Irish Cup-winning side, Addis also won two BetMcLean Cups with Cliftonville and also managed to claim two Goal of the Season awards in 2023/24 and 2025/26.

In a statement on the club's website, Addis expressed "a massive thank you to everyone involved at the club – the board, players, staff and fans".

"I loved working under both Paddy when I first signed and, since then, Jim. Both have done an unbelievable job to keep us competitive and give me the best days of my career," Addis said.

"I'll leave with memories that will go with me for the rest of my life. The League Cup wins were special, but ending 45 years of Irish Cup heartache definitely tops the lot.

"In between, there's been some disappointing defeats and heartbreak off the pitch. The rollercoaster of emotions are part of what makes this club special."

He continued: "I feel now is the right time to move on. Joining here five years ago was easily the best decision I've ever made in football, and leaving has easily been the hardest.

"Cliftonville owe me nothing and hopefully that feeling is mutual. It has been a privilege."

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Jamie Glackin has agreed a pre-contract deal to return to Dungannon Swifts after spells with fellow Irish Premiership sides Crusaders and Coleraine.

The midfielder played for Dungannon between 2012 and 2017 before joining Crusaders, then left the Seaview outfit to spend seven-and-a-half years with the Bannsiders.

The 31-year-old highlighted the Stangmore Park club's family atmosphere as an important factor in his impending return to join Rodney McAree's squad.

"It's the family club that I love about the Swifts. It just feels right being back," he said.

He also acknowledged the influence of Dungannon boss McAree in his decision.

"Rodney was the reason I went to Coleraine [when McAree was manager of the Ballycastle Road side], and now he's the reason I'm back at Stangmore," he added.

Jana McCabe
BBC Sport NI journalist

Image source, Inpho

The Northern Ireland Football League [NIFL] has confirmed the new structure for next season's Championship.

The division has expanded from 12 teams to 16 with Moyola Park, Strabane Athletic, Rathfriland Rangers and Newry City promoted from the Premier Intermediate League [PIL] and Glenavon dropping down from the Irish Premiership.

The PIL will now be replaced with the National Conference League.

Next campaign, two teams will be relegated automatically with the side who finish in 14th position playing against the runners-up in the National Conference League in a play-off.

Promotion will remain the same with the Championship victors promoted automatically to the top flight and second place facing the side that finish in 11th in the Premiership in a promotion/relegation two-legged play-off.

Each of the 16 teams will play each other home and away before the Championship splits into two sections, based on standings after the 30 matches, with each club having a further seven games post-split.

Last term, Limavady United won the Championship and sealed their spot in next season's Irish Premiership.

Meanwhile, Annagh United finished second and missed out on a top flight spot after being beaten on penalties by Crusaders in their promotion/relegation play-off.

Watch highlights as Matthew Fitzpatrick scores a hat-trick to help Linfield beat Dungannon Swifts 3-1 in the Irish Premiership European play-off final at Windsor Park.

The Blues will now enter the first round of qualifying for the Uefa Conference League.

Read more: Fitzpatrick hat-trick helps Blues win European play-off

Don't forget to follow all of our Irish Premiership coverage on our dedicated Irish League Football page

Stephen Alexander
BBC Sport NI contributor

Image source, Press Eye

Matthew Fitzpatrick scored a hat-trick as Linfield cruised to a 3-1 victory over Dungannon Swifts in the Irish Premiership's European play-off final.

The talismanic striker took his tally for the season to 24 goals as the Blues secured a place in the first qualifying round of next season's Uefa Conference League.

Linfield were worthy winners against beaten Irish Cup finalists Dungannon, for whom a third play-off game in the space of seven days proved too big a hurdle to overcome.

Victory saw Linfield add the revamped Ulster Cup trophy - introduced this season for the play-off winners - to the League Cup they won during the regular campaign.

Hat-trick hero Fitzpatrick stars for Blues

In a quiet opening, the first chance fell to Linfield as Adam Frizzell's cross from the left found Kirk Millar at the back post but the winger was too far from goal to get enough power in his header to trouble Declan Dunne.

Dungannon hit the woodwork with their first attack when Corey Smith cut in from the left flank and his shot bounced once and clipped the outside of the post with goalkeeper Chris Johns appearing to have the danger covered.

Linfield took the lead in the 14th minute when Kyle McClean's pass sent Frizzell clear in the left-hand channel and his low cross was converted from close range by the in-rushing Fitzpatrick.

The home side almost doubled their advantage inside the opening 20 minutes when Isaac Baird dispossessed Gael Bigirimana in midfield before playing in Fitzpatrick, but Swifts goalkeeper Dunne dived to his right to push the striker's effort away.

Linfield had the ball in the net again before the half hour mark but Darragh Leahy's strike was ruled out for a foul by Baird on Paul Doyle earlier in the move.

Dunne then produced a vital double save just before the interval, first denying Millar's shot and then getting up quickly to thwart Fitzpatrick's follow-up effort.

Dungannon had an early opening in the second period as Bigirimana set up Leo Alves, but he could only poke a left-footed effort wide of the post.

It was Linfield's turn to hit the framework of the goal eight minutes into the second period as Millar's cross from the right found McClean but he could only force his shot against the inside of the near post.

As the weather conditions worsened, Fitzpatrick then saw a shot pushed away by Dunne as Linfield chased a decisive second goal.

It duly arrived on 64 minutes when Millar played a through ball which Dungannon defender Danny Wallace was unable to cut out, leaving Fitzpatrick to race clear before knocking the ball through the legs of the advancing Dunne and then rolling the ball into the unguarded net.

Fitzpatrick completed his hat-trick with 20 minutes remaining as he converted from close range from Ethan McGee's low cross from the right wing.

Dungannon pulled a consolation goal back with three minutes left when Kobei Moore latched on to James Knowles' through ball to force a shot home but it was never going to affect the outcome of the game.

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Full-back Danny Amos is among five players that will leave Glentoran this summer upon the expiry of their contracts.

Amos joins Aaron Wightman, Dylan Connolly Callan Farley and Ciaran Coll in departing the east Belfast side.

The 26-year-old joined the Glens in 2024 and made 81 appearances for the club, scoring five goals.

The club also confirmed that midfielder Charlie Lindsay and striker Nathaniel Ferris, who both spent the second half of the campaign on loan at relegated Glenavon, have been placed on the transfer list.

Meanwhile, centre-back MJ Kamson-Kamara has returned to Lincoln City following the conclusion of his season-long loan spell with Declan Devine's side.

"This is never the easiest part of being a football manager because you build relationships with players during your time together, but as a manager you have to make difficult decisions for the benefit of the football club," Devine said.

"I want to thank every one of these lads for their efforts, commitment and professionalism during their time at Glentoran. They've all contributed positively and have been a valued part of the dressing room. On behalf of everyone at the club, I'd like to wish them every success in the next stage of their careers.

"There will be further updates regarding the playing squad in the weeks ahead as we continue to strengthen the group ahead of our UEFA Conference League qualifying campaign and the challenge of competing for domestic honours next season."

Jana McCabe
BBC Sport NI journalist

Image source, Pacemaker Press

The Northern Ireland Football League [NIFL] has confirmed that the video assistant referee [VAR] will not be used during the European play-off final at Windsor Park.

VAR was used for the first time in Northern Irish domestic football during the BetMcLean Cup final between Linfield and Glentoran in March with the introduction met with a mixed response from clubs and fanbases.

Football Video Support [FVS] had been considered as an alternative for the Hawk-Eye system used earlier in the year, but NIFL have now confirmed that the clubs involved have declined the use of the technology.

Cliftonville face Dungannon Swifts in Saturday's European play-off semi-final [18:00 BST] with the winner set to play BetMcLean Cup winners Linfield in Tuesday's decider at Windsor Park [19:45 BST].

The victors of the play-off will secure the Irish Premiership's final spot in the Uefa Conference League qualifiers.

"Following consultation and discussions with participating clubs, the majority chose not to use the FVS system, a position the league was happy to accept," a NIFL statement read.

FVS has been trialled in Italy, Malta and Spain and allows referees to review decisions made in real time with managers given two challenges per game.

Managers would be allowed to appeal 'clear and obvious errors' which would include decisions around goals, penalties and straight red cards.

Once a request for a review is made, the referee would view the incident on a monitor and must make the decision without advice from operators. If the appeal is deemed correct, the manager keeps their two challenges.