2014–15 Northern Ireland Football League
| Season | 2014–15 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Crusaders |
| Relegated | Ballymoney United |
|
← 2013–14 2015–16 → | |
The 2014–15 Northern Ireland Football League was the second season of Northern Ireland's national football league running independently as the Northern Ireland Football League, consisting of the top three levels of the national league system, namely: the Premiership, Championship 1, and Championship 2. It was the 114th season of Irish league football overall.[1] The season began on 8 August 2014 and concluded on 2 May 2015.
Cliftonville were the defending champions, after they won a second consecutive title the previous season for the first time in the club's history - their fourth outright league title and fifth overall.[2] Ten years after suffering relegation to the second tier in 2004–05 and just eight years after their return to the top flight in 2006–07, Crusaders were this season's champions. They lifted the title for the fifth time overall on 18 April 2015 – their first top flight title in the 18 years since their last win in the 1996–97 season.[3]
For the second successive season, a club was relegated to regional football. Ballymoney United finished bottom of Championship 2 and were relegated to a regional division for the following season.
Promotion and relegation
Promoted from Championship 1 to the Premiership
- Institute (1st in NIFL Championship 1)
Relegated from the Premiership to Championship 1
- Ards (12th in NIFL Premiership)
Promoted from Championship 2 to Championship 1
- Armagh City (1st in Championship 2)
- PSNI (2nd in Championship 2)
Relegated from Championship 1 to Championship 2
- Coagh United (13th in Championship 1)
- Limavady United (14th in Championship 1)
Promoted from Mid-Ulster Football League to Championship 2
- Dollingstown (1st in MUFL Intermediate A Division - promoted via play-off)
Relegated from Championship 2 to Ballymena & Provincial League
- Chimney Corner (14th in Championship 2 – club resigned)
- Killymoon Rangers (16th in Championship 2)
League tables
Premiership
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crusaders (C) | 38 | 25 | 7 | 6 | 93 | 43 | +50 | 82 | Qualification to Champions League first qualifying round |
| 2 | Linfield | 38 | 21 | 9 | 8 | 67 | 46 | +21 | 72 | Qualification to Europa League first qualifying round |
| 3 | Glenavon | 38 | 20 | 6 | 12 | 82 | 65 | +17 | 66 | |
| 4 | Portadown | 38 | 17 | 11 | 10 | 65 | 56 | +9 | 62 | |
| 5 | Cliftonville | 38 | 16 | 13 | 9 | 71 | 47 | +24 | 61 | |
| 6 | Glentoran | 38 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 67 | 51 | +16 | 58 | Qualification to Europa League first qualifying round[lower-alpha 1] |
| 7 | Ballymena United | 38 | 15 | 6 | 17 | 62 | 75 | −13 | 51 | |
| 8 | Coleraine | 38 | 13 | 7 | 18 | 48 | 55 | −7 | 46[lower-alpha 2] | |
| 9 | Ballinamallard United | 38 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 40 | 71 | −31 | 39 | |
| 10 | Dungannon Swifts | 38 | 8 | 13 | 17 | 38 | 56 | −18 | 37 | |
| 11 | Warrenpoint Town (O) | 38 | 6 | 12 | 20 | 50 | 76 | −26 | 30 | Qualification to Promotion/relegation play-off |
| 12 | Institute (R) | 38 | 4 | 9 | 25 | 36 | 84 | −48 | 21[lower-alpha 2] | Relegation to NIFL Championship 1 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference
(C) Champion; (O) Play-off winner; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
- ↑ Glentoran qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round as 2014–15 Irish Cup winners.
- 1 2 Coleraine and Institute both fielded an ineligible player in the same match. The original 4–0 Coleraine win was voided with a 3–0 loss being recorded for both clubs, resulting in the final league table having two more losses than wins, and an overall goal difference of –6.[4][5]
Championship 1
| Pos |
Team |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carrick Rangers (C) (P) | 26 | 19 | 5 | 2 | 54 | 22 | +32 | 62 | Promotion to NIFL Premiership |
| 2 | Bangor | 26 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 71 | 32 | +39 | 60 | NIFL Premiership play-off |
| 3 | Ards | 26 | 16 | 8 | 2 | 61 | 30 | +31 | 56 | |
| 4 | Harland & Wolff Welders | 26 | 15 | 5 | 6 | 59 | 37 | +22 | 50 | |
| 5 | Larne | 26 | 13 | 3 | 10 | 52 | 36 | +16 | 42 | |
| 6 | Dergview | 26 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 40 | 43 | −3 | 33 | |
| 7 | Armagh City | 26 | 9 | 5 | 12 | 38 | 48 | −10 | 32 | |
| 8 | Knockbreda | 26 | 9 | 3 | 14 | 31 | 43 | −12 | 30 | |
| 9 | Ballyclare Comrades | 26 | 8 | 4 | 14 | 46 | 48 | −2 | 28 | |
| 10 | Lisburn Distillery | 26 | 8 | 4 | 14 | 38 | 58 | −20 | 28 | |
| 11 | Loughgall | 26 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 36 | 54 | −18 | 27 | |
| 12 | Donegal Celtic | 26 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 35 | 42 | −7 | 24 | |
| 13 | PSNI (R) | 26 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 27 | 64 | −37 | 23 | Relegation to NIFL Championship 2 |
| 14 | Dundela (R) | 26 | 3 | 4 | 19 | 34 | 65 | −31 | 13 |
Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification:
1st points; 2nd goal difference; 3rd goals scored; 4th head-to-head points; 5th head-to-head goal difference
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Championship 2
| Pos |
Team |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lurgan Celtic (C) (P) | 28 | 19 | 6 | 3 | 68 | 21 | +47 | 63 | Promotion to NIFL Championship 1 |
| 2 | Annagh United (P) | 28 | 18 | 4 | 6 | 73 | 46 | +27 | 58 | |
| 3 | Limavady United | 28 | 17 | 5 | 6 | 67 | 32 | +35 | 56 | |
| 4 | Sport & Leisure Swifts | 28 | 16 | 5 | 7 | 50 | 34 | +16 | 53 | |
| 5 | Newington YC | 28 | 15 | 5 | 8 | 40 | 29 | +11 | 50 | |
| 6 | Moyola Park | 28 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 58 | 44 | +14 | 48 | |
| 7 | Dollingstown | 28 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 53 | 39 | +14 | 43 | |
| 8 | Portstewart | 28 | 12 | 6 | 10 | 43 | 40 | +3 | 42 | |
| 9 | Queen's University | 28 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 48 | 34 | +14 | 40 | |
| 10 | Tobermore United | 28 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 48 | 45 | +3 | 34 | |
| 11 | Banbridge Town | 28 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 38 | 70 | −32 | 28 | |
| 12 | Glebe Rangers | 28 | 6 | 6 | 16 | 45 | 64 | −19 | 24 | |
| 13 | Wakehurst | 28 | 6 | 4 | 18 | 28 | 68 | −40 | 22 | |
| 14 | Coagh United | 28 | 3 | 6 | 19 | 29 | 72 | −43 | 15 | |
| 15 | Ballymoney United (R) | 28 | 2 | 5 | 21 | 26 | 76 | −50 | 11 | Relegation to Level 4 Regional league |
Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification:
1st points; 2nd goal difference; 3rd goals scored; 4th head-to-head points; 5th head-to-head goal difference
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Results
Premiership
Matches 1–22During matches 1–22 each team played every other team twice (home and away).
Source: rsssf.com *^‡ Original 4–0 result overturned to a 0–3 defeat for both clubs, after both fielded ineligible players in the match. |
Matches 23–33During matches 23–33 each team played every other team for the third time (either at home, or away).
Source: rsssf.com |
Matches 34–38
During matches 34–38 each team played every other team in their half of the table once. As this was the fourth time that teams had played each other this season, home sides were chosen so that they had played each other twice at home and twice away.
|
Section A
Source: rsssf.com |
Section B
Source: rsssf.com |
Promotion/relegation play-off
11th-placed Warrenpoint Town played NIFL Championship 1 runners-up Bangor over two legs for a place in next season's Premiership. Warrenpoint Town played the first leg away from home, with home advantage for the second leg. Warrenpoint Town won 3–1 on penalties and retained their Premiership status.
| Bangor | 2–0 | Warrenpoint Town |
|---|---|---|
Moan  29' (o.g.)McDowell 90+2' |
Report |
Clandeboye Park, Bangor Referee: Ian McNabb |
| Warrenpoint Town | 2–0 (a.e.t.) | Bangor |
|---|---|---|
| McDonald 12' McVeigh 76' |
Report | |
| Penalties | ||
McGuigan  McDonnell  M. Hughes McVeigh S. Hughes |
3–1 | Cooling McDowell Gardiner Hall |
Milltown, Warrenpoint |
2–2 on aggregate after extra time. Warrenpoint Town won 3–1 on penalties.
Championship 1
| Home ╲ Away | ARD | ARM | BCC | BGR | CRK | DGV | DGC | DND | H&W | KNB | LRN | LIS | LGL | PSNI |
| Ards | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 2–1 | |
| Armagh City | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 5–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | |
| Ballyclare Comrades | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | |
| Bangor | 2–3 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 8–0 | |
| Carrick Rangers | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | |
| Dergview | 2–2 | 2–0 | 5–3 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 3–3 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | |
| Donegal Celtic | 1–2 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–6 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | |
| Dundela | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 3–3 | 2–5 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 3–4 | 4–0 | 1–3 | |
| Harland & Wolff Welders | 1–2 | 0–2 | 4–3 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 3–0 | 4–1 | |
| Knockbreda | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–4 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 4–1 | |
| Larne | 1–2 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 0–5 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | |
| Lisburn Distillery | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–6 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 5–1 | |
| Loughgall | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–7 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 0–1 | |
| PSNI | 0–7 | 3–3 | 0–4 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 1–4 |
Source: rsssf.com
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Championship 2
Each team plays every other team twice (once at home, and once away) for a total of 28 games.
| Home ╲ Away | ANN | BMY | BBT | COA | DOL | GBE | LIM | LGC | MOY | NTN | PST | QUE | SLS | TOB | WAK |
| Annagh United | 5–1 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 4–3 | 5–3 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 3–4 | 2–1 | 2–3 | |
| Ballymoney United | 3–5 | 3–3 | 3–0 | 2–6 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | |
| Banbridge Town | 0–4 | 1–1 | 4–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 3–4 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 3–2 | |
| Coagh United | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | |
| Dollingstown | 1–5 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 6–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–3 | 0–1 | |
| Glebe Rangers | 1–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 3–3 | 0–1 | 1–4 | 0–4 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 8–0 | |
| Limavady United | 2–2 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–4 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | |
| Lurgan Celtic | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 9–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | |
| Moyola Park | 2–7 | 1–0 | 5–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 5–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 6–0 | |
| Newington YC | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 2–0 | |
| Portstewart | 1–4 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | |
| Queen's University | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 7–1 | |
| Sport & Leisure Swifts | 0–0 | 7–0 | 4–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 2–0 | |
| Tobermore United | 1–3 | 3–0 | 8–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | |
| Wakehurst | 0–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–6 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 2–3 |
Source: rsssf.com
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
References
- ↑ "NORTHERN IRELAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE". NIFL Premiership.
- ↑ "Cliftonville retain Irish Premiership title for first time". BBC Sport. BBC. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
- ↑ "Irish Premiership: Crusaders 2-0 Glentoran". BBC Sport. BBC. 18 April 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
- ↑ "Coleraine deducted three points in Ruairi Harkin case". BBC Sport. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
- ↑ "Coleraine lose appeal over deduction of points in Harkin case". BBC Sport. 7 January 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.