 |
| Gareth McAuley has been a potent goalscoring threat from West Brom's defence |
We're now at the business end of the season with most of the
important matters about to be decided. So, will there be glory or frustration
for Northern Ireland's players at club level?
English Premier
League
There is no Northern Ireland interest at the very top-end of
the English leagues, even European qualification will be a push for Southampton
(captained by Steven Davis), West Brom (who have among their squad Gareth McAuley, Jonny Evans and Chris Brunt) or Watford (with Craig Cathcart in
defence).
At the wrong end, Sunderland, who have been without PaddyMcNair through injury for most of the season, look to be all-but relegated.
 |
| Will Grigg hasn't been on fire for struggling Wigan |
English Football
League Championship
Brighton look nailed-on for a return to top-flight football for
the first time since 1983, so giving Ollie Norwood a first chance to experience
Premier League football next season. Also in the mix for promotion are Leeds
United (Stuart Dallas) who are in the play-off positions.
Lee Camp has been a long-time relegated with Rotherham. They could be
joined by two of Wigan (where Will Grigg has struggled for form), Blackburn (who
have been denied the services of the injured Corry Evans for much of the
season), Burton (with Tom Flanagan a regular in defence) or Nottingham Forest
(with Jamie Ward back in the team after a loan spell at the aforementioned Burton).
English Football
League One
Sheffield United have been crowned as League One champions,
taking Daniel Lafferty and Caolan Lavery up a level. Conor McLaughlin's
Fleetwood and Rory McArdle's Bradford are still in contention for automatic
promotion with Shane Ferguson's Millwall slightly further back battling for a
play-off spot with Adam Thompson's Southend. Rochdale, with recent international
debutant Matty Lund in their midfield, are losing touch of the play-off spots.
 |
| Will Caolan Lavery score goals in the Championship for the Blades next season? |
Swindon Town (with Under-21 internationals Jordan Stewart
and Jamie Sendles-White in their squad) are currently in the relegation places,
while Ryan McGivern (at Shrewsbury), Rory Donnelly (at Gillingham), RyanMcLaughlin, Cameron Dummigan (both at Oldham and previously managed by Steve Robinson), David Buchanan (at Northampton) and Josh Magennis (at Charlton who
also have Mikhail Kennedy out on loan with Derry) will all be looking nervously over
their shoulders.
English Football League
Two
 |
| Luke McCullough has been injured, but will be playing in a higher division in 2017/18 |
Luke McCullough has just come back into the Doncaster team after
a lengthy injury as they claim an immediate return to League One. In the
play-off spots are Stevenage who have a strong young Northern Ireland
contingent (Ben Kennedy, Dale Gorman, Ryan Johnson and Nathan Kerr) among their
senior squad while Cambridge (Adam McGurk), and Accrington (Billy Kee and ShayMcCartan) are still in with a slim chance of making the play-offs.
Robbie Weir's Leyton Orient have virtually no hope of
avoiding relegation to the National League. Just outside the relegation spots
are Hartlepool (with Trevor Carson, Carl Magnay, Liam Donnelly and Louis Rooney
(on loan from Plymouth)), Cheltenham (Carl Winchester) and Yeovil (Ollie
Bassett).
National League
Hoping for a return to league football are Jeff Hughes'
Tranmere who are guaranteed a play-off spot as a minimum, but still harbour
slim hopes of automatic promotion. Also in with a shout of the play-offs are
Matt McClure's Aldershot.
 |
| Steven Davis captained Southampton in the EFL Cup final at Wembley |
FA Cup
All Northern Ireland interest in the English Cup has been
extinguished, with the last representative, Shane Ferguson of Millwall exiting
at the quarter-final stage.
EFL Cup
Steven Davis captained Southampton to the League Cup final
where they were unfortunate to lose out to Manchester United at Wembley.
Scottish Premiership
Brendan Rodgers has managed Celtic to absolute domination of
Scottish football with the league title wrapped up on 2nd April. The battle for
best of the rest and Europa League qualification is currently being led by
Niall McGinn's Aberdeen with Lee Hodson's Rangers in third. Tommy Wright's St
Johnstone still retain hopes of also claiming a Europa League spot depending on
results in other competitions.
 |
| Can Liam Boyce's goals keep Ross Co in the Premiership? |
Inverness, who have Billy McKay on loan from Wigan, are
adrift at the foot of the table and seem doomed to relegation. The play-off
spot could fall to the James McPake captained Dundee, a resurgent Motherwell managed
be Steve Robinson or Ross County who's safety could be dependent on the goals
of Liam Boyce.
Scottish Championship
Hibernian, managed by Neil Lennon, have claimed the
Championship title giving the recently signed Brian McLean the chance to play
Premiership football next season. In the play-off spots are Greenock Morton's JamieMcDonagh.
Still in danger of dropping out of the Championship are St
Mirren with Conor Brennan and Jordan Thompson (on loan from Rangers) among their
squad.
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Cup is at the semi-final stage, with Hibs to face
Aberdeen and Celtic to face Rangers.
Scottish League Cup
The League Cup was won by Rodgers' Celtic in
November as they defeated Aberdeen (who brought McGinn on as a late substitute)
3-0 in the final.
 |
| Ryan Brobbel has been playing regularly for a dominant TNS |
Welsh Premier League
Ryan Brobbel has won the Welsh title in his first season
with The New Saints. Conall Murtagh seems likely to be playing Europa League
next season with Bala Town who are currently in third place.
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup final will be contested by TNS and Bala.
Welsh League Cup
Brobbel has also claimed a winner's medal in the League
Cup as TNS defeated Barry 4-0 in the final in January.
 |
| Josh Carson has struggled for a place in a resurgent Linfield team |
Irish Premiership
Defending Champions Crusaders (Colin Coates, Michael Gault,
Jordan Owens) are being chased hard by a resurgent David Healy-managed Linfield
(Roy Carroll, the injured Sammy Clingan, Chris Casement, Jamie Mulgrew, Josh Carson). With the top two guaranteed Champions League and Europa League spots
respectively, any other team in the top nine can currently make the Europa
League qualification play-offs.
At the foot of the table Portadown (Robbie Garrett) have
long been adrift following a 12 point deduction though they retain a slim mathematical
hope of avoiding automatic relegation and qualifying for the relegation
play-off ahead of Carrick.
Irish Championship
Warrenpoint have secured the Championship title and their
first signing for Premiership football, Alan Blayney.
Irish Cup
The Irish Cup Final will be contested by Linfield and
Coleraine.
 |
| Kirk Millar has helped Linfield to a first trophy in three seasons |
NIFL Cup
Ballymena continued their recent cup successes with a 2-0
final win over Carrick. Both sides fielded a number of Northern Ireland
Under-21s, past-and-present with Ross Glendinning, Tony Kane, Jim Ervin (BUFC)
and Patrick McNally (CRFC) all featuring in the decider at Seaview.
Regional Cups
David Healy claimed his first honour as manager when
Linfield (Mulgrew, Kirk Millar, Andrew Waterworth)
defeated Crusaders (Sean O'Neill, Coates, Owens (1 goal)) 3-1 in the Co. Antrim
Shield final at Ballymena. In the Mid-Ulster Cup Warrenpoint (Liam Bagnall)
defeated Armagh (Shea Campbell) 3-2 in the final. The North-West Cup was won by
Institute who defeated Coleraine in the final.
Comments