Kicking Match: An Irish League Podcast

The men's Irish League season is in the books, therefore it's that time of year to look back at a campaign full of thrills, chills and drama. With a special look at Cliftonville's Irish Cup heroics, the European play off and the action in the Promotion/Relegation play off. All in the company of guests Mark McGuiggan and Dave Watt. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/support

Preparing to play at a sold out Windsor Park, Cliftonville and Linfield go under the microscope ahead of a huge Irish Cup final. Can the Blues end their season on a high note? Or can the Reds turnover a multi-decade hoodoo in the competition. Plus, we're looking at all flavours of Play Offs, from Europe to Promotion/Relegation Ross Welsh and Joe McCallion from Around The Grounds NI are this week's guests. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/support

The Inver Reds have done it! (almost) Bar the greatest one game goal difference swing in football history, the Gibson Cup will stay on the Antrim coast. How have the done it? What will Kenny Bruce and Co do next? And what should Linfield learn from this tight title chase? Plus, the Ports return to the Premiership at the first time of asking, Declan Devine is confirmed as Glentoran's full time boss and we recap the NI Football Awards. All in the company of Belfast Telegraph Sports reporter Stuart McKinley. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/support

A 30 seconds of Irish League football which no fan will ever forget, Title Tuesday (working title) will go down in footballing folklore when goals deep into injury time across two games flipped the power balance in the championship chase. Former Ballymena Times sports editor Stephen Alexander is on hand the relieve all that action, look ahead to the NI Football Awards & give insight into Ballymena United's season long decline. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/support

This season shows no sign of slowing down as it speeds towards the finish line. Football writer and blogger Lewis Bennett joins the pod to share an in depth look at everything that's on the line across all three Irish League divisions. Plus a preview of Tuesday night's (GW 36) games. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/support

What a start to The Split as both of the top two fluffed their lines in winnable games. Was it a mere blip for both, or could this be a sign for either team of a late season chink in the amour. Elsewhere, Ballymena take a huge step away from the automatic drop zone (relatively) gaining three points on Newry by sneaking the three points late on against Loughgall. Can Newry pull it back with a sudden end of season surge. Plus the Championship promotion race continues to be bonkers, so you know we're talking about that. This week joined on the pod by Newry Reporter and Banbridge Chronicle Editor Michael Scott. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/support

Ross Welsh and Joe McCallion from Around the Grounds NI jump back onto the pod this week for an extensive team by team preview of the upcoming split. How have the fixtures fell? Who has something still to play for? And what are the big games to keep an eye on. Plus, we look back at the gripping Irish Cup Semi-Finals. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/support

Sports reporter from the News Letter, Johnny McNabb joins the pod ahead of an Irish Cup Semi-Final Easter Weekend special. The four best sides in the country face off for a place in the Irish Cup final. A truly season defining weekend. We preview the games and assess all teams path to victory. Elsewhere, we recap the past weekends games, stick the latest goings on at the top of the championship under the magnifying glass and ask whom of the bottom two are the most likely to sneak 11th. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/support

Glentoran are once again on the look out for a new manager, their forth permanent boss in the space of just over a year. Who is the right person to take over and what kind of job do they have on their hands? Will it require revolution or just evolution? Did Feeney get a fair shake at the job and what led to his eventual parting of ways. Matthew Brown from the Shout at the Oval podcast is our guest to help answer all these questions and more! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/support

Sports Journalist with the Belfast Telegraph, Stuart McKinley, joins the pod to recap NIFL's showcase final where the Blues were triumphant over an unsteady Portadown side on Mother's Day. Can they use this success to propel themselves toward the Gibson Cup? Elsewhere, a collection of Glentoran supporters clubs have made their opinion clear, they want change in the East Belfast dug out. Are they criticisms harsh? And what can Feeney do - if anything - to win over the Oval faithful? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/support

Ahead of Linfield and Portadown facing off in the League Cup Final, Peter is joined by Podcaster & Blueman Mark McGuiggan and Portadown media man Jonny Dunlop to preview the big clash. Could the second tier Ports upset an injury ravaged Linfield? Or will the blues show their class and lift their second League Cup trophy on the bounce. Also on the pod, the panel recap the latest Irish Cup Quarter Final results and share their thoughts on Irish League fan culture following Linfield being hit by a stadium ban for support conduct. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/support

After starting off the last week with so much potential, Cliftonville will look back at the past couple of days thinking 'what could have been?'. Outclassed by Linfield at home and then toppled by Dungannon away, things could not have gone worse for the Reds as they attempt to keep their season from completely going off the rails. Damian Mullan, Sports Editor of the Coleraine Chronicle joins the pod to share their thoughts on the week that was of Irish League action. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/support

Matthew Brown from Shout at the Oval joins the podcast to review a week where Coleraine make Linfield look all at sea with a surprising 3-0 victory, Glentoran smash sorry Newry - scoring 8 goals - & Carrick, Larne and Crusaders all win out on less than ideal grass surfaces. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/support

Last season's Champions are back on top. Undefeated in 19, they've crawled back Linfield's point cushion - in part - due to the blues dropping 5pts in two game weeks. Cliftonville continue to breath down both teams necks after they continued their own streak without death by thumping Coleraine. Elsewhere it was stalemate in the battle of the basement and Glentoran throw away a two goal first half lead for the second time in a week. Peter is joined by sports reporter and former sports editor of the Ballymena Times, Stephen Alexander. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/support

The Irish League might be steam rolling towards the business end of the season, but our compadres in the League of Ireland are preparing to kick off their brand new season for 2024. To keep us all up to date with the latest comings and goings in the league we contacted broadcaster and host of League of Ireland podcast Between The Stripes help answer all our big questions - including if the recently proposed 'All Island League' investment plan turned any heads? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/support

Massive news in the Irish League as one of the longest serving managers is to step down. What legacy will Stephen Baxter leave on Crusaders and the league as a whole? Who might take over in Seaview? And what might the future hold for the red and black team in North Belfast. Reporter and football writer Barry Flynn joins the pod to discuss all that plus recap the Irish Cup 6th Round. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/support

Dungannon make a huge comeback at Windsor Park to score the biggest shock of the season and further blow the title race open. How will Linfield react as their rivals for the Gibson Cup kept up their end of the deal with victories on Friday night. Coleraine finally won a game for the first time since the start of November, we also ask what the latest is on their mooted takeover. Plus, we preview the last 16 in the Irish Cup. Joining the podcast to review it all is Belfast Live sports reporter Steven Crawford? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/support

The three at the top come up trumps again as they all win out in a weekend impacted by weather cancellations. Elsewhere, Carrick heap more misery onto Coleraine as they claim first win away at the Ballycastle Road for over 30 years. Ally McCalmont jumps around to review all that, plus looks back at the entertaining League Cup Semi finals. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/support

Who ordered the battle for a top six place/European play off spot? Because it's here and it's toasty hot. The Irish League continues to get more interesting by the week. Add in a couple more transfers and a sprinkling of some further rumoured ones, and that all adds up to a rather delectable pod offering to indulge in. No better person to join the pod this week to skim their eyes and ears over it all than podcaster Mark McGuiggan. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/support

Football writer and broadcaster Barry Flynn returns to the podcast the recap the entire 5th Round of the Irish Cup. Where we saw another comeback at home from Linfield, the Glens left it late to avoid another embarrassing cup exit to Annagh United and Crusaders two year reign as Irish Cup holders will come to an end after they were slain by Ards at home. We'll summarise all the latest Irish League transfer goings on and look ahead to the first NIFL Premiership gameweek of 2024. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kickingmatch/support