As another gripping season in the Irish Premiership comes to a close, I reflect on the highs, lows, surprises, and disappointments from across the league.
From historic European achievements to title glory and the low of relegation, here’s how each of the 12 clubs fared, complete with their end-of-season grades.
Linfield – Grade: A-
Verdict: The Blues were deserved champions, reclaiming the league title in a season where David Healy turned down a move to Raith Rovers to guide them over the line. Cup competitions were disappointing and results against bitter rivals Glentoran were mixed, but the league triumph was the ultimate prize. With strong foundations in place, Linfield will be favourites again next season.
Larne – Grade: B –
Verdict: A historic season for the Inver Park side as they became the first Northern Irish club to reach the group stages of a European competition, including a memorable win over Gent. Domestically, however, they faltered. The loss of manager Tiernan Lynch and turmoil around Nathan Rooney tested the club, but Gary Haveron’s steady hand saw them finish second. A season of ups and downs.
Glentoran – Grade: B
Verdict: Declan Devine’s Glens showed flashes of promise, capturing the County Antrim Shield and making strides compared to last season. However, inconsistency reared its head late on with disappointing defeats, particularly in the Irish Cup. A team still in transition, next season will be pivotal.
Dungannon Swifts – Grade: A+
Verdict: The fairytale story of the season. A top-six finish and a historic first-ever Irish Cup win capped a truly unforgettable campaign for Rodney McAree’s side. Dungannon played exciting football and exceeded all expectations, establishing themselves as a rising force in the league.
Coleraine – Grade: B –
Verdict: A mixed bag for the Bannsiders, who battled inconsistency but still secured a top-six finish. With new ownership under Henry Ross and Ruairidh Higgins set to take over, Coleraine appear to be building for something bigger. A solid if unspectacular season.
Crusaders – Grade: B –
Verdict: Declan Caddell’s first year in charge saw typical inconsistency from the Crues. While young talents like Kieran Offord showed promise, their Irish Cup exit to Ards was a sore point. Still, they maintained a competitive league position. A foundation to build upon.
Cliftonville – Grade: B –
Verdict: A turbulent campaign, but one that brought silverware in the form of the Irish League Cup. Losing the Irish Cup final on penalties stung, but with Joe Gormley, Rory Hale, and rising stars like McWoods and Conlan, the future looks bright despite a mediocre league campaign.
Portadown – Grade: B
Verdict: A strong first season back in the top flight for Niall Currie’s side, who were never troubled by relegation and flirted with the top six. Smart investment and stand-out performers like Obhakan and Ukek helped establish the Ports as credible competitors. Encouraging signs for next year.
Ballymena United – Grade: C
Verdict: A step forward from last season as the Sky Blues avoided the relegation scrap. However, their mid-season collapse exposed squad depth issues. Still, a respectable campaign and one to build upon under the right conditions.
Glenavon – Grade: D+
Verdict: A season to forget for the Lurgan Blues, who never really recovered from a poor start and parted ways with Stephen McConnell. Paddy McLaughlin’s mid-season arrival sparked brief improvement, but a 10th-place finish shows there’s plenty of work to be done.
Carrick Rangers – Grade: E
Verdict: Disappointment reigned at Taylor’s Avenue, with a poor start leading to Stuart King’s sacking. Stephen Baxter struggled to reverse their fortunes, and only survival via a playoff against Annagh saved their status. A major rebuild is needed.
Loughgall – Grade: E
Verdict: The dreaded second-season syndrome struck, and Loughgall were relegated after never recovering from a dismal pre-Christmas run. With Dean Smith gone and Darren Murphy stepping in, the Villagers face a huge challenge to bounce back in a competitive Championship.
Final Thoughts
Linfield’s title success and Dungannon’s cup heroics were the headline stories, but there was drama throughout the league – from Cliftonville securing League Cup success, Glentoran winning the County Antrim Shield, Larne’s late run of form to secure another opportunity for a continental adventure to Loughgall’s heartbreaking season at the bottom.
With Bangor securing the Championship title to gain promotion to the top flight in amongst managerial changes, new ownership structures – at Coleraine and Cliftonville respectively – and young talent coming through, next season already promises to be just as captivating.
Featured image: NIFL
Callum McFadden 
Indeed, The Blues were deserved champions, reclaiming the league title.