Linfield win title after Glentoran draw with Larne

After nearest rivals Glentoran and Larne drew 2-2 at the Oval, Linfield are the new Premiership champions.

The title race would still be alive if the Glens won, but the Blues now have an unassailable 19-point lead over both teams, who must now play six more games.

The Windsor Park club’s 57th Gibson Cup victory is their first since 2022, a record-extending 57th.

After a Joe Thomspon double by Paul O’Neill restored the team’s lead, Andy Ryan levelled from a penalty before Andy Ryan levelled from the penalty spot.

At the Showgrounds, Coleraine and Cliftonville played a scoreless second half, with all the goals coming in the second half.

The Reds took a 66th-minute lead before Matthew Shevlin equalized from the spot before giving the Bannsiders a 2-1 lead.

In the eleventh minute, Thomson opened the scoring for his former club by using a sluggish clearance to half-volley through a crowded box, with Rohan Ferguson unable to keep it out as the ball scurried across the line.

Minutes after the restart, Declan Devine’s charges began to loosen their grip.

The deflected cross by Dylan Connolly swung into the bottom corner after Thomson scuffed an effort that fell into the area, which was 2-0.

But just before the hour-mark, the visitors roared back. Daniel Gyollai was stung by Graham’s vicious drive, and when Ryan’s follow-up broke nicely for O’Neill, the striker stabbed home from close range to end a tense second half-hour.

In the 67th minute, the turnover was finished. Graham had little choice but to leave the referee after Aaron Wightman slammed into him inside the box.

Gyollai was sent the wrong way by Ryan, who had just 12 yards to draw the away side level.

By that point, Thomson had missed a stunning opening half chance for the east Belfast side.

Shortly after the hour, Shevlin scored from the penalty spot after being dragged to the ground by Luke Conlan as a result of Curran’s deflected effort.

Shevlin added his second with a vollyed finish just 10 minutes from the break, but Curran ensured parity by adding a late penalty after Rory Brown fouled Joey Gormley.

In a sparse second half, neither goalkeeper made a save, which was unexpected.

In the Coleraine goal, Curran finally broke the deadlock by sweeping a deflected shot past a helpless Brown after Axel Piesold had begun a dominant move.

Five minutes later, Shevlin beat Ridd with a low penalty into the corner to record his 19th goal of the campaign.

Nine minutes from the start of the match, Shevlin was in the right place at the right moment to close the scoring after Ridd saved Levi Ives’ low drive.

However, Curran sent Brown the wrong way from the spot in the 87th minute to equalize with a penalty of their own in the same match.