And then there were two ... Crusaders and Coleraine head to head in race for Danske Bank Premiership title
Down to the wire as sides prepare for final fixtures of the season
Last updated 28th Apr 2018
As far as league title races go, this season’s Danske Bank Premiership has been one of the most keenly-fought ever and as NIGEL GOULD reports the destination of the Gibson Cup is now coming down to just one game
For the Irish League neutral, if there is such an individual, Premiership D-day promises to be one of the best…
Only goal difference separates Crusaders and Coleraine as they go into the 2017-18 final round of fixtures.
It has been a superb season for both clubs – but one slip-up now and it’s title curtains.
The Crues travel to Ballymena, knowing a win will see the Gibson Cup returning to Seaview for the first time in two years.
For Coleraine, they must beat Glenavon at Mourneview – and hope their north Belfast rivals fall at the final hurdle.
Both Stephen Baxter and Oran Kearney, two of the best managers in the business, have vowed to give it their all.
“From my point of view we want to be in the position to take charge of our own game and play our own football and see what we can do,” Baxter told Downtown & Cool FM.
“We will give everything – we will leave nothing behind.”
Kearney has promised his side will “have a real rattle” at winning and he added:
“I had craved it as a manager and now that we are here, I have promised to take it all in.”
Meanwhile, it could not be tighter in the race to avoid the drop – with either Ballinamallard or Carrick relegated by the close of play on Saturday.
The Mallards face Glentoran at the Oval while Carrick are away to
Warrenpoint.
Both are level on points - with Carrick having a superior goal difference – so a win for Davy McAlinden’s side will see them go into a play-off with Newry City, who finished Championship runners-up.
That game will take place over two legs – the first on May 4 followed by the second five days later.
Elsewhere, Ards host Dungannon Swifts in their final game of the season while Linfield are at home to Cliftonville.
The kick off on all matches is 3pm.