Linfield stay top of Women's Premiership with big win
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BBC News
23 minutes ago
- BBC News
Ervin targeted 'big personalities' to lift standards
Ballymena United manager Jim Ervin believes last season was a "reality check" for his side, but believes the Sky Blues have "gelled really well" ahead of the new finishing ninth last term, it was a busy transfer window on Warden Street with eight players joining the side and 12 leaving the club."They have all gelled really well. We had a training camp two weekends ago and it was all about trying to get the new boys gelled in," Ervin told BBC Sport Northern Ireland."Obviously there are a lot of new faces and big personalities and stuff like that. So it's important that you try and get them gelled in as quickly and as early as possible."I think the guys have settled in really well and they're just itching to get going as well."Despite last season bringing welcome improvements from the previous campaign when the side finished 11th and had to overcome Institute to retain their Premiership status, Ballymena still struggled with consistency through the final six games, they registered just one victory after going 12 games unbeaten earlier in the season."The biggest disappointment of last season was how we faded off in the split. It was a massive reality check to me and the staff in terms of what we want to do and where we want to go," added Ervin. "That's why we've went and recruited certain positions and certain personnel. We are trying to improve not only that position, but also the competition levels."We want everything to be as high a standard as we possibly can and we feel with bringing in certain types of players that we've brought in, they'll hold that standard really high and they'll call people out when they fall below it."
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Irwin joins Yamaha after split from Ducati
Northern Irish rider Glenn Irwin has joined Yamaha after parting ways with Hager PBM Ducati by "mutual consent" as a result of a disagreement over his return to 35-year-old suffered fractures to his hip socket and pelvis as a result of a practice crash at Snetterton in June and had surgery on his sacrum (pelvic region) as part of his initially targeting a return to action at Caldwell Park at the end of August, Irwin said last month that he was ready to make a comeback at Thruxton from 8-10 August as he had recovered faster than initially disagreed with this decision and in a statement explained that "it was the opinion of the team that his return should be deferred until at least after round seven at Cadwell Park"."This decision was taken by the team management on the ground of managing competition expectations and a duty of care to Glenn as despite recovering to a position where 'fitness to ride' could potentially be achieved, the team felt that risks remained in this early period of recovery that a subsequent fall could result in a further, complicated injury," Ducati's statement continued."As a result of a point of conflict the parties have agreed to terminate their contractual relationship, and Glenn is free to pursue other opportunities to fulfil his insistence to immediately return to competition."Irwin will join defending British Superbikes champion Kyle Ryde at Yamaha, as he makes his return on a new bike this weekend. 'I have been declared orthopedically fit' Irwin made his British Superbikes debut on his Ducati in 2016 and managed 19 wins and 23 podiums over six seasons, narrowly missing out on the 2023 Championship win by just half a point to Tommy had finished on the podium in four of the first five races of the 2025 season but missed two rounds after his accident and was replaced by 2019 BSB champion Scott 11-time North West 200 race winner responded to the Ducati statement with a video posted on X, external."Upon reading the statement I want to reiterate that I have been declared orthopedically fit and have passed all the stage one single leg examinations and I have been returned 100% to full duties of riding bikes in the last seven days," he said."Training has been as normal the past week, but I do want to go on record and thank PBM for all the success we achieved together, all their efforts, their time and their support shown to me and my family I wish them all the best for the future."Yamaha team owner David Williams added he was "excited" to welcome Irwin. "Between him and Kyle, we believe we have the strongest pairing on the current grid and are entering the second half of the British Superbike Championship season with a stronger sense of optimism than ever."
BBC News
9 hours ago
- BBC News
Cliftonville and NI's Burrows given 16-game suspension
Cliftonville captain Kelsie Burrows has been handed a 16-match ban for an alleged 'assault on a match official'.The Northern Ireland international was shown a red card by referee Simon Bickerstaff after the Reds' 2-0 win against Glentoran Women on 25 coach Brendan Lynch has been handed a three-match ban from the same game for 'entering the field of play to confront a match official'.The suspensions are effective immediately and cover all competitions but it is understood that the club are appealing the decision, which means Burrows will be available to play in Friday's Premiership game against Crusaders incident came after the final whistle of the victory over Glentoran which put Cliftonville right in the mix at the top of the table as they currently sit six points off leaders Linfield with two games in the Irish FA and NIFL have been contacted by BBC Sport NI for comment.
