The 2016–17 NIFL Championship was the first season of the second-tier Irish League since gaining senior status. The fixtures were announced on 7 July 2016. The season began on 13 August 2016 and concluded on 29 April 2017.

On 1 April 2017, Warrenpoint Town came from 0–2 down to defeat Institute 3–2 to clinch the league title and an instant return to the NIFL Premiership for the 2017–18 season.

Teams

The 2016–17 NIFL Championship consisted of 12 teams. Ards were champions of Championship 1 in the previous season and were promoted to the 2016–17 NIFL Premiership. The next highest place team eligible for promotion, fifth-placed finishers Institute were defeated by Ballinamallard United in the Premiership play-off; therefore failing to achieve promotion.

The bottom two teams from the previous season, Lisburn Distillery and Donegal Celtic were relegated to the third-tier NIFL Premier Intermediate League; they were joined by Bangor after they failed to gain the Championship Licence, required for playing at second-tier level. They were replaced by PSNI, runners-up of the (now defunct) Championship 2 in the previous season; champions Limavady United were ineligible for promotion after failing to gain the required licence.

Stadia and locations

2016–17 NIFL Championship is located in Northern Ireland
Locations of the 2016–17 NIFL Championship teams
2016–17 NIFL Championship is located in Greater Belfast
Locations of the Belfast-based 2016–17 NIFL Championship teams
ClubLocationStadiumCapacity
Annagh UnitedPortadownTandragee Road1,250
Armagh CityArmaghHolm Park3,000
Ballyclare ComradesBallyclareDixon Park5,333
DergviewCastledergDarragh Park1,200
Harland & Wolff WeldersBelfastTillysburn Park3,000
InstituteDrumahoeYMCA Grounds1,570
KnockbredaBelfastBreda Park1,000
LarneLarneInver Park3,000
LoughgallLoughgallLakeview Park3,000
Lurgan CelticLurganKnockramer Park1,000
PSNIBelfastNewforge Lane1,500
Warrenpoint TownWarrenpointMilltown1,280

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion, qualification or relegation
1Warrenpoint Town (C, P)3222647835+4372Promotion to the NIFL Premiership
2Institute3216976439+2557Qualification for the promotion play-offs
3Ballyclare Comrades32156116456+851
4PSNI32131094944+549
5Dergview32126146755+1242
6Loughgall32123175459−539
7Harland & Wolff Welders32156115241+1151
8Knockbreda32144145652+446
9Larne32117145251+140
10Lurgan Celtic32123175671−1539
11Armagh City (R)3297164155−1434Qualification for the relegation play-off
12Annagh United (R)32472132107−7519Relegation to the NIFL Premier Intermediate League

Results

Matches 1–22

During matches 1–22 each team played every other team twice (home-and-away).

Home \ AwayANNARMBCCDGVH&WINSKNBLARLOULGCPSNIWPT
Annagh United—3–00–40–81–42–20–70–40–52–40–02–2
Armagh City4–2—3–11–32–21–44–01–02–31–30–12–1
Ballyclare Comrades3–12–0—5–10–22–21–33–25–22–13–22–2
Dergview9–04–00–2—0–31–12–12–06–23–40–02–3
Harland & Wolff Welders1–13–00–11–1—0–20–23–21–11–02–21–2
Institute5–02–01–11–13–1—3–11–12–02–14–00–1
Knockbreda1–21–10–51–20–21–1—1–10–24–23–11–2
Larne4–12–12–33–22–16–03–1—1–42–02–20–1
Loughgall7–03–12–10–43–01–22–31–1—0–23–02–2
Lurgan Celtic3–10–23–13–32–34–33–32–02–0—2–52–6
PSNI3–11–14–41–13–11–00–11–14–23–0—1–0
Warrenpoint Town7–01–13–33–11–02–13–14–14–14–23–0—

Matches 23–32

During matches 23–32 each team played every other team in their half of the table twice (home-and-away).

Home \ AwayBCCDGVINSLOUPSNIWPT
Top six Home \ Away BCC DGV INS LOU PSNI WPT Ballyclare Comrades — 2–1 2–4 1–0 0–3 1–0 Dergview 1–0 — 1–5 2–0 1–2 2–0 Institute 2–2 2–1 — 1–0 1–1 0–1 Loughgall 4–2 1–0 0–4 — 2–0 1–4 PSNI 1–0 4–1 0–1 1–0 — 1–3 Warrenpoint Town 4–0 4–1 3–2 1–0 1–1 — Source: Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.Bottom six Home \ Away ANN ARM H&W KNB LAR LGC Annagh United — 4–4 1–2 1–2 3–1 1–1 Armagh City 0–0 — 0–3 1–2 1–1 3–0 Harland & Wolff Welders 2–0 2–1 — 0–1 1–1 4–1 Knockbreda 6–1 1–0 1–0 — 4–0 1–2 Larne 2–0 0–1 2–3 2–1 — 3–0 Lurgan Celtic 0–2 0–2 2–3 3–1 2–0 — Source: Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Ballyclare Comrades—2–12–41–00–31–0
Dergview1–0—1–52–01–22–0
Institute2–22–1—1–01–10–1
Loughgall4–21–00–4—2–01–4
PSNI1–04–10–11–0—1–3
Warrenpoint Town4–04–13–21–01–1—
Home \ AwayANNARMH&WKNBLARLGC
Annagh United—4–41–21–23–11–1
Armagh City0–0—0–31–21–13–0
Harland & Wolff Welders2–02–1—0–11–14–1
Knockbreda6–11–01–0—4–01–2
Larne2–00–12–32–1—3–0
Lurgan Celtic0–20–22–33–12–0—

Play-offs

NIFL Premiership play-offs

The second and third-placed teams from the Championship, Institute and Ballyclare Comrades respectively, took part in the Premiership play-off semi-final. The winners will then play Carrick Rangers in the play-off final; the winners of this tie will play in the top-flight next season.

NIFL Championship play-off

The eleventh-placed team from the Championship, Armagh City, played the runners-up from the 2016–17 Premier Intermediate League, Newry City, over two legs for one spot in the 2017–18 NIFL Championship.

Newry City4–0Armagh City
Armagh City1–3Newry City

Newry City won 7–1 on aggregate and are promoted to the 2017–18 NIFL Championship; Armagh City are relegated to the 2017–18 NIFL Premier Intermediate League.

External links