The 2017–18 NIFL Championship was the second season of the second-tier Irish League since gaining senior status.

Teams

The 2017–18 NIFL Championship was contested by 12 teams. Warrenpoint Town were champions in the previous season and were promoted to the 2017–18 NIFL Premiership. Runners-up Institute won 3–2 on aggregate in the promotion pre-play-off against third-placed Ballyclare Comrades, but were defeated 5–2 on aggregate by Carrick Rangers in the Premiership play-off, therefore remaining in the Championship for this season.

The bottom team from the previous season, Annagh United, were relegated to the third-tier NIFL Premier Intermediate League. They were replaced by Limavady United, winners of the Premier Intermediate League. In addition, the eleventh-placed team from the previous season, Armagh City, were relegated and replaced by third-tier runners-up Newry City, against whom they lost a two-legged play-off.

Stadia and locations

2017–18 NIFL Championship is located in Northern Ireland
Locations of the 2017–18 NIFL Championship teams
2017–18 NIFL Championship is located in Greater Belfast
Locations of the Belfast-based 2017–18 NIFL Championship teams
ClubLocationStadiumCapacity
Ballyclare ComradesBallyclareDixon Park5,333
DergviewCastledergDarragh Park1,200
Harland & Wolff WeldersBelfastTillysburn Park3,000
InstituteDrumahoeYMCA Grounds1,570
KnockbredaBelfastBreda Park1,000
LarneLarneInver Park3,000
Limavady UnitedLimavadyThe Showgrounds524
LoughgallLoughgallLakeview Park3,000
Lurgan CelticLurganKnockramer Park1,000
Newry CityNewryThe Showgrounds2,275
PSNIBelfastNewforge Lane1,500
PortadownShamrock ParkPortadown3,940 (2,765 seated)

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion, qualification or relegation
1Institute (C, P)3221565536+1968Promotion to the NIFL Premiership
2Newry City (O, P)3217875831+2759Qualification for the promotion play-off
3Harland & Wolff Welders3216885442+1256
4Portadown3214996136+2551
5Ballyclare Comrades32153145652+448
6Loughgall32122184559−1438
7Larne32121195947+1247
8PSNI32118135550+541
9Limavady United32107155258−637
10Knockbreda3299145054−436
11Dergview (O)3299144959−1036Qualification for the relegation play-off
12Lurgan Celtic (R)32372232102−7016Relegation 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 \ AwayBCCDGVH&WINSKNBLARLIMLOULGCNEWPORPSN
Ballyclare Comrades—1–14–32–42–30–22–12–14–00–31–00–3
Dergview1–1—1–11–22–22–20–11–53–22–23–10–1
Harland & Wolff Welders1–05–1—3–20–36–13–22–01–00–03–22–1
Institute2–12–02–1—2–13–02–03–01–10–02–21–0
Knockbreda1–20–01–20–1—1–32–10–34–20–11–23–0
Larne1–13–01–10–13–1—2–11–12–23–20–32–1
Limavady United3–51–03–12–23–11–1—3–12–31–31–12–1
Loughgall2–12–01–23–10–12–12–1—3–20–41–42–1
Lurgan Celtic0–11–32–20–11–12–23–31–2—2–11–13–0
Newry City4–11–01–10–11–03–12–21–05–0—1–41–2
Portadown1–27–00–01–20–12–22–13–06–01–4—3–0
PSNI5–05–21–12–30–01–14–11–22–00–31–1—

Matches 23–32

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

Home \ AwayBCCH&WINSLOUNEWPOR
Top six Home \ Away BCC H&W INS LOU NEW POR Ballyclare Comrades — 0–2 2–4 2–1 0–3 1–0 Harland & Wolff Welders 2–1 — 1–2 1–0 0–3 1–3 Institute 1–0 1–2 — 3–0 0–1 2–1 Loughgall 3–5 3–1 1–3 — 1–1 1–2 Newry City 2–1 0–3 3–1 1–0 — 0–0 Portadown 2–0 0–0 1–1 2–1 2–1 — Source: Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.Bottom six Home \ Away DGV KNB LAR LIM LGC PSN Dergview — 1–1 1–0 3–2 8–0 2–1 Knockbreda 1–4 — 3–3 6–1 7–0 2–2 Larne 3–0 8–0 — 2–1 2–0 1–1 Limavady United 0–0 2–2 1–0 — 6–0 0–0 Lurgan Celtic 1–4 1–1 0–5 0–3 — 2–4 PSNI 3–2 1–0 2–2 3–0 11–1 — Source: Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Ballyclare Comrades—0–22–42–10–31–0
Harland & Wolff Welders2–1—1–21–00–31–3
Institute1–01–2—3–00–12–1
Loughgall3–53–11–3—1–11–2
Newry City2–10–33–11–0—0–0
Portadown2–00–01–12–12–1—
Home \ AwayDGVKNBLARLIMLGCPSN
Dergview—1–11–03–28–02–1
Knockbreda1–4—3–36–17–02–2
Larne3–08–0—2–12–01–1
Limavady United0–02–21–0—6–00–0
Lurgan Celtic1–41–10–50–3—2–4
PSNI3–21–02–23–011–1—

Play-offs

NIFL Premiership play-offs

The runners-up and third-placed teams from the Championship were set to take part (over two legs) in the Championship promotion pre-play-off. However, the third-placed team, Harland and Wolff Welders, did not apply for a Premiership licence, so the second-placed team Newry City moved directly into the play-off final.

NIFL Championship play-off

The eleventh-placed team from the Championship, Dergview, played the runners-up from the 2017–18 Premier Intermediate League, Queen's University, over two legs for one spot in the NIFL Championship.

Queen's University0 – 1Dergview
Dergview3 – 1Queen's University

Dergiew won 4–1 on aggregate and retained their position in the NIFL Championship with Queen's University remaining in the NIFL Premier Intermediate League.

External links