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
ClubLocationStadiumCapacity Ballyclare Comrades Ballyclare Dixon Park 5,333 Dergview Castlederg Darragh Park 1,200 Harland & Wolff Welders Belfast Tillysburn Park 3,000 Institute Drumahoe YMCA Grounds 1,570 Knockbreda Belfast Breda Park 1,000 Larne Larne Inver Park 3,000 Limavady United Limavady The Showgrounds 524 Loughgall Loughgall Lakeview Park 3,000 Lurgan Celtic Lurgan Knockramer Park 1,000 Newry City Newry The Showgrounds 2,275 PSNI Belfast Newforge Lane 1,500 Portadown Shamrock Park Portadown 3,940 (2,765 seated)
League table
Results Matches 1–22 During matches 1–22 each team played every other team twice (home and away).
Matches 23–32 During matches 23–32 each team played every other team in their half of the table twice (home and away).
Top six
Bottom six
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.
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.
References
External links