2002–03 Irish League#Promotion/relegation play-off

{{Infobox football league season

|competition= Irish League Premier Division

|season= 2002–03

|winners= Glentoran
21st Irish title

|matches= 228

|total goals= 597

|league topscorer= Vinny Arkins (29 goals)

|biggest home win=

|biggest away win=

|highest attendance =

|prevseason= 2001–02

|nextseason= 2003–04

}}

The 2002–03 Irish League was the 102nd edition of the Irish League, the highest level of league competition in Northern Irish football. The league consisted of 12 teams, and Glentoran won the championship.

Premier Division

{{Location map+ |UK Northern Ireland |float=right |width=260 |caption=Location of teams in the 2002–03 Irish League Premier Division |places=

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |marksize=12 |lat=54.602945 |long=-5.891278 |label=Belfast |position=top}}

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=54.71974 |long=-5.800309 |position=right|label=Ards }}

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=55.13287 |long=-6.659904 |position=bottom|label=Coleraine }}

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=54.453889 |long=-6.336389 |position=top|label=Glenavon }}

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=54.97574 |long=-7.277176 |position=top|label=Institute }}

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=54.53607 |long=-6.003814|position=bottom|label=Lisburn Distillery}}

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=54.16089 |long=-6.332138 |position=bottom|label=Newry Town }}

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=54.61023 |long=-7.291660 |position=top|label=Omagh Town }}

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=54.41306 |long=-6.457686 |position=bottom|label=Portadown }}

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=55.32 |long=-8.2 |mark=TransparentPlaceholder.png |label=Belfast teams : Cliftonville
Crusaders
Glentoran
Linfield}}

}}

{{Location map+ |Greater Belfast |width=260 |float=right |caption=Location of the Belfast-based teams in the 2002–03 Irish League Premier Division |places=

{{Location map~ |Greater Belfast |lat=54.619250 |long=-5.947383 |position=left|label=Cliftonville}}

{{Location map~ |Greater Belfast |lat=54.62428 |long=-5.922017 |position=top|label=Crusaders}}

{{Location map~ |Greater Belfast |lat=54.60270 |long=-5.893478 |position=right|label=Glentoran}}

{{Location map~ |Greater Belfast |lat=54.57083 |long=-5.963302 |position=bottom|label=Linfield}}

}}

=League standings=

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

|section=Premier Division

|res_col_header=Q

|use_goal_ratio=n

|split6=yes

|team1=GLT|name_GLT=Glentoran

|team2=POR|name_POR=Portadown

|team3=COL|name_COL=Coleraine

|team4=LIN|name_LIN=Linfield

|team5=OMA|name_OMA=Omagh Town

|team6=INS|name_INS=Institute

|team7=ARD|name_ARD=Ards

|team8=DIS|name_DIS=Lisburn Distillery

|team9=CLI|name_CLI=Cliftonville

|team10=GLV|name_GLV=Glenavon

|team11=CRU|name_CRU=Crusaders

|team12=NEW|name_NEW=Newry Town

|status_GLT=C|col_C=green1|text_C=Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round

|result1=C

|col_UEFA=blue1|text_UEFA=Qualification for the UEFA Cup qualifying round

|result2=UEFA|result3=UEFA

|col_IC1=#CFFFFF|text_IC1=Qualification for the Intertoto Cup first round

|result5=IC1

|col_QR=#ccccff|text_QR=Qualification for the promotion/relegation play-off

|result12=QR

|update=complete|source=[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nil03.html rsssf.com]

}}

=Results=

==Matches 1–22==

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

{{#invoke:sports results|main

|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey

|team11=OMA|team12=POR

|name_GLT=Glentoran

|match_GLT_POR=0–1

|match_GLT_COL=2–0

|match_GLT_LIN=3–2

|match_GLT_OMA=2–0

|match_GLT_INS=4–1

|match_GLT_DIS=2–0

|match_GLT_ARD=3–0

|match_GLT_CLI=3–0

|match_GLT_CRU=4–0

|match_GLT_GLV=2–0

|match_GLT_NEW=3–1

|name_POR=Portadown

|match_POR_GLT=2–0

|match_POR_COL=1–2

|match_POR_LIN=3–1

|match_POR_OMA=3–1

|match_POR_INS=4–1

|match_POR_DIS=3–0

|match_POR_ARD=1–1

|match_POR_CLI=1–0

|match_POR_CRU=1–0

|match_POR_GLV=6–0

|match_POR_NEW=4–2

|name_COL=Coleraine

|match_COL_GLT=0–0

|match_COL_POR=1–0

|match_COL_LIN=3–1

|match_COL_OMA=0–1

|match_COL_INS=3–0

|match_COL_DIS=1–4

|match_COL_ARD=2–0

|match_COL_CLI=1–1

|match_COL_CRU=3–3

|match_COL_GLV=3–2

|match_COL_NEW=3–0

|name_LIN=Linfield

|match_LIN_GLT=1–1

|match_LIN_POR=0–1

|match_LIN_COL=2–0

|match_LIN_OMA=3–1

|match_LIN_INS=2–3

|match_LIN_DIS=1–4

|match_LIN_ARD=3–1

|match_LIN_CLI=2–2

|match_LIN_CRU=2–0

|match_LIN_GLV=1–1

|match_LIN_NEW=3–0

|name_OMA=Omagh Town

|match_OMA_GLT=0–2

|match_OMA_POR=1–1

|match_OMA_COL=0–3

|match_OMA_LIN=1–1

|match_OMA_INS=3–2

|match_OMA_DIS=3–0

|match_OMA_ARD=0–1

|match_OMA_CLI=2–1

|match_OMA_CRU=2–1

|match_OMA_GLV=3–1

|match_OMA_NEW=0–2

|name_INS=Institute

|match_INS_GLT=1–5

|match_INS_POR=3–3

|match_INS_COL=1–3

|match_INS_LIN=1–0

|match_INS_OMA=0–0

|match_INS_DIS=0–1

|match_INS_ARD=2–0

|match_INS_CLI=1–1

|match_INS_CRU=2–0

|match_INS_GLV=0–0

|match_INS_NEW=3–2

|name_DIS=Lisburn Distillery

|match_DIS_GLT=1–3

|match_DIS_POR=2–4

|match_DIS_COL=1–1

|match_DIS_LIN=0–2

|match_DIS_OMA=1–2

|match_DIS_INS=1–2

|match_DIS_ARD=1–0

|match_DIS_CLI=0–3

|match_DIS_CRU=2–1

|match_DIS_GLV=0–2

|match_DIS_NEW=2–1

|name_ARD=Ards

|match_ARD_GLT=1–2

|match_ARD_POR=0–2

|match_ARD_COL=0–1

|match_ARD_LIN=1–2

|match_ARD_OMA=0–0

|match_ARD_INS=3–0

|match_ARD_DIS=1–0

|match_ARD_CLI=0–0

|match_ARD_CRU=2–2

|match_ARD_GLV=1–1

|match_ARD_NEW=2–1

|name_CLI=Cliftonville

|match_CLI_GLT=0–1

|match_CLI_POR=0–3

|match_CLI_COL=1–1

|match_CLI_LIN=2–2

|match_CLI_OMA=2–1

|match_CLI_INS=2–0

|match_CLI_DIS=0–2

|match_CLI_ARD=1–0

|match_CLI_CRU=0–1

|match_CLI_GLV=3–1

|match_CLI_NEW=1–0

|name_CRU=Crusaders

|match_CRU_GLT=2–4

|match_CRU_POR=0–4

|match_CRU_COL=0–0

|match_CRU_LIN=1–3

|match_CRU_OMA=0–3

|match_CRU_INS=1–0

|match_CRU_DIS=0–2

|match_CRU_ARD=0–2

|match_CRU_CLI=0–0

|match_CRU_GLV=0–2

|match_CRU_NEW=0–0

|name_GLV=Glenavon

|match_GLV_GLT=0–3

|match_GLV_POR=0–5

|match_GLV_COL=2–2

|match_GLV_LIN=0–0

|match_GLV_OMA=1–3

|match_GLV_INS=3–1

|match_GLV_DIS=1–2

|match_GLV_ARD=1–1

|match_GLV_CLI=2–1

|match_GLV_CRU=1–1

|match_GLV_NEW=3–2

|name_NEW=Newry Town

|match_NEW_GLT=0–2

|match_NEW_POR=0–0

|match_NEW_COL=0–2

|match_NEW_LIN=0–6

|match_NEW_OMA=1–4

|match_NEW_INS=1–0

|match_NEW_DIS=1–0

|match_NEW_ARD=1–3

|match_NEW_CLI=0–3

|match_NEW_CRU=0–3

|match_NEW_GLV=2–2

|update=complete|source=[https://www.irishleaguearchive.org/irish-league Irish League Archive]

}}

==Matches 23–33==

During matches 23–33 each team will play every other team for the third time (either at home, or away).

{{#invoke:sports results|main

|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey

|team11=OMA|team12=POR

|name_GLT=Glentoran

|match_GLT_POR=1–0

|match_GLT_COL=1–0

|match_GLT_LIN=0–0

|match_GLT_OMA=null

|match_GLT_INS=6–1

|match_GLT_DIS=null

|match_GLT_ARD=null

|match_GLT_CLI=null

|match_GLT_CRU=0–1

|match_GLT_GLV=null

|match_GLT_NEW=2–1

|name_POR=Portadown

|match_POR_GLT=null

|match_POR_COL=1–5

|match_POR_LIN=null

|match_POR_OMA=5–1

|match_POR_INS=null

|match_POR_DIS=1–1

|match_POR_ARD=null

|match_POR_CLI=2–1

|match_POR_CRU=null

|match_POR_GLV=2–1

|match_POR_NEW=null

|name_COL=Coleraine

|match_COL_GLT=null

|match_COL_POR=null

|match_COL_LIN=null

|match_COL_OMA=0–1

|match_COL_INS=null

|match_COL_DIS=2–1

|match_COL_ARD=3–1

|match_COL_CLI=4–3

|match_COL_CRU=null

|match_COL_GLV=4–1

|match_COL_NEW=null

|name_LIN=Linfield

|match_LIN_GLT=null

|match_LIN_POR=3–2

|match_LIN_COL=2–0

|match_LIN_OMA=null

|match_LIN_INS=null

|match_LIN_DIS=null

|match_LIN_ARD=1–0

|match_LIN_CLI=0–0

|match_LIN_CRU=null

|match_LIN_GLV=null

|match_LIN_NEW=4–0

|name_OMA=Omagh Town

|match_OMA_GLT=0–4

|match_OMA_POR=null

|match_OMA_COL=null

|match_OMA_LIN=1–1

|match_OMA_INS=null

|match_OMA_DIS=0–3

|match_OMA_ARD=0–1

|match_OMA_CLI=2–1

|match_OMA_CRU=null

|match_OMA_GLV=2–0

|match_OMA_NEW=null

|name_INS=Institute

|match_INS_GLT=null

|match_INS_POR=1–0

|match_INS_COL=0–1

|match_INS_LIN=2–0

|match_INS_OMA=3–1

|match_INS_DIS=null

|match_INS_ARD=null

|match_INS_CLI=null

|match_INS_CRU=2–1

|match_INS_GLV=null

|match_INS_NEW=0–1

|name_DIS=Lisburn Distillery

|match_DIS_GLT=0–1

|match_DIS_POR=null

|match_DIS_COL=null

|match_DIS_LIN=1–2

|match_DIS_OMA=null

|match_DIS_INS=1–1

|match_DIS_ARD=0–1

|match_DIS_CLI=1–1

|match_DIS_CRU=0–1

|match_DIS_GLV=null

|match_DIS_NEW=null

|name_ARD=Ards

|match_ARD_GLT=0–2

|match_ARD_POR=0–3

|match_ARD_COL=null

|match_ARD_LIN=null

|match_ARD_OMA=null

|match_ARD_INS=1–0

|match_ARD_DIS=null

|match_ARD_CLI=0–0

|match_ARD_CRU=0–0

|match_ARD_GLV=null

|match_ARD_NEW=1–0

|name_CLI=Cliftonville

|match_CLI_GLT=0–2

|match_CLI_POR=null

|match_CLI_COL=null

|match_CLI_LIN=null

|match_CLI_OMA=null

|match_CLI_INS=1–3

|match_CLI_DIS=null

|match_CLI_ARD=null

|match_CLI_CRU=0–1

|match_CLI_GLV=null

|match_CLI_NEW=1–1

|name_CRU=Crusaders

|match_CRU_GLT=null

|match_CRU_POR=0–5

|match_CRU_COL=0–2

|match_CRU_LIN=0–5

|match_CRU_OMA=2–0

|match_CRU_INS=null

|match_CRU_DIS=null

|match_CRU_ARD=null

|match_CRU_CLI=null

|match_CRU_GLV=2–0

|match_CRU_NEW=0–2

|name_GLV=Glenavon

|match_GLV_GLT=0–1

|match_GLV_POR=null

|match_GLV_COL=null

|match_GLV_LIN=2–2

|match_GLV_OMA=null

|match_GLV_INS=0–2

|match_GLV_DIS=0–2

|match_GLV_ARD=3–0

|match_GLV_CLI=1–1

|match_GLV_CRU=null

|match_GLV_NEW=null

|name_NEW=Newry Town

|match_NEW_GLT=null

|match_NEW_POR=0–3

|match_NEW_COL=0–0

|match_NEW_LIN=null

|match_NEW_OMA=0–1

|match_NEW_INS=null

|match_NEW_DIS=0–1

|match_NEW_ARD=null

|match_NEW_CLI=null

|match_NEW_CRU=null

|match_NEW_GLV=2–2

|update=complete|source=

}}

== Matches 34–38 ==

During matches 34–38 each team will play every other team in their half of the table once. As this is the fourth time that teams play each other this season, home sides are chosen so that they will have played each other twice at home and twice away.

===Section A===

{{#invoke:sports results|main

|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey

|team6=POR

|name_GLT=Glentoran

|match_GLT_POR=null

|match_GLT_COL=null

|match_GLT_LIN=null

|match_GLT_OMA=0–0

|match_GLT_INS=null

|name_POR=Portadown

|match_POR_GLT=3–0

|match_POR_COL=null

|match_POR_LIN=0–0

|match_POR_OMA=null

|match_POR_INS=3–3

|name_COL=Coleraine

|match_COL_GLT=2–2

|match_COL_POR=1–1

|match_COL_LIN=3–1

|match_COL_OMA=null

|match_COL_INS=2–1

|name_LIN=Linfield

|match_LIN_GLT=1–1

|match_LIN_POR=null

|match_LIN_COL=null

|match_LIN_OMA=1–0

|match_LIN_INS=7–0

|name_OMA=Omagh Town

|match_OMA_GLT=null

|match_OMA_POR=3–5

|match_OMA_COL=0–2

|match_OMA_LIN=null

|match_OMA_INS=4–1

|name_INS=Institute

|match_INS_GLT=0–4

|match_INS_POR=null

|match_INS_COL=null

|match_INS_LIN=null

|match_INS_OMA=null

|update=complete|source=

}}

===Section B===

{{#invoke:sports results|main

|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey

|team6=NEW

|name_ARD=Ards

|match_ARD_DIS=1–0

|match_ARD_CLI=0–0

|match_ARD_GLV=1–0

|match_ARD_CRU=null

|match_ARD_NEW=null

|name_DIS=Lisburn Distillery

|match_DIS_ARD=null

|match_DIS_CLI=null

|match_DIS_GLV=0–0

|match_DIS_CRU=null

|match_DIS_NEW=1–2

|name_CLI=Cliftonville

|match_CLI_ARD=null

|match_CLI_DIS=1–0

|match_CLI_GLV=2–0

|match_CLI_CRU=null

|match_CLI_NEW=null

|name_GLV=Glenavon

|match_GLV_ARD=null

|match_GLV_DIS=null

|match_GLV_CLI=null

|match_GLV_CRU=2–0

|match_GLV_NEW=3–2

|name_CRU=Crusaders

|match_CRU_ARD=0–0

|match_CRU_DIS=1–1

|match_CRU_CLI=1–0

|match_CRU_GLV=null

|match_CRU_NEW=null

|name_NEW=Newry Town

|match_NEW_ARD=1–0

|match_NEW_DIS=null

|match_NEW_CLI=1–1

|match_NEW_GLV=null

|match_NEW_CRU=3–0

|update=complete|source=[https://www.irishleaguearchive.org/irish-league Irish League Archive]

}}

First Division

{{Infobox football league season

|competition= Irish League First Division

|winners= Dungannon Swifts

|promoted= Dungannon Swifts
Ballymena United
Limavady United
Larne

|relegated= Bangor
Carrick Rangers
Ballyclare Comrades
Armagh City

|matches= 112

|total goals= 377

|league topscorer=

|biggest home win=

|biggest away win=

|highest attendance =

|prevseason= 2001–02

|nextseason= 2003–04

}}

{{Location map+ |UK Northern Ireland |float=right |width=260 |caption=Location of teams in the 2002–03 Irish League First Division |places=

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=54.34349 |long=-6.628479 |position=bottom|label=Armagh City }}

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=54.75101 |long=-6.002269 |position=left|label=Ballyclare Comrades }}

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=54.87016 |long=-6.265211 |position=top|label=Ballymena United }}

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=54.65179 |long=-5.684674 |position=right|label=Bangor }}

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=54.71974 |long=-5.800309 |position=right|label=Carrick }}

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=54.489581 |long=-6.745935 |position=left|label=Dungannon Swifts }}

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=54.85013 |long=-5.827303 |position=top|label=Larne }}

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=55.051750 |long=-6.936958 |position=top|label=Limavady United }}

}}

=League standings=

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

|section=First Division

|res_col_header=PR

|use_goal_ratio=n

|team1=DUN|name_DUN=Dungannon Swifts

|team2=BLM|name_BLM=Ballymena United

|team3=LIM|name_LIM=Limavady United

|team4=LAR|name_LAR=Larne

|team5=BAN|name_BAN=Bangor

|team6=RAN|name_RAN=Carrick Rangers

|team7=BLC|name_BLC=Ballyclare Comrades

|team8=ARM|name_ARM=Armagh City

|result1=P|result2=P|result3=P|result4=P

|col_Q=#ccccff|text_Q=Qualification for the promotion/relegation play-off

|result5=Q

|result6=R|result7=R|result8=R

|update=complete|source=[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nil03.html rsssf.com]

}}

Promotion/relegation play-off

Newry Town, who finished in the relegation play-off place, faced Bangor, the 5th-placed team in the First Division, in a two-legged tie for a place in next season's Irish Premier League.

{{football box

|date=6 May 2003

|time=

|team1=Bangor

|score=0 – 0

|report=

|team2=Newry Town

|goals1=

|goals2=

|stadium=Clandeboye Park, Bangor

|attendance=

|referee=