2013–14 NIFL Premiership

The season began on 10 August 2013 and concluded on 26 April 2014. During the sixth round of fixtures, which were played on 7 September 2013, Portadown defeated Ballinamallard United 11–0 at Shamrock Park. This equalled the post-war record for the biggest win in the top-flight, which was set 47 years earlier in the 1966–67 season when Distillery defeated Bangor by the same scoreline in November 1966.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24002625|title=Irish Premiership: Portadown 11-0 Ballinamallard Utd|date=7 September 2013|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|access-date=8 September 2013}} In their first season back in the top flight since 2005–06, Ards finished bottom of the table. This was confirmed on 12 April 2014, after Warrenpoint Town defeated Dungannon Swifts 4–0 to leave Ards 10 points adrift in 12th place with only three fixtures remaining.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26995097|title=Irish Premiership: Dungannon Swifts 0-4 Warrenpoint Town|date=12 April 2014|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|access-date=16 April 2014}} Their relegation was confirmed on the final day of the season, when Institute won the 2013–14 NIFL Championship 1 title.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27154450|title=Ards relegated as Bangor draw gifts promotion to Institute|date=26 April 2014|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|access-date=26 April 2014}}

Cliftonville were the defending champions after winning their fourth league title last season – their first since the 1997–98 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22135270|title=Cliftonville beat Linfield to secure Irish Premiership title|date=13 April 2013|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|access-date=27 April 2013}} They went on to retain the title for the first time in the club's history - their fourth outright league title and fifth overall.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27113832|title=Cliftonville retain Irish Premiership title for first time|date=22 April 2014|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|access-date=22 April 2014}} They were entered into the second qualifying round of the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League, with the league runners-up Linfield, 3rd-placed Crusaders, and the 2013–14 Irish Cup winners, Glenavon, entered into the first qualifying round of the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League.

After successfully gaining the required Championship Club Licence from the IFA, 2012–13 Championship 1 winners Ards were promoted to this season's Premiership. The club returned to the top flight for the first time since they were relegated in the 2005–06 season.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishfa.com/domestic/item/8228/club-licensing-decisions-announced/|title=CLUB LICENSING DECISIONS ANNOUNCED|date=26 April 2013|work=Irish Football Association|publisher=irishfa.com|access-date=27 April 2013}} After 11 years in the top flight, last season's bottom-placed Premiership club Lisburn Distillery were relegated to intermediate football for the first time in their history, bringing to an end their record of being one of only four clubs to have retained membership of the senior Irish League since its inception in 1890.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22174389|title=Tim McCann sacked as manager as Lisburn Distillery are relegated|date=16 April 2013|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|access-date=27 April 2013}}

The runners-up of Championship 1, Warrenpoint Town, faced last season's 11th-placed club Donegal Celtic in the promotion/relegation play-off to decide which club would take the final place in this season's Premiership. The tie ended 2–2 on aggregate, with Warrenpoint Town winning on the away goals rule to secure promotion to the top flight of national football for the first time in their history – the club's third promotion in four years.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22469736|title=Warrenpoint Town overcome Donegal Celtic in Premiership play-off|date=10 May 2013|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|access-date=10 May 2013}}

{{Location map+ |UK Northern Ireland |float=right |width=350 |caption=Location of teams in the 2013–14 NIFL Premiership |places=

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

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

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=54.414427 |long=-7.599786 |position=bottom|label=Ballinamallard United}}

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

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

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

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

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

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=54.11786 |long=-6.263430 |position=bottom|label=Warrenpoint Town }}

{{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=350 |float=right |caption=Location of the Belfast-based teams in the 2013–14 NIFL Premiership |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}}

}}

Ards nominated Bangor's home ground, Clandeboye Park, as the venue for their home games as they had been without a home ground since 2002. However, as a result of construction work being carried out to the ground, their first four home matches of the season were played at Dixon Park – the home of Championship side Ballyclare Comrades. The other newly promoted side, Warrenpoint Town, played some of their home fixtures at Dungannon Swifts' ground, Stangmore Park.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25168510|title=Irish Premiership: Warrenpoint Town 2-1 Coleraine|date=30 November 2013|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=14 December 2013}} This was due to improvements being carried out at their own ground, Milltown, in order to upgrade it to Premiership standard. However, the first ever Premiership game to be played at the ground, which was against Glenavon, was abandoned during half-time due to floodlight failure.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25449058|title=Warrenpoint-Glenavon game abandoned after floodlight failure|date=20 December 2013|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=26 December 2013}} The first completed fixture at the ground was a 2–0 win over Ards on 26 December 2013. That match also experienced floodlight problems, delaying kick-off for the second half by 20 minutes.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25519552|title=Irish Premiership: Warrenpoint Town 2-0 Ards|date=26 December 2013|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=26 December 2013}}

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

|res_col_header=QR

|team1=CLI|name_CLI=Cliftonville

|team2=LIN|name_LIN=Linfield

|team3=CRU|name_CRU=Crusaders

|team4=POR|name_POR=Portadown

|team5=GLT|name_GLT=Glentoran

|team6=GLA|name_GLA=Glenavon

|team7=BYM|name_BYM=Ballymena United

|team8=DUN|name_DUN=Dungannon Swifts

|team9=COL|name_COL=Coleraine

|team10=BMD|name_BMD=Ballinamallard United

|team11=WPT|name_WPT=Warrenpoint Town

|team12=ARD|name_ARD=Ards

|split6=y

|win_CLI=26|draw_CLI=7|loss_CLI=5|gf_CLI=88|ga_CLI=39|status_CLI=C

|win_LIN=24|draw_LIN=7|loss_LIN=7|gf_LIN=81|ga_LIN=46

|win_CRU=18|draw_CRU=12|loss_CRU=8|gf_CRU=67|ga_CRU=42

|win_POR=18|draw_POR=8|loss_POR=12|gf_POR=77|ga_POR=53

|win_GLT=16|draw_GLT=11|loss_GLT=11|gf_GLT=54|ga_GLT=42

|win_GLA=15|draw_GLA=6|loss_GLA=17|gf_GLA=75|ga_GLA=79

|win_BYM=13|draw_BYM=8|loss_BYM=17|gf_BYM=48|ga_BYM=59

|win_DUN=12|draw_DUN=8|loss_DUN=18|gf_DUN=49|ga_DUN=66

|win_COL=10|draw_COL=12|loss_COL=16|gf_COL=51|ga_COL=61

|win_BMD=10|draw_BMD=9|loss_BMD=19|gf_BMD=35|ga_BMD=70

|win_WPT=10|draw_WPT=6|loss_WPT=22|gf_WPT=43|ga_WPT=72

|win_ARD=6|draw_ARD=6|loss_ARD=26|gf_ARD=44|ga_ARD=83|status_ARD=R

|col_CL2Q=green1|text_CL2Q=Qualification to Champions League second qualifying round

|result1=CL2Q

|col_EL1Q=blue1|text_EL1Q=Qualification to Europa League first qualifying round

|result2=EL1Q|result3=EL1Q

|col_EL1Qcup=blue1|text_EL1Qcup=Qualification to Europa League first qualifying round

|note_res_EL1Qcup=Glenavon qualified for the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League first qualifying round by winning the 2013–14 Irish Cup.

|result6=EL1Qcup

|col_R=red1|text_R=Relegation to NIFL Championship 1

|result12=R

|class_rules= 1st points; 2nd goal difference; 3rd number of goals scored; 4th head-to-head points; 5th head-to-head goal difference

|update=complete

|source=[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nil2014.html rsssf.com]

}}

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

{{#invoke:sports results|main

|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey

|team1=ARD|team2=BMD|team3=BYM|team4=CLI|team5=COL

|team6=CRU|team7=DUN|team8=GLA|team9=GLT|team10=LIN

|team11=POR|team12=WPT

|name_ARD=Ards

|match_ARD_BMD=4–1

|match_ARD_BYM=2–0

|match_ARD_CLI=0–4

|match_ARD_COL=3–1

|match_ARD_CRU=1–4

|match_ARD_DUN=2–3

|match_ARD_GLA=1–2

|match_ARD_GLT=0–0

|match_ARD_LIN=1–3

|match_ARD_POR=3–1

|match_ARD_WPT=1–2

|name_BMD=Ballinamallard United

|match_BMD_ARD=1–0

|match_BMD_BYM=1–0

|match_BMD_CLI=0–2

|match_BMD_COL=1–1

|match_BMD_CRU=1–0

|match_BMD_DUN=1–1

|match_BMD_GLA=0–2

|match_BMD_GLT=1–4

|match_BMD_LIN=1–2

|match_BMD_POR=2–1

|match_BMD_WPT=3–0

|name_BYM=Ballymena United

|match_BYM_ARD=4–2

|match_BYM_BMD=2–0

|match_BYM_CLI=0–1

|match_BYM_COL=2–2

|match_BYM_CRU=1–0

|match_BYM_DUN=2–1

|match_BYM_GLA=3–6

|match_BYM_GLT=3–4

|match_BYM_LIN=1–4

|match_BYM_POR=2–1

|match_BYM_WPT=0–1

|name_CLI=Cliftonville

|match_CLI_ARD=4–2

|match_CLI_BMD=1–0

|match_CLI_BYM=2–1

|match_CLI_COL=1–3

|match_CLI_CRU=0–2

|match_CLI_DUN=2–2

|match_CLI_GLA=2–1

|match_CLI_GLT=4–1

|match_CLI_LIN=3–0

|match_CLI_POR=1–2

|match_CLI_WPT=1–1

|name_COL=Coleraine

|match_COL_ARD=2–1

|match_COL_BMD=1–2

|match_COL_BYM=2–3

|match_COL_CLI=3–4

|match_COL_CRU=2–2

|match_COL_DUN=0–2

|match_COL_GLA=3–2

|match_COL_GLT=1–3

|match_COL_LIN=2–3

|match_COL_POR=2–2

|match_COL_WPT=3–2

|name_CRU=Crusaders

|match_CRU_ARD=4–2

|match_CRU_BMD=2–1

|match_CRU_BYM=1–2

|match_CRU_CLI=1–1

|match_CRU_COL=4–0

|match_CRU_DUN=1–1

|match_CRU_GLA=3–0

|match_CRU_GLT=0–0

|match_CRU_LIN=2–0

|match_CRU_POR=2–2

|match_CRU_WPT=2–0

|name_DUN=Dungannon Swifts

|match_DUN_ARD=1–0

|match_DUN_BMD=1–0

|match_DUN_BYM=2–3

|match_DUN_CLI=1–1

|match_DUN_COL=1–0

|match_DUN_CRU=0–1

|match_DUN_GLA=3–3

|match_DUN_GLT=1–2

|match_DUN_LIN=1–0

|match_DUN_POR=0–5

|match_DUN_WPT=1–2

|name_GLA=Glenavon

|match_GLA_ARD=4–1

|match_GLA_BMD=2–3

|match_GLA_BYM=0–0

|match_GLA_CLI=1–0

|match_GLA_COL=2–2

|match_GLA_CRU=2–2

|match_GLA_DUN=1–3

|match_GLA_GLT=1–2

|match_GLA_LIN=1–3

|match_GLA_POR=3–2

|match_GLA_WPT=3–1

|name_GLT=Glentoran

|match_GLT_ARD=5–0

|match_GLT_BMD=0–0

|match_GLT_BYM=0–0

|match_GLT_CLI=1–1

|match_GLT_COL=1–1

|match_GLT_CRU=0–3

|match_GLT_DUN=2–1

|match_GLT_GLA=0–0

|match_GLT_LIN=1–2

|match_GLT_POR=0–2

|match_GLT_WPT=3–0

|name_LIN=Linfield

|match_LIN_ARD=5–2

|match_LIN_BMD=3–0

|match_LIN_BYM=4–1

|match_LIN_CLI=2–4

|match_LIN_COL=1–0

|match_LIN_CRU=0–0

|match_LIN_DUN=2–0

|match_LIN_GLA=3–2

|match_LIN_GLT=0–0

|match_LIN_POR=3–2

|match_LIN_WPT=5–1

|name_POR=Portadown

|match_POR_ARD=2–0

|match_POR_BMD=11–0

|match_POR_BYM=1–0

|match_POR_CLI=3–3

|match_POR_COL=2–0

|match_POR_CRU=0–1

|match_POR_DUN=2–1

|match_POR_GLA=2–4

|match_POR_GLT=2–1

|match_POR_LIN=1–1

|match_POR_WPT=2–0

|name_WPT=Warrenpoint Town

|match_WPT_ARD=2–0

|match_WPT_BMD=2–2

|match_WPT_BYM=0–2

|match_WPT_CLI=2–4

|match_WPT_COL=2–1

|match_WPT_CRU=1–1

|match_WPT_DUN=2–3

|match_WPT_GLA=1–2

|match_WPT_GLT=0–1

|match_WPT_LIN=0–2

|match_WPT_POR=2–2

|update=complete

|source=[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nil2014.html rsssf.com]

}}

{{col-2}}

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

{{#invoke:sports results|main

|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey

|team1=ARD|team2=BMD|team3=BYM|team4=CLI|team5=COL

|team6=CRU|team7=DUN|team8=GLA|team9=GLT|team10=LIN

|team11=POR|team12=WPT

|name_ARD=Ards

|match_ARD_BMD=null

|match_ARD_BYM=0–0

|match_ARD_CLI=2–3

|match_ARD_COL=null

|match_ARD_CRU=null

|match_ARD_DUN=1–3

|match_ARD_GLA=null

|match_ARD_GLT=2–1

|match_ARD_LIN=null

|match_ARD_POR=1–2

|match_ARD_WPT=null

|name_BMD=Ballinamallard United

|match_BMD_ARD=1–0

|match_BMD_BYM=null

|match_BMD_CLI=null

|match_BMD_COL=null

|match_BMD_CRU=1–2

|match_BMD_DUN=null

|match_BMD_GLA=1–2

|match_BMD_GLT=0–3

|match_BMD_LIN=null

|match_BMD_POR=null

|match_BMD_WPT=2–3

|name_BYM=Ballymena United

|match_BYM_ARD=null

|match_BYM_BMD=1–0

|match_BYM_CLI=1–3

|match_BYM_COL=2–2

|match_BYM_CRU=null

|match_BYM_DUN=null

|match_BYM_GLA=2–1

|match_BYM_GLT=null

|match_BYM_LIN=1–2

|match_BYM_POR=null

|match_BYM_WPT=3–2

|name_CLI=Cliftonville

|match_CLI_ARD=null

|match_CLI_BMD=5–0

|match_CLI_BYM=null

|match_CLI_COL=2–0

|match_CLI_CRU=4–0

|match_CLI_DUN=null

|match_CLI_GLA=null

|match_CLI_GLT=null

|match_CLI_LIN=1–0

|match_CLI_POR=0–1

|match_CLI_WPT=null

|name_COL=Coleraine

|match_COL_ARD=2–0

|match_COL_BMD=1–1

|match_COL_BYM=null

|match_COL_CLI=null

|match_COL_CRU=1–0

|match_COL_DUN=null

|match_COL_GLA=null

|match_COL_GLT=null

|match_COL_LIN=0–0

|match_COL_POR=2–3

|match_COL_WPT=3–0

|name_CRU=Crusaders

|match_CRU_ARD=4–1

|match_CRU_BMD=null

|match_CRU_BYM=1–0

|match_CRU_CLI=null

|match_CRU_COL=null

|match_CRU_DUN=5–1

|match_CRU_GLA=2–2

|match_CRU_GLT=2–1

|match_CRU_LIN=null

|match_CRU_POR=null

|match_CRU_WPT=null

|name_DUN=Dungannon Swifts

|match_DUN_ARD=null

|match_DUN_BMD=1–1

|match_DUN_BYM=2–3

|match_DUN_CLI=1–2

|match_DUN_COL=0–2

|match_DUN_CRU=null

|match_DUN_GLA=null

|match_DUN_GLT=0–1

|match_DUN_LIN=null

|match_DUN_POR=null

|match_DUN_WPT=null

|name_GLA=Glenavon

|match_GLA_ARD=3–1

|match_GLA_BMD=null

|match_GLA_BYM=null

|match_GLA_CLI=2–5

|match_GLA_COL=3–1

|match_GLA_CRU=null

|match_GLA_DUN=3–2

|match_GLA_GLT=2–3

|match_GLA_LIN=null

|match_GLA_POR=4–2

|match_GLA_WPT=null

|name_GLT=Glentoran

|match_GLT_ARD=null

|match_GLT_BMD=null

|match_GLT_BYM=3–0

|match_GLT_CLI=0–0

|match_GLT_COL=1–1

|match_GLT_CRU=null

|match_GLT_DUN=null

|match_GLT_GLA=null

|match_GLT_LIN=0–1

|match_GLT_POR=2–2

|match_GLT_WPT=1–2

|name_LIN=Linfield

|match_LIN_ARD=3–3

|match_LIN_BMD=6–0

|match_LIN_BYM=null

|match_LIN_CLI=null

|match_LIN_COL=null

|match_LIN_CRU=1–1

|match_LIN_DUN=3–0

|match_LIN_GLA=2–1

|match_LIN_GLT=null

|match_LIN_POR=null

|match_LIN_WPT=null

|name_POR=Portadown

|match_POR_ARD=null

|match_POR_BMD=1–0

|match_POR_BYM=1–0

|match_POR_CLI=null

|match_POR_COL=null

|match_POR_CRU=1–1

|match_POR_DUN=4–2

|match_POR_GLA=null

|match_POR_GLT=null

|match_POR_LIN=1–2

|match_POR_WPT=3–0

|name_WPT=Warrenpoint Town

|match_WPT_ARD=0–2

|match_WPT_BMD=null

|match_WPT_BYM=null

|match_WPT_CLI=0–2

|match_WPT_COL=null

|match_WPT_CRU=1–1

|match_WPT_DUN=0–1

|match_WPT_GLA=2–1

|match_WPT_GLT=null

|match_WPT_LIN=2–3

|match_WPT_POR=null

|update=complete

|source=[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nil2014.html rsssf.com]

}}

{{col-end}}