2015–16 NIFL Premiership#Play-offs

The season began on 8 August 2015, and concluded with the final round of fixtures on 23 April 2016. The play-offs took place in May 2016.

Crusaders were the defending champions, after securing last season's title for the fifth time in the club's history on 18 April 2015 – their first title since the 1996–97 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32366061|title=Irish Premiership: Crusaders 2-0 Glentoran|date=18 April 2015|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|access-date=18 April 2015}} They successfully defended their title, winning the top flight title for the sixth time.

• As a result of the association climbing to 44th-place in the 2015 UEFA country coefficients (which takes into account their performance in European competitions from 2010–11 to 2014–15) this season's Premiership champions will enter the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League second qualifying round directly instead of the first qualifying round as in previous seasons.{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/uefarankings/country/season=2015/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140929182221/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/uefarankings/country/season=2015/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 29, 2014|title=Country coefficients 2014/15|publisher=UEFA}}{{cite web|url=http://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/data/method4/crank2015.html|title=UEFA Country Ranking 2015|publisher=Bert Kassies}}
• Finishing in third place no longer results in automatic entry into the UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds. At the end of the regular 38-game season, the clubs finishing from third to seventh position will participate in a series of play-offs. The winner of these play-offs will qualify for the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League first qualifying round, along with the league runners-up and the 2015–16 Irish Cup winners.{{cite web |url=http://www.nifootballleague.com/NIFLHandbook201516.pdf |title=NIFL Regulations and Club Information – Season 2015/16 |publisher=Northern Ireland Football League |access-date=13 September 2015 |archive-date=23 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123041314/http://www.nifootballleague.com/NIFLHandbook201516.pdf |url-status=dead }}

After finishing bottom of the table on their return to the top flight in the 2014–15 season following a four–year absence, Institute suffered relegation back to Championship 1 after only one season.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32266807|title=Irish Premiership: Institute 1-2 Ballymena Utd|date=11 April 2015|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|access-date=11 April 2015}} Carrick Rangers replaced them for this season's Premiership, after winning the 2014–15 Championship 1 title to secure a return to the top flight for the first time in the three years since they were relegated in the 2011–12 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32466327|title=Carrick Rangers are promoted to Irish Premiership|date=25 April 2015|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|access-date=26 April 2015}}

Warrenpoint Town finished in 11th place – the Promotion/relegation play-off place – and faced Championship 1 runners-up Bangor over two legs for the last remaining place in this season's Premiership.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32265685|title=Irish Premiership: Dungannon Swifts 1-1 Warrenpoint Town|date=11 April 2015|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|access-date=11 April 2015}} Following a 2–2 draw on aggregate after extra time in the second leg, Warrenpoint Town eventually won 3–1 on penalties to avoid relegation and retain their Premiership status for this season.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32558724|title=Premiership play-off: Warrenpoint beat Bangor on penalties|date=1 May 2015|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|access-date=1 May 2015}}

{{Location map+ |UK Northern Ireland |float=right |width=350 |caption=Location of teams in the 2015–16 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=54.414427 |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=54.71974 |long=-5.800309 |position=right|label=Carrick }}

{{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 2015–16 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}}

}}

*{{note|n1|‡}}Capacity numbers are approximate estimates, as no official figures have been released since 2010.
*{{note|n2|†}}Carrick Rangers played some 'home' games at Seaview as a result of ongoing issues with their own playing surface at Taylors Avenue.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35531102|title=Carrick Rangers to play three 'home' games at Seaview|work=BBC Sport|date=9 February 2016|access-date=16 February 2016}}

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

|source=[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nil2016.html RSSSF]

|section=League table

|team1=CRU |team2=LIN |team3=GLA |team4=CLI |team5=COL |team6=GLT |team7=DUN |team8=BYM |team9=POR |team10=CRK |team11=BMD |team12=WPT

|split6=yes

|note_header_res=Teams played each other three times (33 matches), before the league was split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six) for the last five matches.

|result1=CL2Q |result2=EL1Q |result3=EL1Q |result4=ECPO |result5=ECPO |result6=ECPO |result11=RPO |result12=REL

|update=complete

|win_BMD=9 |draw_BMD=7 |loss_BMD=22|gf_BMD=39|ga_BMD=59

|win_BYM=11|draw_BYM=7 |loss_BYM=20|gf_BYM=57|ga_BYM=81

|win_CRK=8 |draw_CRK=11|loss_CRK=19|gf_CRK=43|ga_CRK=68

|win_CLI=18|draw_CLI=10|loss_CLI=10|gf_CLI=58|ga_CLI=53

|win_COL=18|draw_COL=4 |loss_COL=16|gf_COL=47|ga_COL=46

|win_CRU=28|draw_CRU=7 |loss_CRU=3 |gf_CRU=79|ga_CRU=28

|win_DUN=12|draw_DUN=7 |loss_DUN=19|gf_DUN=51|ga_DUN=66

|win_GLA=20|draw_GLA=9 |loss_GLA=9 |gf_GLA=72|ga_GLA=40

|win_GLT=15|draw_GLT=7 |loss_GLT=16|gf_GLT=46|ga_GLT=55

|win_LIN=26|draw_LIN=5 |loss_LIN=7 |gf_LIN=91|ga_LIN=35

|win_POR=11|draw_POR=5 |loss_POR=22|gf_POR=43|ga_POR=67

|win_WPT=9 |draw_WPT=7 |loss_WPT=22|gf_WPT=45|ga_WPT=73

|status_CRU=C

|status_WPT=R

|status_CLI=O

|status_BMD=O

|name_BMD=Ballinamallard United

|name_BYM=Ballymena United

|name_CRK=Carrick Rangers

|name_CLI=Cliftonville

|name_COL=Coleraine

|name_CRU=Crusaders

|name_DUN=Dungannon Swifts

|name_GLA=Glenavon

|name_GLT=Glentoran

|name_LIN=Linfield

|name_POR=Portadown

|name_WPT=Warrenpoint Town

|note_DUN=Dungannon Swifts were ineligible for the Europa League play-offs, as they did not apply for a UEFA licence.{{cite web |url=http://www.tyronecourier.uk.com/articles/news/51451 |title=Fine form won't see Swifts return to Europe |publisher=Tyrone Courier |date=23 March 2016 |access-date=30 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512094123/http://www.tyronecourier.uk.com/articles/news/51451 |archive-date=12 May 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}

|show_limit=5

|class_rules=1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Drawing of lots.{{cite web |url=http://www.nifootballleague.com/NIFLHandbook201516.pdf |title=NIFL Regulations and Club Information – Season 2015/16 |publisher=Northern Ireland Football League |access-date=16 August 2015 |archive-date=23 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123041314/http://www.nifootballleague.com/NIFLHandbook201516.pdf |url-status=dead }}

|res_col_header=QR

|col_CL2Q=green1 |text_CL2Q=Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round

|col_EL1Q=blue1 |text_EL1Q=Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round

|col_ECPO=yellow1 |text_ECPO=Qualification for the Europa League play-offs

|col_RPO=red2 |text_RPO=Qualification for the relegation play-off

|col_REL=red1 |text_REL=Relegation to the NIFL Championship

|note_res_ECPO=Cliftonville qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round by winning the Europa League play-offs.

|note_res_EL1Q=Glenavon qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round by winning the 2015–16 Irish Cup.

}}

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

{{#invoke:sports results|main

|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey

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

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

|team11=POR|team12=WPT

|name_BMD=Ballinamallard United

|match_BMD_BYM=0–1

|match_BMD_CRK=1–3

|match_BMD_CLI=0–2

|match_BMD_COL=1–2

|match_BMD_CRU=1–1

|match_BMD_DUN=0–0

|match_BMD_GLA=0–1

|match_BMD_GLT=2–4

|match_BMD_LIN=0–1

|match_BMD_POR=1–2

|match_BMD_WPT=3–0

|name_BYM=Ballymena United

|match_BYM_BMD=1–1

|match_BYM_CRK=1–1

|match_BYM_CLI=6–1

|match_BYM_COL=0–2

|match_BYM_CRU=2–4

|match_BYM_DUN=1–0

|match_BYM_GLA=1–7

|match_BYM_GLT=0–1

|match_BYM_LIN=1–3

|match_BYM_POR=1–1

|match_BYM_WPT=4–2

|name_CRK=Carrick Rangers

|match_CRK_BMD=1–1

|match_CRK_BYM=2–2

|match_CRK_CLI=1–2

|match_CRK_COL=1–2

|match_CRK_CRU=0–4

|match_CRK_DUN=2–2

|match_CRK_GLA=2–2

|match_CRK_GLT=1–1

|match_CRK_LIN=0–3

|match_CRK_POR=0–1

|match_CRK_WPT=1–2

|name_CLI=Cliftonville

|match_CLI_BMD=3–1

|match_CLI_BYM=4–2

|match_CLI_CRK=1–0

|match_CLI_COL=4–0

|match_CLI_CRU=0–1

|match_CLI_DUN=1–0

|match_CLI_GLA=1–1

|match_CLI_GLT=1–0

|match_CLI_LIN=3–3

|match_CLI_POR=3–0

|match_CLI_WPT=2–1

|name_COL=Coleraine

|match_COL_BMD=2–1

|match_COL_BYM=2–1

|match_COL_CRK=2–1

|match_COL_CLI=0–0

|match_COL_CRU=1–1

|match_COL_DUN=1–0

|match_COL_GLA=0–2

|match_COL_GLT=1–0

|match_COL_LIN=1–3

|match_COL_POR=4–0

|match_COL_WPT=2–0

|name_CRU=Crusaders

|match_CRU_BMD=5–0

|match_CRU_BYM=3–2

|match_CRU_CRK=5–0

|match_CRU_CLI=2–2

|match_CRU_COL=3–1

|match_CRU_DUN=4–0

|match_CRU_GLA=1–0

|match_CRU_GLT=3–0

|match_CRU_LIN=3–0

|match_CRU_POR=1–2

|match_CRU_WPT=1–0

|name_DUN=Dungannon Swifts

|match_DUN_BMD=2–0

|match_DUN_BYM=2–0

|match_DUN_CRK=1–2

|match_DUN_CLI=0–1

|match_DUN_COL=0–3

|match_DUN_CRU=1–2

|match_DUN_GLA=1–2

|match_DUN_GLT=2–4

|match_DUN_LIN=0–1

|match_DUN_POR=3–1

|match_DUN_WPT=5–1

|name_GLA=Glenavon

|match_GLA_BMD=5–1

|match_GLA_BYM=3–1

|match_GLA_CRK=2–0

|match_GLA_CLI=0–1

|match_GLA_COL=3–0

|match_GLA_CRU=1–2

|match_GLA_DUN=3–1

|match_GLA_GLT=0–0

|match_GLA_LIN=3–2

|match_GLA_POR=1–0

|match_GLA_WPT=1–1

|name_GLT=Glentoran

|match_GLT_BMD=0–2

|match_GLT_BYM=1–3

|match_GLT_CRK=2–0

|match_GLT_CLI=2–0

|match_GLT_COL=1–1

|match_GLT_CRU=2–2

|match_GLT_DUN=1–1

|match_GLT_GLA=2–0

|match_GLT_LIN=1–2

|match_GLT_POR=1–0

|match_GLT_WPT=2–1

|name_LIN=Linfield

|match_LIN_BMD=1–1

|match_LIN_BYM=4–0

|match_LIN_CRK=1–1

|match_LIN_CLI=1–2

|match_LIN_COL=1–0

|match_LIN_CRU=0–1

|match_LIN_DUN=5–1

|match_LIN_GLA=4–3

|match_LIN_GLT=1–1

|match_LIN_POR=3–0

|match_LIN_WPT=5–1

|name_POR=Portadown

|match_POR_BMD=0–3

|match_POR_BYM=3–2

|match_POR_CRK=3–2

|match_POR_CLI=0–1

|match_POR_COL=1–2

|match_POR_CRU=1–3

|match_POR_DUN=3–3

|match_POR_GLA=2–2

|match_POR_GLT=5–3

|match_POR_LIN=2–0

|match_POR_WPT=2–1

|name_WPT=Warrenpoint Town

|match_WPT_BMD=0–3

|match_WPT_BYM=1–2

|match_WPT_CRK=1–1

|match_WPT_CLI=2–2

|match_WPT_COL=0–4

|match_WPT_CRU=1–3

|match_WPT_DUN=0–2

|match_WPT_GLA=0–3

|match_WPT_GLT=0–1

|match_WPT_LIN=0–3

|match_WPT_POR=2–0

|match_WPT_BMD_note=Original 0–1 result recorded as 0–3, after Warrenpoint Town fielded a suspended player in the match.{{cite web|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/northern-ireland/warrenpoint-town/moan-mistake-will-earn-warrenpoint-a-slap-on-wrist-31445287.html|title=Moan mistake will earn Warrenpoint a slap on wrist|work=Belfast Telegraph|date=12 August 2015|access-date=25 August 2015}}

|update=complete

|source=[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nil2016.html RSSSF]

}}

{{col-2}}

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

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

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

|team11=POR|team12=WPT

|name_BMD=Ballinamallard United

|match_BMD_BYM=4–2

|match_BMD_CRK=1–2

|match_BMD_CLI=null

|match_BMD_COL=null

|match_BMD_CRU=0–1

|match_BMD_DUN=1–1

|match_BMD_GLA=null

|match_BMD_GLT=1–0

|match_BMD_LIN=null

|match_BMD_POR=1–0

|match_BMD_WPT=null

|name_BYM=Ballymena United

|match_BYM_BMD=null

|match_BYM_CRK=1–0

|match_BYM_CLI=2–2

|match_BYM_COL=0–2

|match_BYM_CRU=null

|match_BYM_DUN=2–4

|match_BYM_GLA=null

|match_BYM_GLT=null

|match_BYM_LIN=0–4

|match_BYM_POR=null

|match_BYM_WPT=3–1

|name_CRK=Carrick Rangers

|match_CRK_BMD=null

|match_CRK_BYM=null

|match_CRK_CLI=null

|match_CRK_COL=2–1

|match_CRK_CRU=4–3

|match_CRK_DUN=1–0

|match_CRK_GLA=1–5

|match_CRK_GLT=1–2

|match_CRK_LIN=null

|match_CRK_POR=null

|match_CRK_WPT=0–1

|name_CLI=Cliftonville

|match_CLI_BMD=2–0

|match_CLI_BYM=null

|match_CLI_CRK=3–3

|match_CLI_COL=1–3

|match_CLI_CRU=null

|match_CLI_DUN=null

|match_CLI_GLA=null

|match_CLI_GLT=null

|match_CLI_LIN=0–2

|match_CLI_POR=1–0

|match_CLI_WPT=1–1

|name_COL=Coleraine

|match_COL_BMD=1–0

|match_COL_BYM=null

|match_COL_CRK=null

|match_COL_CLI=null

|match_COL_CRU=0–2

|match_COL_DUN=0–1

|match_COL_GLA=0–1

|match_COL_GLT=null

|match_COL_LIN=2–3

|match_COL_POR=null

|match_COL_WPT=null

|name_CRU=Crusaders

|match_CRU_BMD=null

|match_CRU_BYM=0–0

|match_CRU_CRK=null

|match_CRU_CLI=1–0

|match_CRU_COL=null

|match_CRU_DUN=2–0

|match_CRU_GLA=1–1

|match_CRU_GLT=4–2

|match_CRU_LIN=null

|match_CRU_POR=null

|match_CRU_WPT=null

|name_DUN=Dungannon Swifts

|match_DUN_BMD=null

|match_DUN_BYM=null

|match_DUN_CRK=null

|match_DUN_CLI=2–2

|match_DUN_COL=null

|match_DUN_CRU=null

|match_DUN_GLA=0–1

|match_DUN_GLT=3–1

|match_DUN_LIN=null

|match_DUN_POR=2–1

|match_DUN_WPT=1–0

|name_GLA=Glenavon

|match_GLA_BMD=1–0

|match_GLA_BYM=1–1

|match_GLA_CRK=null

|match_GLA_CLI=3–3

|match_GLA_COL=null

|match_GLA_CRU=null

|match_GLA_DUN=null

|match_GLA_GLT=1–3

|match_GLA_LIN=null

|match_GLA_POR=4–1

|match_GLA_WPT=null

|name_GLT=Glentoran

|match_GLT_BMD=null

|match_GLT_BYM=2–0

|match_GLT_CRK=null

|match_GLT_CLI=0–2

|match_GLT_COL=1–0

|match_GLT_CRU=null

|match_GLT_DUN=null

|match_GLT_GLA=null

|match_GLT_LIN=null

|match_GLT_POR=2–1

|match_GLT_WPT=0–4

|name_LIN=Linfield

|match_LIN_BMD=2–1

|match_LIN_BYM=null

|match_LIN_CRK=2–0

|match_LIN_CLI=null

|match_LIN_COL=null

|match_LIN_CRU=2–0

|match_LIN_DUN=6–0

|match_LIN_GLA=1–1

|match_LIN_GLT=3–0

|match_LIN_POR=null

|match_LIN_WPT=null

|name_POR=Portadown

|match_POR_BMD=null

|match_POR_BYM=3–4

|match_POR_CRK=0–0

|match_POR_CLI=null

|match_POR_COL=0–1

|match_POR_CRU=0–1

|match_POR_DUN=null

|match_POR_GLA=null

|match_POR_GLT=null

|match_POR_LIN=2–1

|match_POR_WPT=1–3

|name_WPT=Warrenpoint Town

|match_WPT_BMD=3–0

|match_WPT_BYM=null

|match_WPT_CRK=null

|match_WPT_CLI=null

|match_WPT_COL=3–0

|match_WPT_CRU=1–1

|match_WPT_DUN=null

|match_WPT_GLA=1–3

|match_WPT_GLT=null

|match_WPT_LIN=2–6

|match_WPT_POR=null

|update=complete

|source=[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nil2016.html RSSSF]

}}

{{col-end}}