2017–18 NIFL Championship

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.

{{Location map+ |UK Northern Ireland |float=right |width=400 |caption=Locations of the 2017–18 NIFL Championship teams |places=

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

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

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=54.707400 |long=-7.599873 |position=right|label=Dergview }}

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

{{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 }}

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=54.469105 |long=-6.364089 |position=right|label=Lurgan Celtic }}

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=54.407050 |long=-6.611546 |position=left|label=Loughgall }}

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

{{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 : H&W Welders
Knockbreda
PSNI}}

}}

{{Location map+ |Greater Belfast |width=400 |float=right |caption=Locations of the Belfast-based 2017–18 NIFL Championship teams |places=

{{Location map~ |Greater Belfast |lat=54.61651 |long=-5.863953 |position=right|label=H&W Welders }}

{{Location map~ |Greater Belfast |lat=54.56689 |long=-5.853528 |position=right|label=Knockbreda }}

{{Location map~ |Greater Belfast |lat=54.559056 |long=-5.940977 |position=top|label=PSNI }}

}}

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

|source=[http://www.nifootballleague.com/nifl-championship/table NIFL Championship], [https://int.soccerway.com/national/northern-ireland/championship-1/20162017/promotion-round/r38006 Soccerway (top six)], [https://int.soccerway.com/national/northern-ireland/championship-1/20162017/relegation-round/r38007 Soccerway (bottom six)]

|team1=INS |team2=NEW |team3=H&W |team4=POR |team5=BCC |team6=LGL |team7=LAR |team8=PSN |team9=LIM |team10=KNB |team11=DGV |team12=LGC

|split6=yes

|note_header_res=Teams played each other twice (22 matches), before the league split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six) for the last ten matches.

|result1=PRO |result2=PROPO |result11=RELPO |result12=REL

|update=complete

|win_BCC=15|draw_BCC=3 |loss_BCC=14|gf_BCC=56|ga_BCC=52

|win_DGV=9 |draw_DGV=9 |loss_DGV=14|gf_DGV=49|ga_DGV=59

|win_H&W=16|draw_H&W=8 |loss_H&W=8 |gf_H&W=54|ga_H&W=42

|win_INS=21|draw_INS=5 |loss_INS=6 |gf_INS=55|ga_INS=36

|win_KNB=9 |draw_KNB=9 |loss_KNB=14|gf_KNB=50|ga_KNB=54

|win_LAR=12|draw_LAR=11|loss_LAR=9 |gf_LAR=59|ga_LAR=47

|win_LIM=10|draw_LIM=7 |loss_LIM=15|gf_LIM=52|ga_LIM=58

|win_LGL=12|draw_LGL=2 |loss_LGL=18|gf_LGL=45|ga_LGL=59

|win_LGC=3 |draw_LGC=7 |loss_LGC=22|gf_LGC=32|ga_LGC=102

|win_NEW=17|draw_NEW=8 |loss_NEW=7 |gf_NEW=58|ga_NEW=31

|win_POR=14|draw_POR=9 |loss_POR=9 |gf_POR=61|ga_POR=36

|win_PSN=11|draw_PSN=8 |loss_PSN=13|gf_PSN=55|ga_PSN=50

|status_INS=CP

|status_NEW=OP

|status_DGV=O

|status_LGC=R

|note_H&W=Harland & Wolff Welders were ineligible for the promotion play-offs, as they did not apply for the Promotion Licence required for promotion to the NIFL Premiership.

|name_BCC=Ballyclare Comrades

|name_DGV=Dergview

|name_H&W=Harland & Wolff Welders

|name_INS=Institute

|name_KNB=Knockbreda

|name_LAR=Larne

|name_LIM=Limavady United

|name_LGL=Loughgall

|name_LGC=Lurgan Celtic

|name_NEW=Newry City

|name_POR=Portadown

|name_PSN=PSNI

|show_limit=5

|class_rules =1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (subject to IFA decision){{cite web|url=http://www.scoresway.com/?sport=soccer&page=competition&id=310&view=rules|title=Championship 2016/2017 - Season rules|publisher=Scoresway|accessdate=20 November 2016}}

|res_col_header=PQR

|col_PRO=green1 |text_PRO =Promotion to the NIFL Premiership

|col_PROPO=yellow1 |text_PROPO=Qualification for the promotion play-off

|col_REL=red1 |text_REL =Relegation to the NIFL Premier Intermediate League

|col_RELPO=red2 |text_RELPO=Qualification for the relegation play-off

}}

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

{{#invoke:sports results|main

| source =

| update = complete

| a_note =

| matches_style = FBR

| team1 = BCC | team2 = DGV | team3 = H&W | team4 = INS | team5= KNB | team6= LAR | team7=LIM | team8= LOU | team9 = LGC | team10 = NEW | team11 = POR |team12 = PSN

| name_BCC = Ballyclare Comrades

| name_DGV = Dergview

| name_H&W = Harland & Wolff Welders

| name_INS = Institute

| name_KNB = Knockbreda

| name_LAR = Larne

| name_LIM = Limavady United

| name_LOU = Loughgall

| name_LGC = Lurgan Celtic

| name_NEW = Newry City

| name_POR = Portadown

| name_PSN = PSNI

| match_BCC_DGV = 1–1

| match_BCC_H&W = 4–3

| match_BCC_INS = 2–4

| match_BCC_KNB = 2–3

| match_BCC_LAR = 0–2

| match_BCC_LOU = 2–1

| match_BCC_LGC = 4–0

| match_BCC_LIM = 2–1

| match_BCC_NEW = 0–3

| match_BCC_POR = 1–0

| match_BCC_PSN = 0–3

| match_DGV_BCC = 1–1

| match_DGV_H&W = 1–1

| match_DGV_INS = 1–2

| match_DGV_KNB = 2–2

| match_DGV_LAR = 2–2

| match_DGV_LOU = 1–5

| match_DGV_LGC = 3–2

| match_DGV_LIM = 0–1

| match_DGV_NEW = 2–2

| match_DGV_POR = 3–1

| match_DGV_PSN = 0–1

| match_H&W_BCC = 1–0

| match_H&W_DGV = 5–1

| match_H&W_INS = 3–2

| match_H&W_KNB = 0–3

| match_H&W_LAR = 6–1

| match_H&W_LOU = 2–0

| match_H&W_LGC = 1–0

| match_H&W_LIM = 3–2

| match_H&W_NEW = 0–0

| match_H&W_POR = 3–2

| match_H&W_PSN = 2–1

| match_INS_BCC = 2–1

| match_INS_DGV = 2–0

| match_INS_H&W = 2–1

| match_INS_KNB = 2–1

| match_INS_LAR = 3–0

| match_INS_LOU = 3–0

| match_INS_LGC = 1–1

| match_INS_LIM = 2–0

| match_INS_NEW = 0–0

| match_INS_POR = 2–2

| match_INS_PSN = 1–0

| match_KNB_BCC = 1–2

| match_KNB_DGV = 0–0

| match_KNB_H&W = 1–2

| match_KNB_INS = 0–1

| match_KNB_LAR = 1–3

| match_KNB_LOU = 0–3

| match_KNB_LGC = 4–2

| match_KNB_LIM = 2–1

| match_KNB_NEW = 0–1

| match_KNB_POR = 1–2

| match_KNB_PSN = 3–0

| match_LAR_BCC = 1–1

| match_LAR_DGV = 3–0

| match_LAR_H&W = 1–1

| match_LAR_INS = 0–1

| match_LAR_KNB = 3–1

| match_LAR_LOU = 1–1

| match_LAR_LGC = 2–2

| match_LAR_LIM = 2–1

| match_LAR_NEW = 3–2

| match_LAR_POR = 0-3

| match_LAR_PSN = 2–1

| match_LOU_BCC = 2–1

| match_LOU_DGV = 2–0

| match_LOU_H&W = 1–2

| match_LOU_INS = 3–1

| match_LOU_KNB = 0–1

| match_LOU_LAR = 2–1

| match_LOU_LGC = 3–2

| match_LOU_LIM = 2–1

| match_LOU_NEW = 0–4

| match_LOU_POR = 1–4

| match_LOU_PSN = 2–1

| match_LGC_BCC = 0–1

| match_LGC_DGV = 1–3

| match_LGC_H&W = 2–2

| match_LGC_INS = 0–1

| match_LGC_KNB = 1–1

| match_LGC_LAR = 2–2

| match_LGC_LOU = 1–2

| match_LGC_LIM = 3–3

| match_LGC_NEW = 2–1

| match_LGC_POR = 1–1

| match_LGC_PSN = 3–0

| match_LIM_BCC= 3–5

| match_LIM_DGV= 1–0

| match_LIM_H&W= 3-1

| match_LIM_INS= 2–2

| match_LIM_KNB= 3–1

| match_LIM_LAR= 1–1

| match_LIM_LOU= 3–1

| match_LIM_LGC= 2–3

| match_LIM_NEW= 1–3

| match_LIM_POR= 1–1

| match_LIM_PSN= 2–1

| match_NEW_BCC= 4–1

| match_NEW_DGV= 1–0

| match_NEW_H&W= 1–1

| match_NEW_INS= 0–1

| match_NEW_KNB= 1–0

| match_NEW_LAR= 3–1

| match_NEW_LOU= 1–0

| match_NEW_LGC= 5–0

| match_NEW_LIM= 2–2

| match_NEW_POR= 1–4

| match_NEW_PSN= 1–2

| match_POR_BCC= 1–2

| match_POR_DGV= 7–0

| match_POR_H&W= 0–0

| match_POR_INS= 1–2

| match_POR_KNB= 0–1

| match_POR_LAR= 2–2

| match_POR_LOU= 3–0

| match_POR_LGC= 6–0

| match_POR_LIM= 2–1

| match_POR_NEW= 1–4

| match_POR_PSN= 3–0

| match_PSN_BCC= 5–0

| match_PSN_DGV= 5–2

| match_PSN_H&W= 1–1

| match_PSN_INS= 2–3

| match_PSN_KNB= 0–0

| match_PSN_LAR= 1–1

| match_PSN_LOU= 1–2

| match_PSN_LGC= 2–0

| match_PSN_LIM= 4–1

| match_PSN_NEW= 0–3

| match_PSN_POR= 1–1

}}

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

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{#invoke:sports results|main

| source = [http://nifootballleague.com/nifl-championship/results NIFL Championship]

| update = complete

| a_note =

| matches_style = FBR

| team1= BCC | team2= H&W | team3= INS | team4= LOU | team5= NEW | team6= POR

| name_BCC = Ballyclare Comrades

| name_H&W = Harland & Wolff Welders

| name_INS = Institute

| name_LOU = Loughgall

| name_NEW = Newry City

| name_POR = Portadown

| match_BCC_H&W = 0–2

| match_BCC_INS = 2–4

| match_BCC_LOU = 2–1

| match_BCC_NEW = 0–3

| match_BCC_POR = 1–0

| match_H&W_BCC = 2–1

| match_H&W_INS = 1–2

| match_H&W_LOU = 1–0

| match_H&W_NEW = 0–3

| match_H&W_POR = 1–3

| match_INS_BCC = 1–0

| match_INS_H&W = 1–2

| match_INS_LOU = 3–0

| match_INS_NEW = 0–1

| match_INS_POR = 2–1

| match_LOU_BCC = 3–5

| match_LOU_H&W = 3–1

| match_LOU_INS = 1–3

| match_LOU_NEW = 1–1

| match_LOU_POR = 1–2

| match_NEW_BCC = 2–1

| match_NEW_H&W = 0–3

| match_NEW_INS = 3–1

| match_NEW_LOU = 1–0

| match_NEW_POR = 0–0

| match_POR_BCC = 2–0

| match_POR_H&W = 0–0

| match_POR_INS = 1–1

| match_POR_LOU = 2–1

| match_POR_NEW = 2–1

}}

{{col-2}}

{{#invoke:sports results|main

| source = [http://nifootballleague.com/nifl-championship/results NIFL Championship]

| update = complete

| a_note =

| matches_style = FBR

| team1= DGV | team2= KNB | team3= LAR | team4= LIM | team5= LGC | team6= PSN

| name_DGV = Dergview

| name_KNB = Knockbreda

| name_LAR = Larne

| name_LIM = Limavady United

| name_LGC = Lurgan Celtic

| name_PSN = PSNI

| match_DGV_KNB = 1–1

| match_DGV_LAR = 1–0

| match_DGV_LIM = 3–2

| match_DGV_LGC = 8–0

| match_DGV_PSN = 2–1

| match_KNB_DGV = 1–4

| match_KNB_LAR = 3–3

| match_KNB_LIM = 6–1

| match_KNB_LGC = 7–0

| match_KNB_PSN = 2–2

| match_LAR_DGV = 3–0

| match_LAR_KNB = 8–0

| match_LAR_LIM = 2–1

| match_LAR_LGC = 2–0

| match_LAR_PSN = 1–1

| match_LIM_DGV = 0–0

| match_LIM_KNB = 2–2

| match_LIM_LAR = 1–0

| match_LIM_LGC = 6–0

| match_LIM_PSN = 0–0

| match_LGC_DGV = 1–4

| match_LGC_KNB = 1–1

| match_LGC_LAR = 0–5

| match_LGC_LIM = 0–3

| match_LGC_PSN = 2–4

| match_PSN_DGV = 3–2

| match_PSN_KNB = 1–0

| match_PSN_LAR = 2–2

| match_PSN_LIM = 3–0

| match_PSN_LGC = 11–1

}}

{{col-end}}

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.

{{Main|2017–18 NIFL Premiership#NIFL Premiership play-offs}}

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.

{{football box

|date = {{Start date|2018|5|11|df=y}}

|time = 19:45 BST

|team1 = Queen's University

|score = 0 – 1

|report = [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44093856 BBC Sport]

|team2 = Dergview

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium = Upper Malone, Belfast

|attendance =

|referee =

}}

----

{{football box

|date = {{Start date|2018|5|16|df=y}}

|time = 19:45 BST

|team1 = Dergview

|score = 3 – 1

|report = [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44151502 BBC Sport]

|team2 = Queen's University

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium = Darragh Park, Castlederg

|attendance =

|referee =

}}

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.

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://nifootballleague.com/}}

{{NIFL Championship seasons}}

{{2017–18 in Northern Ireland association football}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2017-18 NIFL Championship}}

Category:NIFL Championship seasons

Northern Ireland

Category:2017–18 in Northern Ireland association football