The Score NI

Our guests on this week's episode are all getting their hands on league-winners medals for the first time in their careers this weekend. From Larne we speak to Chris Gallagher, Brandon Diau joins us from Portadown and Limavady Utd are represented by Ruairi Boorman. Like most successful people, their stories involve hard work and difficult decisions but it's paid off for them.

Larne's Andy Ryan and Institute's Shaun Leppard have both received Player of the Year nominations in their respective leagues, they join us to discuss their season's to date and remaining goals. Larne need would clinch the title with a draw on Monday, whilst 'Stute could leap as high as 2nd with a win on Saturday. We also hear from Michael O'Neill, Gareth McAuley and Stuart Dallas following the U19 Euros draw earlier this week, with the tournament to be staged in Northern Ireland this July.

Our guests this week all took part in matches that grabbed the headlines and got tongues wagging last weekend. Stewart Nixon scored a late winner at Inver Park for Crusaders, which sent shockwaves through the title race, and he's hoping they will carry that momentum into their match tonight against Linfield. We chat to Steven McCullough who kept his cool to slot away a winning penalty for Ballymena United at Loughgall to boost their survival hopes and we catch up with defender Nathan Kerr whose Annagh Utd side will have a big say in how the 5-way Championship promotion battle pans out.

Sean Ward discusses his hopes to finish the season on a high with Glenavon as he nears retirement this summer, could they mount a late push for a European play-off spot? Elsewhere it's change at the top of the Championship, journalist Barry Flynn analyses the hopes of those pushing for promotion and we're joined by Bangor's Scott McArthur who is determined to get back to winning ways this weekend to keep their Premiership dream alive.

The final four teams in the Irish Cup are the top four teams in the Premiership table as things stand. Joining us to preview Glentoran v Linfield and Cliftonville v Larne is Niall McGinn, Kyle McClean, Jonny Addis and Jaziel Orozco.

Glentoran's new caretaker manager Declan Devine joins Michael to discuss his goals between now and the end of the season. Plus we speak to Scott Irvine about Carrick Rangers' aspirations and journalist Mark McIntosh helps us preview Northern Ireland's upcoming friendly fixtures.

Michael is joined on this week's show by Coleraine's Stephen Lowry, Loughgall manager Dean Smith, Newry City's Fra McCaffrey plus we hear from Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill.

Michael is joined by journalist Stuart McKinley to preview Sunday's League Cup final at Windsor Park and we also speak to players and managers from both clubs involved. Linfield are represented by boss David Healy, Daniel Finlayson and Chris Johns, whilst Lee Chapman, Gary Thompson and Niall Currie provide a Portadown perspective.

Michael speaks to players from 4 Championship clubs who are preparing to face Premiership opposition for a place in the semi-finals of the Irish Cup. Our guests this week are Aaron Hogg (Portadown), Darius Roohi (Ballyclare Comrades), Richard Gowdy (Newington) and Mikhail Kennedy (Institute).

Glentoran striker David Fisher joins Michael to discuss life in Belfast, their upcoming match against league-leaders Larne and his Irish Cup aspirations, we find out the inside scoop on the Coleraine takeover from journalist Damian Mullan and Annagh United boss Ciaran McGurgan is plotting a strong conclusion to the Championship season as they target a top-half finish.

Cliftonville assistant manager Gerard Lyttle, Carrick Rangers midfielder Andy Mitchell and journalist Mark McIntosh join Michael to discuss what should be a thrilling conclusion to the Premiership season. With just 10 games to go, any slip up could prove costly and every side still has something to strive for.

Journalist Keith Bailie chats us through Northern Ireland's Nations League draw, Ballymena United 'keeper Sean O'Neill speaks ahead of crucial bottom two clash away to Newry City and Jim O'Hanlon discusses a tough season for Warrenpoint Town, as they look to breathe life into their promotion bid when they face PIL leaders Limavady United.

Michael speaks to 4 of the clubs vying for a place in the Quarter-Finals of the Irish Cup. Ballymacash Rangers boss Lee Forsythe talks to us ahead of their clash with Premiership giants Glentoran, Rodney McAree discusses his cup aspirations at Dungannon Swifts, Newington boss Paul Hamilton is hoping his team can pull off a shock in Newry and Howard Beverland prepares to face a former club as Bangor go to Portadown.

Tomas Cosgrove reflects on scoring the winner as Larne won their 4th consecutive Co. Antrim Shield final, Linfield skipper Jamie Mulgrew talks about reaching 750 games for the club and maintaining standards as they try to reclaim the Gibson Cup, former NI international Danny Lafferty chats to us about signing for Institute and Glenavon's Niall Quinn assesses their hopes for a top 6 finish.

We're joined by Glentoran and Larne managers Warren Feeney and Tiernan Lynch as they prepare for Tuesday's Co. Antrim Shield final, we'll also hear from Glens skipper Marcus Kane and Larne defender Shaun Want, who are at different stages as they return from injury. We'll continue the cup football chat with Darren Murphy as we look ahead to the Mid Ulster Cup final and reflect on this week's BetMcLean Cup semi-finals and we'll find out how things are going for him in his current role as Finn Harps boss. Plus there's Championship discussion with the help of Dundela captain Jay Magee. The Duns are top of the table and head to third-placed Bangor later on.

In our first show of 2024, Cliftonville boss Jim Magilton discusses new faces and a departure at the Reds, we get his thoughts on a proposed salary cap for the league and if we really need VAR in Northern Irish football. Plus Barry Gray discusses his decision to leave Warrenpoint Town for the manager's job at Newry City and Zach Barr reflects on his switch to Portadown, who have aspirations to reach the League Cup final and win the Championship this season.

Journalist Steven Crawford helps us preview a crucial period in the Premiership and offers his thoughts on some big transfer rumours swirling around ahead of the January window opening. We catch up with former Irish League star Thomas Stewart to find out how his managerial career in Sweden is going and we also hear from the managers of Crumlin Star and Comber Rec as they prepare for the Steel & Sons Cup final on Christmas morning.

Jonny Tuffey helps us look ahead to Crusaders v Larne and discusses his crucial penalty save in their win over Carrick Rangers, Stephen Small discusses developing young players at Ballyclare Comrades and outlines their aims for the campaign, whilst Fra Brennan brings us an insight into life at Ballymacash Rangers as they prepare for a huge Co. Antrim Shield semi-final on Tuesday.

Glentoran's Daire O'Connor helps us preview their big game against Cliftonville as they seek to build on an emphatic derby win over Linfield in which he netted twice. Also on the show is Newry City boss Gary Boyle who is preparing for a bottom two battle against Ballymena Utd and Bangor manager Lee Feeney whose team left it late against Ballyclare and were inspired to victory by an Irish League legend.

James Singleton, Leroy Millar and Andy Hoey are our guests this week. Glentoran have reached the Co. Antrim Shield final and are hoping to put a string of results together to climb the league table but face a stern test against Linfield tonight. Larne face the Blues in a Bet McLean Cup QF on Tuesday but first must navigate a Premiership away day in Ballymena and Loughgall are also on their travels, with a visit to Carrick Rangers coming up before their own QF v Portadown. The Shamrock Park outfit knocked them out of the Mid Ulster Cup earlier this week so revenge is on the menu.