The Score NI

On this week's episode we bring you an in-depth interview with former Irish League referee Lee Tavinder. Do officials need technology to help them? Would falling under NIFL's scope, rather than the IFA, make a difference? Are there decisions that still haunt him to this day?Plus we speak to the Championship's early pacesetters Annagh United. Their manager Ciaran McGurgan shares his thoughts on a perfect start to the campaign with 5 wins in as many games.

On this week's episode Michael gets the lowdown on the Northern Ireland squad from journalist Mark McIntosh ahead of their opening World Cup Qualifiers away to Luxembourg and Germany. They also discuss Linfield's European exit and Cliftonville's proposed takeover.Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe talks about his move to Dungannon Swifts, working with Rodney McAree again and his hopes to get the team firing as they travel to Glenavon; it will be a meeting of the two teams yet to register any points in the Premiership.Plus we catch up with Limavady United's summer signing Philip Lowry. How is he finding the Championship and what targets have the players been set by ambitious manager Paul Owens?

Dylan Boyle joins us to discuss a bright start to the season for him and the Bannsiders with Coleraine picking up 3 wins and a draw from their opening 4 fixtures.We chat to Larne's Sean Graham who is ready to face former club Ballymena United on Friday night. The Invermen are seeking to build on their first win of the campaign last weekend but will face a stern test against a Sky Blues team who haven't conceded a league goal on their way to collecting a maximum 9 points so far.Meanwhile, it's been a frustrating start for Glenavon who are one of three clubs yet to record a win. The Lurgan Blues have lost their first 4 matches but can manager Paddy McLaughlin change that this weekend when they head to his old stomping ground Solitude? He gives us his verdict on where the club are at.

On this week's episode we hear from two teams who have enjoyed winning starts to the new campaign.Andrew Mills reflects on a season as understudy to Dan Gyollai at Glentoran before taking on the number 1 jersey and backing it up with 3 clean sheets in a row as his side moved to the top of the table on Tuesday night.Meanwhile, Ballymena United made it two away wins on the bounce. We're joined by their midfielder Patrick McEleney who has settled into life at the Sky Blues following his January arrival. They are preparing for their first home outing of this new campaign on Saturday.Plus, with the Premier Intermediate League season kicking off this weekend, we speak to one of the clubs who will be vying for promotion. Stuart King brings us up to speed with the cup action that has kept them busy in recent weeks and tells us how he is feeling heading into his first league game in the dugout as Newry City gaffer.

The new domestic campaign returned with a bang at the weekend with a crazy comeback, late-winners and some shocks. Joining us to discuss their early impressions on this week's episode we hear from new Carrick Rangers recruit Matthew Snoddy who was involved in a 7 goal thriller against one of his former clubs.Bangor defender Kyle Owens reflects on helping the Seasiders secure their first top flight win in 16 years and we get a Championship perspective from Loughgall boss Darren Murphy, whose side won Friday's curtain raiser against Institute.

We continue our build up to the new Irish Premiership season with Part 2 of our preview featuring all 6 clubs who will be on the road on opening weekend. In this episode we speak to Rodney McAree (Dungannon Swifts), Tim McCann (Glentoran), Nathan Rooney (Larne), Rory Hale (Cliftonville), Stephen Baxter (Carrick Rangers) and Jim Ervin (Ballymena Utd) to gauge confidence levels with the new campaign only days away!

We're helping you get ready for the return of the Irish Premiership by bringing you interviews with the 6 clubs who will enjoy home advantage next weekend. You'll hear from managers David Healy (Linfield), Lee Feeney (Bangor), Declan Caddell (Crusaders) and Niall Currie (Portadown), Glenavon's assistant manager Colin Coates and Coleraine captain Lyndon Kane.

In our last episode of the series, Michael speaks to Carrick Rangers manager Stephen Baxter about securing Premiership status for next season after winning their play-off against Annagh Utd, plus we get his thoughts on the Irish Cup final and the rebuilding job he faces in the summer.We also bring you interviews from the prestigious NIFWA Awards, which were held in Belfast on Sunday. Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill was there to help induct legendary players Steven Davis and Stuart Dallas into the Dr. Malcolm Brodie Hall of Fame and we caught up with all three men plus we'll hear from Manager of the Year Rodney McAree and Championship Player of the Year Ben Arthurs.

Will it be underdogs Dungannon Swifts who lift the Irish Cup for the first time in the history of this famous competition or, having ended a 45-year wait to reclaim the cup last year, will Cliftonville be able to retain it for another season?Michael is joined by former Swifts midfielder Shane McCabe and ex-Reds forward Sam Ashford to get a better understanding of what the players from both camps will experience in the build up to and throughout Saturday's showpiece at Windsor Park.

Michael speaks to Northern Ireland international Gavin Whyte about his move to Derry City, Linfield legend Michael Gault discusses the opportunity some of his young players enjoyed at Inver Park last weekend as they stepped up to the senior team and Gary Boyle reflects on his return to management, which has brought a league title and promotion in his first full season at Warrenpoint Town.

We have 3 guests on different quests this week from attempting to secure European qualification, to a promotion bid that could yet still become a title charge and a club looking for a late escape from the relegation zone.Michael is joined by Larne defender Aaron Donnelly, H&W Welders manager Paul Kee and Newington captain Richard Gowdy.

Michael is joined by Linfield goalie David Walsh, who enjoyed a breakthrough campaign to become the Blues first-choice between the posts on their way to Gibson Cup glory.We get to know Charles Dunne, who has impressed since his January arrival at Coleraine.Plus we catch up with Limavady United manager Paul Owens, whose side are part of a three-way tussle for a promotion playoff position with only three league games to go.

Ballymena United boss Jim Ervin looks ahead to their remaining split games as they chase down 7th spot and a European play-off place, we hear from former Linfield defender Matthew Clarke who has picked up silverware in Scotland with Livingston last weekend, while Annagh United's Ryan Moffatt discusses battling back from a horror injury just in time for an exciting end to the season in the Championship.

4 teams are left standing with designs on reaching the big day in May and after this weekend we'll know our finalists.Joining us to discuss Ards v Cliftonville and Bangor v Dungannon Swifts is Michael Ruddy, Shea Gordon, Callum Byers and Andrew Mitchell. They'll give us their predictions and we'd love to hear yours too - vote in our poll!

Darren Murphy joins Michael to reflect on Linfield's 57th title triumph, Dungannon Swifts pushing for European football and big games this weekend which will decide who finishes on the wrong side of the split. Plus we have an in-depth chat with Ballymena Utd striker Johnny McMurray about his serious knee injury, his decision to document his road to recovery and an exciting new project he is working on.

Michael looks ahead to Sunday's League Cup final between Glentoran and Cliftonville with the help of key figures from both sides.The Glens perspective is provided by boss Declan Devine, skipper Marcus Kane and 'keeper Dan Gyollai. The Reds are represented by manager Jim Magilton, club captain Rory Hale and record goalscorer Joe Gormley.

As we head into an Irish Cup quarter-final weekend, we are joined by two Championship managers hoping to claim scalps to seal their spot in the semi-finals.Bangor's Lee Feeney is preparing to welcome Irish League giants Glentoran to Clandeboye Park on Friday night, whilst John Bailie's Ards will be facing Premiership strugglers Loughgall on Saturday.We'll also be speaking to defender Danny Wallace, who reflects on a brilliant season with Dungannon Swifts, as they look to overcome Carrick Rangers to continue their cup run.

On this week’s show we are joined by two men who startedtheir careers outside of the Irish League. Our first guest is former Finn Harps and Derry City man Ciaran Coll, who has quickly won over Glentoran fans with his defensive displays. We discuss his time so far at the Glens, his LOI playing days, Brandywell departure and look ahead to some big games on the horizon. Whilst our second guest is someone who played at the otherend of the pitch, turning out for the likes of Carrick Rangers, Ballymena Utd and Portadown to name a few. Shane Dolan gives us an insight into player recruitment, the growing reputation of the Irish League outside of Northern Ireland and his own experiences in football management since hanging up his boots.

With 13 points between 2nd and 10th, how much could the complexion of the league shift between now and the end of this campaign?With the split looming next month, we chat to two teams in the bottom half who are hoping to at the very least force themselves into a European play-off position and ideally a top half finish.Joining us on this week's episode are Stephen O'Donnell of Ballymena United and Jack Malone from Glenavon.

Michael is joined by former Carrick Rangers manager Stuart King who discusses his time out of management, whether he would favour a return sometime soon and how he assesses the title race - can anyone stop Linfield at this stage? The Blues face back-to-back champions Larne on Tuesday night. We get to know Cliftonville defender Jack Keaney who was one of their January arrivals and a man well known to the club's assistant manager Gerard Lyttle. Plus we get an insight into the aspirations of H&W Welders from one of their star players Daniel Kearns. He offers his thoughts on a highly competitive Championship and takes a trip down memory lane as we reflect on Irish League titles and time spent in England earlier in his career.