• NIFL's Summer Football Fan Survey + Linfield cling to European dream
    Aug 26 2025

    NIFL want your thoughts. They’ve launched a fan survey asking if summer football (and a new league schedule) is the way forward.

    Meanwhile, Linfield have it all to do at Windsor after a 3-1 loss to Shelbourne in Dublin - can they pull off a big Euro comeback on home turf?

    We're also asking: is it really fair to make teams play three games in one week? Portadown boss Niall Currie certainly had something to say about it!

    Plus, we’ve got a full round-up from a jam-packed week of action. All in the company of Mark McGuiggan who is here to help make sense of it all.

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    1 hr and 34 mins
  • Nathan Rooney’s Sudden Larne Exit: Who Will Lead Inver Park’s New Era?
    Aug 19 2025

    After only 10 games in charge, Nathan Rooney's time in charge of Larne FC is over. We ask why the sudden move? How did we get here? What could it signal for Larne moving forward? And who might the Inver Park board look to for their next boss?

    We also chat Linfield in Europe and all the latest Irish League games, all in the company of Keelan Leeper.

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    1 hr and 34 mins
  • Irish League Opening Weekend Recap
    Aug 12 2025

    The Irish League is back and Matthew Brown from the Shout at the Oval podcast is here to review it all!

    The new Premiership season burst into life over the weekend with goals, shocks and plenty more to get us buzzing. Carrick Rangers pulled off the big comeback, edging Crusaders 4–3 in a seven-goal rollercoaster, while Ballymena United were all business in a 2–0 win away to Glenavon.

    On Sunday, Bangor made a dream return to the top flight by toppling Cliftonville 3–1. While Linfield flexed their title-chasing muscles with a crisp 3 goal victory over the Swifts.

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    1 hr and 41 mins
  • NIFL Premiership Season Preview 25/26
    Aug 3 2025

    The podcast is back for its fourth season. Bigger and better than ever, with our longest ever episode!

    Over two hours of pure Irish League chat.

    Your ultimate guide to the upcoming season of top-flight Irish League football. Every club’s prospects for the campaign ahead put under the microscope. Ross Welsh and Joe McCallion from Around the Grounds NI join the pod to share their predictions, including where they think every team will finish.

    All that and more, right here on your latest weekly edition of Kicking Match.


    TIMESTAMPS

    Cliftonville - 00:09:12

    Crusaders - 00:22:29

    Glenavon - 00:34:01

    Linfield - 00:41:14

    Bangor - 00:55:26

    Coleraine - 01:02:50

    Glentoran - 01:10:46

    Carrick Rangers - 01:18:50

    Ballymena United - 01:24:40

    Larne - 01:31:52

    Portadown - 01:36:37

    Dungannon Swifts - 01:44:40

    Weekend's Games Preview - 01:52:46

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    2 hrs and 3 mins
  • Irish League Season Review 24/25
    May 7 2025

    The episode you’ve all been waiting for. Ross Welsh and Joe McCallion join Peter to look back at the 24/25 season, which is finally in the books.

    Going through each team individually, predictions from the start of the season will be faced. Good, bad and the very ugly.

    Plus, Dungannon Swifts topple Cliftonville to win their first ever Irish Cup, Carrick Rangers hang on their top flight status and Ruaidhrí Higgins is the brand new Coleraine boss.


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    1 hr and 54 mins
  • Irish League Team of the Season 24/25 + Irish Cup Final Preview
    Apr 29 2025

    Ross Welsh and Joe McCallion of Around The Grounds NI jump back onto the podcast for the first in a double header of season look backs.

    Covering the final gameweek of the league campaign, look ahead to the Irish cup final and share our Irish League Team of the Seasons.

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    1 hr and 33 mins
  • Bangor promoted back to the big time + European place chase goes to the final day
    Apr 22 2025

    Writer and reporter Barry Flynn returns to the podcast as ‘Mr Championship’ shares his insight into Bangor finally confirmed their ascension back into top flight football next season.

    However the future is not looking so bright for Newry City who had their relegation into intermediate football made a formality.

    We also discuss Cliftonville fans rubberstamping their newCanadian ownership and look ahead to the final league gameweek of the season.

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    1 hr and 36 mins
  • Glentoran & Larne keep chase for European place + Behind the scenes of an Irish League kit deal
    Apr 15 2025

    Keelan Leeper returns to the podcast to give his thoughts on the NIFL Awards, the chase for 2nd/Automatic European place and shares a behind the scenes perspective on inking an Irish League kit deal.

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    1 hr and 39 mins