Larne defeated Dungannon 8-0 at Inver Park to clinch the Gibson Cup for the third time in four seasons

Sports Direct Irish Premiership: Larne 8 Dungannon Swifts 0Gary Haveron said Larne have still “got a lot of history to write” after taking delivery last night of the Gibson Cup, flown in by helicopter that touched down in the centre circle at Inver Park.

The Larne boss enjoyed a dream finish to a wonderful season, as his side secured the title with a hammering of Dungannon Swifts.

Three league crowns in four years, with a historic European run in their only fallow season, has made this Larne’s era, but Haveron insists they are hungry for more.

“It was far from a straightforward season with the injuries and suspensions we had,” said the hometown hero.“People were talking about the demise of Larne Football Club but they underestimated what we have as a group, as a club, and a community.

“I love this town, I love the people, and I’m so lucky to have so many friends and family here to be part of it.

“We reset now though, it goes back to zero. We’ll enjoy the next few days but we’ll be ready to start all over again.

“We’ve got a lot of history to write at this football club.”

The opener arrived in the 12th minute when Jordan McEneff swung a peach of a cross in from the right and the ever-reliable Andy Ryan rose to plant a header past Swifts keeper Dylan Glass.

It was 2-0 nine minutes later when Leroy Millar doggedly won possession before freeing Matty Lusty to dink a lovely finish over the exposed Glass.

The livewire striker added another just before the half-hour mark when the ball ricocheted into his path and he rounded Glass then rolled the ball into the empty net as the party atmosphere continued unabated to the break.

Lusty rounded off his hat-trick two minutes after the restart, manipulating the ball adroitly on the edge of the box until he had space to spank a low shot across goal and into the bottom corner.

Ryan had his brace in the bag shortly after, firing past Glass after a well-worked set-piece routine saw McEneff roll the ball into his path from a corner.

The sixth arrived just past the hour mark as Sean Graham hared through to get in on the act, clipping a tidy left-foot finish to the net.

Ryan’s relentless hunger for goals was rewarded in the 71st minute when Paul O’Neill unselfishly squared the ball for the Scot to claim his hat-trick from ten yards out.

Karma repaid O’Neill soon after as the striker scored the goal of the game by lifting a gorgeous lob over Glass from a narrow angle to complete the demolition job.

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James Justin heads back to Wembley with Leeds United, having missed Leicester City’s shock FA Cup win in 2021 due to injury, and wants to make amends this time round

James Justin is on a mission to pile on the pain for Chelsea – and make up for one of the lowest moments of his career.

Justin was left devastated in 2021 when an ACL injury forced him to miss Leicester City’s shock FA Cup final triumph over Chelsea. The full back received a winners’ medal, having played in some of the previous rounds before getting injured, but admits he doesn’t even know where it is.

And now he wants to get his hands on another one on behalf of Leeds United, who meet managerless Chelsea in a crunch semi final showdown on Sunday.

Justin said: “It was a bittersweet moment, to be honest. Obviously I had played in a couple of rounds before and did well, but to be injured while my team-mates were out there, it was a bitter pill to swallow.

“At the end of the day it’s a team sport, and I’ve still got a medal to show for it. I don’t know where the medal is. It’s somewhere at home. It was a bad time in my career in terms of the injury, so I was just happy they got it over the line.

READ MORE: Ethan Ampadu on mission to bury ghosts and settle old scores in Chelsea showdownREAD MORE: Leeds United star in disagreement with Daniel Farke ahead of FA Cup semi-final

“But it was one of the lower points. Everyone plays their part, though, whether you play in the third round or in the final. Everyone has a helping hand, so I’d played a part, but obviously not as much as I wanted to.

“Hopefully I can change that this time. Chelsea in the semi-final, it might be the same outcome, hopefully.”

Justin insists Leeds can beat Chelsea, and that Daniel Farke’s men will look to exploit weaknesses in opponents who head into the game having sacked Liam Rosenior, after losing seven of their last eight games in all competitions.

He said: “With the squad that we’ve got, obviously, we’ve had good results against some big sides this season. So nothing’s out of the question. And we’re going there with confidence after the last couple of wins.

“They’re obviously a top side with top talent. And since the manager came in, they’ve obviously changed their style a little bit. But they’ve still got the same tendencies. And hopefully, we can figure out a game plan to push on their weaknesses.”

Justin, who won his one England cap back in 2022, has never played at Wembley. And he is relishing the chance to finally grace one of football’s greatest stages.

Justin, who joined Leeds from the Foxes last summer for £10m, added: “Hopefully I can get the chance to be out there in an FA Cup final, which would be a dream for me. It’s an exciting prospect. Everyone hears about how big the pitch is, how grand it feels, so yeah, I’m excited to get the chance to play.

“I played for Luton growing up and and grateful for everything they taught me over the years. I was lucky enough to travel when I was a kid and played in high-pressure moments -and hopefully I handle them well now.

“Definitely it could be a career high, this season. I feel like this has been a fresh start for me and my family. I’ve played a lot over the second half of this season and I’m really enjoying it, enjoying living in the city.

“Hopefully we can achieve our main goal, which is staying in the Premier League – and then see what happens in the cup.”

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Britain’s Got Talent winners Ashleigh Butler and Pudsey made history as the first dog act to win the show in 2012

Ashleigh Butler and her talented dog Pudsey etched their names into the history books as the first-ever canine act to win Britain’s Got Talent. The duo wowed audiences throughout the show’s sixth series in 2012, with Pudsey – a loveable cross between a Border Collie, Bichon Frise, and Chinese Crested – leaving the judges speechless with his inventive tricks.

Alesha Dixon was visibly moved at the time, exclaiming: “I can’t cope, this moment is too much. You’re showing people what dogs can do when they have good homes and are loved. I can’t cope. You’re the ones to beat.” Amanda Holden was equally swept up in the excitement, saying: “That was unbelievable, forget diamonds, Pudsey is everybody’s best friend, he’s just gorgeous.”

Their show-stopping dance routine set to the Mission Impossible theme during the grand finale secured their victory over rivals Jonathan and Charlotte, prompting Simon Cowell to declare: “My life’s work is now complete.”

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Stardom transformed everything for the remarkable pair, with Ashleigh landing a lucrative book deal worth £350,000. These earnings added their £500,000 BGT prize money and an additional £150,000 fee for a festive pantomime appearance that Christmas.

Fourteen years on, Ashleigh continues to put dogs through their paces for audiences across the country. Last month she appeared at the world’s greatest dog show, Crufts, with a crossbreed called Nacho (Glendream Another Monster Of Ashpen), competing in the Royal Kennel Club Singles Agility competition and claiming victory in the Medium Singles final.

Ashleigh also presented alongside hosts Claire Balding and Claudia Winkleman. Sharing her thoughts on Instagram about her time at the show, Ashleigh said: “Loved being back competing after a break last year. Nacho exceeded my expectations to become the medium singles winner at his first year competing there. Another fun year being part of the presenting and commentary team, I still have to pinch myself sometimes.”, reports the Mirror.

Ashleigh was supported at the event by her rarely-seen famous boyfriend, Byron Witchell. While Ashleigh appears to keep mentions of Byron to a minimum on her Instagram, his own profile describes him as an “Actor/Singer/Children’s Entertainer/MC/Host.”

Last year, the couple appeared in pantomime together, starring in Cinderella at Gravesend Theatre, Kent, with Ashleigh and her dog Sully as Fairy G and Furry G, and Byron as Buttons.

On Byron’s Instagram, he shared a photo of the pair together at Crufts, seated on the presenters’ sofa, expressing how proud he was of Ashleigh’s victory: “Crufts 2026 – what an incredible experience!! Soo unbelievably proud of the amazing @ashleighbutler7 and of course the adorable Nacho for their win.

“Also such a pleasure getting to meet such a talented team of presenters and crew, including the wonderful @clarebalding, claudiawinkle, @iamradzi and commentator legend Jim Rosenthal – a truly unforgettable 4 days!”.

In response, Ashleigh thanked her ‘sexy’ boyfriend for all his support, and professed her love for him, writing: “Awwww this is so cute – thank you for being there for us and being so supportive #TopGroom. You were amazing and knew exactly what I needed when I needed it, from coffee runner, to picking up dog [poo] – love you sexy xx.”

It now appears that Ashleigh and Byron have taken their relationship to the next level by moving into a new home together. Earlier this week, Ashleigh took to her Instagram Stories to share a photo of herself with Byron outside their new property, proudly clutching a set of keys, with the caption: “New beginnings.”

She followed this up with another image on Thursday that showed her working out in a new gym. Ashleigh also included a photograph of the couple’s hands holding Champagne glasses in front of their new fireplace. While little is known about Ashleigh and Byron’s relationship, he describes himself online as “a dynamic performer born and raised on the breathtaking South coast amid the scenic beauty of the New Forest.”

Tragically, Ashleigh’s BGT-winning dog Pudsey passed away in July 2017 following a battle with acute leukaemia, prompting a heartbroken Ashleigh to share on social media: “I can’t honestly believe I am writing these words. My handsome man has gone, and I don’t know what to do without him. We only had 11 years together, but they were the best years ever.

“He was my one in a billion dog that will never be replaced. I don’t need to write all of his endless accomplishments on here to prove how incredible he was for me. Sleep tight my handsome man, I love you lots xxxx.”

However, Ashleigh found comfort once more through Sully, a dog strikingly similar in appearance to Pudsey. The duo secured victory at Crufts in March 2018 before making an appearance on Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions, although they finished third in their heat and didn’t make it through to the grand finale.

This time last year, Liverpool were thrashing Tottenham to win the Premier League, and City were 18 points behind during a season in which they failed to win a major trophy.

Boss Guardiola had pointed out that his side did win the Community Shield but by his impeccable standards, the campaign had been a major disappointment.

City sealed qualification for the Champions League on the final day of the season, which proved to be high point, as further dismay followed in the Club World Cup in America.

Established stars such as Kevin de Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Jack Grealish and Ederson were allowed to leave in the summer and there were questions marks over the rebuild with a cohort of younger players brought in.

Doubts only amplified with a sticky start featuring two defeats in their opening three games this season and then starting 2026 with three consecutive draws, but the new blood appears to be peaking at the right time and are hungry for more silverware.

They got a taste by lifting the Carabao Cup and they will be heavy favourites in the FA Cup final whether they face Chelsea or Leeds United, but regaining the Premier League may prove the toughest challenge.

City went top of the table on goals scored by edging to victory at Burnley on Wednesday but find themselves back in second and chasing Arsenal once more after the Gunners ground out a victory over Newcastle.

Guardiola has won six Premier League titles, five Carabao Cups and the FA Cup twice during his near-decade reign and remains in the hunt to land them all in a single season, as happened seven years ago.

The Spaniard said: “Six games – if we win we will be there, if we lose it is over. People ask to define [City], how many Champions Leagues? How many this and that? To define the club, five Carabao Cup [wins] and playing four FA Cup finals in a row.

“You can always have a bad afternoon, a bad day with injuries and you cannot be there. In the Premier League, always we were there. We are in the final again, we have time to prepare with our fans. Now it is easy because it has been a tough week mentally and physically.”

Former City defender Micah Richards added on BBC One: “When it looked like Manchester City were down and out, they found it from somewhere and that is what champions do.

“I still see some frailties in City’s game on transitions, but at this moment in the season it is all about big moments, and they are taking the big moments.”

Apophis, officially designated 99942 Apophis, is a near-Earth asteroid discovered on June 19, 2004, at the Kitt Peak National Observatory by Roy Tucker, David Tholen, and Fabrizio Bernardi, and was named after the Egyptian god of chaos.

But when asteroid Apophis sweeps past Earth on April 13, 2029, you’ll need clear skies and dark surroundings to see it.

Astronomers expect Apophis to be visible to the naked eye from much of Europe, including the UK, provided observers have reasonably dark, cloud‑free skies.

NASA says the 450‑metre‑wide space rock will skim just 20,000 miles above Earth’s surface on April 13, 2029, closer than many communications satellites.

Its brightness is expected to peak at magnitude 3.1 – similar to the brighter stars in the Plough – making it easily visible to the naked eye from parts of Europe, Africa and Asia.

For those of us in the North East, we could see it as a fast‑moving star tracking across the southern half of the sky, rather than a dramatic flaming fireball.

For the likes of Sunderland, Hartlepool, Darlington and surrounding areas, the key will be getting away from streetlights.

Apophis’s path will carry it across the evening sky over the Eastern Hemisphere, and because it will be so close to Earth, its exact position will shift slightly depending on where you stand – a parallax effect that means observers on Wearside and Teesside will see it in a slightly different part of the sky to viewers in, say, London.

Dark‑sky sites such as the North Pennines and the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors are already highlighted by stargazing guides as some of the best places in England for low‑light, high‑altitude viewing, and those same qualities will make them ideal for Apophis.

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That doesn’t mean you have to trek to a national park.

If the weather plays ball, residents across the region should be able to step outside, find a spot with a clear view of the southern sky – a seafront promenade, a hillside park or even a dark back garden – and watch the asteroid sweep by as a bright point racing against the background stars.

Because it is expected to move at up to 42 degrees per hour across the sky, it will cross a chunk of the heavens in just a few minutes, but local astronomy groups are likely to publish exact times and directions for the UK closer to the date once detailed star‑charts based on NASA’s final trajectory are available.

“Some days you’re grand, and then out of nowhere it hits like a thunderbolt”

A young man is taking on a mammoth challenge next week to raise money for a men’s mental health charity. Michael Quinn sadly lost his father, Seamus Quinn, only six months ago.

Seamus was a teacher in Loreto Secondary School, Letterkenny and his death caused an outpouring of grief across Derry and Donegal. Michael spoke to Belfast Live about the journey he has faced in the last six months, navigating his own grief.

The Derry man said: “To be honest, I was in the pits of grief from October to January after my daddy’s death. I was struggling to leave the house and couldn’t face the gym because it was too much time alone in my own head.

“Thankfully, I started getting out for short runs with a few friends, which helped me get moving again. After the Belfast Marathon 2025 didn’t go to plan and I collapsed near the finish, I felt like I had unfinished business.

“With encouragement from my friends, Luke and Euan, I decided to sign up again and commit to it properly from the start. Running hasn’t fixed anything – and it never will – but it’s given me a release when I needed it most.”

Michael has decided to run the marathon to raise funds for Men’s Action Network, a local charity supporting men’s mental health.

He said: “I’m raising money for Men’s Action Network (MAN). It’s a valuable charity in Derry that supports men in the community through a wide range of services.

“My daddy used MAN’s services in the past and later went on to support them himself as a trained counsellor.

“MAN plays a crucial role in supporting men across all walks of life. They’re constantly battling to secure funding to keep their programmes and counselling services going.

“A lot of people rely on what they offer. The focus is on mental health and preventing suicide – helping ensure other families don’t have to go through the kind of pain that ours has.”

The loss of Michael’s father shattered the family and wider community to it’s core. Six months on, those feelings of grief and loss are still incredibly raw.

Michael told Belfast Live: “It has been brutal, to be honest. I don’t think people always understand everything that comes after a traumatic loss. Some days you’re grand, and then out of nowhere it hits like a thunderbolt. One of the hardest parts is that life keeps moving on for everyone else, while you feel a bit stuck in the middle of it.

“My father’s death came completely out of the blue, and it’s still very hard to understand. His sudden death has highlighted how quickly situations can escalate and how important it is that people are supported and treated with care and understanding. Charities like Men’s Action Network provide that support when people need it most.

“For anyone facing a similar situation, lean on each other as much as you can and keep talking. Take things easy and be patient with yourself.

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“The pain doesn’t fully go away, but over time it can become more manageable. Try to find some sort of release outside the house – whether that’s running, walking, or anything that gives you a bit of space from your thoughts.

“Don’t be afraid to reach out for support, whether that’s through your GP or charities like MAN.”

When Michael previously participated the Belfast marathon, his dad and other family members were there to support him.

For Michael this year, knowing that he will be running carrying the memories of his father makes this race even more important.

He said: “Physically I feel okay. I’m probably not in the best shape I’ve ever been, but the goal this year is simply to get it done.

“I think it’ll be just as much an emotional challenge as a physical one. Last year my whole family, including my Daddy, came to support me and I gave them a bit of a scare when I collapsed near the finish. I remember them coming into the Royal Victoria Hospital and they were very worried, but I had come around by then.

“This year will be tough in a different way – my daddy not being there. It still feels surreal not having him here, especially around moments like this.”

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Against the backdrop of the Abbey and famous clifftops, streets will be filled with black-clad revellers as the biannual event returns next weekend.

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The event kickstarts on the evening of Thursday (April 30) at the Royal Hotel for a pre-festival gig with DJ Jason, starting at 7.30pm.

A scheduled list of events have been released for the May weekend (Image: Supplied)

The following day will include a Bazaar and Alternative Markets at Whitby Leisure Centre, which will run from 10am till 5pm on Friday and Saturday and 10am till 4pm on Sunday.

Meet and greets, an art exhibit and a mini moshers craft club will be held at The Royal Hotel, West Cliff on Friday, along with a glam rock and metal gig from 7.30pm till 1am.

Saturday will include a horror quiz followed by four live bands at the Revenant Lounge at the Royal Hotel and an intimate spoken word performance at Eighteen 91.

Visitors of all sub genres are expected (Image: Supplied)

Visitors can enjoy the Kooky Bingo at the Royal Hotel, along with the Bazaar and extra live music on the final day.

The annual event has been entertaining lovers of gothic and alternative culture since 1994, when founder Jo Hampshire placed an ad in NME calling for a meet-up of like-minded people.

A small group of pen pals quickly became 200 for the first Whitby Goth Weekend and has since evolved into a bi-annual rendezvous coveted by thousands of traditional goths, Victorian goths SteamPunks and cyber goths to name just a few.

For more information about this year’s event, please visit here.

Mikel Arteta has called Arsenal’s game against Newcastle United the start of a “new season” after a fortnight in which their nine-point lead over Manchester City evaporated.

The two title contenders are both locked on 70 points and the same goal difference, with City top courtesy of scoring three more goals.

Arsenal surrendered control of the race by losing at the Etihad last Sunday. While City’s victory made them bookmakers’ favourites to win the title, there were perhaps reasons for optimism.

The presence of Eberechi Eze, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz in the same line-up helped Arsenal produce possibly their best performance of 2026, and they were the width of a post away from getting a result.

Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori returning to the squad today strengthens them further, and fixtures against Newcastle, Fulham, West Ham, Burnley and Crystal Palace look like a favourable run-in.

Much depends on whether they can mentally recover from butchering so many opportunities to put Manchester City to bed throughout the season, notably in January when Pep Guardiola’s team was floundering.

They look to have caught Newcastle at a good time, with Eddie Howe’s team losing four of their past six league games. There is widespread uncertainty about the future of Howe and some key players, as well as the intentions of their Saudi owners amid ongoing instability in the Gulf.

“We’ve lost a little bit of confidence, I think that was clear against Bournemouth on Saturday. With the recent results we’ve had and just the way things have fallen against us, players aren’t playing to their maximum level. You can see that,” said Howe.

“We’ve got some ‌very, very good players in ⁠the squad that are underperforming and you can’t put a figure on how confidence can damage the individuals.

“My job this week has been to support the players, to help the players, hopefully deliver some good work for them, then try and help them ⁠figure out how we can get back – individually and collectively – to our best levels.”

One of the players who could move on is Anthony Gordon, but he missed today’s game owing to injury. Newcastle should have Bruno Guimarães back in their engine room, but Joelinton is suspended.

Arsenal won the return fixture at St James’ Park in dramatic circumstances, with late Mikel Merino and Gabriel headers pulling what could be a pivotal win out of the fire.

Full team news on the way shortly.

Roy Hodgson is refusing to rule out a return to management ahead of what will be his final week as Bristol City interim and potentially the last one of a 50-year career.

The 78-year-old saw his Robins team beaten 2-1 at Birmingham, with first-half goals from Phil Neumann and Jhon Solis giving the hosts a lead they would never lose.

An 82nd-minute penalty from Tomi Horvat gave the Robins late hope but as he looks ahead to next Saturday’s curtain call against Stoke City, the former England boss is not making any promises.

He said: “I’ve got to be very careful what I say now, I’ve made a bit of a fool of myself two or three times already, there’s only so many gold watches you can get.

“Who knows? I’ve never been putting my CV out to clubs anyway. I’ve not had an agent ringing around trying to find me a job.

“I’ve just been fortunate, I suppose, that one or two jobs have found me, that I felt I’m able to do – and have broken a retirement promise to my wife and come back and taken them.

“I refuse really anymore to say ‘right, this was great, I shall never even contemplate being in football in another role again’. That would be a mistake because I might.

“Some nice little national team might come and say ‘come and join us for a little bit, work every now and again’, I might enjoy that.

“I didn’t expect this one, it was a real surprise when this came out but it was a pleasant surprise, it happens, and one that I’m glad that I took the opportunity.”

Hodgson has lost none of his competitive edge and even disputed the veracity of Birmingham’s second goal.

Blues took the lead when Neumann volleyed home Demarai Gray’s eighth-minute free-kick and doubled their advantage after Sam Morsy conceded possession under pressure from Solis.

The Columbian volleyed the loose ball as Radek Vitek scrambled back but referee Robert Jones awarded the goal and Hodgson said: “For some reason the referee’s watch buzzed.

“I’d like to have been there alongside him when it buzzed, because it didn’t look anywhere near over the line from where I was sitting, but there you go.”

PA

Hello and welcome to our live blog for the first of this season’s FA Cup semi-finals as Manchester City take on Southampton at a sun-soaked Wembley Stadium.

It’s the business end of the season, and Pep Guardiola’s sky blue machine is purring. Man City head into this contest on a five-game winning run, where they’ve collected two victories over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final and the Premier League, while also beating Liverpool, Chelsea and Burnley.

Having already ticked the Carabao Cup off their list, Man City are charging towards a domestic treble. They’re now top of the Premier League and are the overwhelming favourites to win the FA Cup as they’re expected to bulldoze Southampton here at Wembley, and whoever gets to the final out of Chelsea and Leeds United.

Despite all Guardiola’s glittering success at Man City, this season’s FA Cup is an opportunity for redemption after losing the competition’s last two finals against Manchester United and Crystal Palace in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

Southampton stand in Man City’s way, and they’re in phenomenal form. Tonda Eckert’s men are on a stunning 20-match unbeaten streak, dating back to January when they lost 2-1 against Hull City. This run has catapulted Southampton into the play-offs as they sit fifth in the Championship.

FA Cup victories over top-flight duo Fulham and Arsenal have also been standout moments for the club in 2026, and they enter this fixture with confidence, knowing they’re perfectly capable of causing an upset.

While promotion to the Premier League is probably Southampton’s ultimate aim, an unlikely FA Cup triumph would put this current group of players in the history books and etch them into the club’s folklore.

This game is an all-conquering force against a team with absolutely nothing to lose. For Man City, trips to Wembley are a regular occurrence and happen each season, while for Southampton, they will dream of an extraordinary upset.

Kick-off is at 17:15, with team news on the way shortly.