The Irish League is improving every year, says Keith Gillespie as former Northern Ireland international hails work of Lee Feeney at Bangor

Gillespie, who played in the Irish League across the latter stages of his career with Glentoran, offered his viewpoint when asked if he was worried that the country’s four full-time teams are starting to pull away from the rest.

Larne, Coleraine, Glentoran and Linfield all finished in the top four come the end of the most recent Sports Direct Premiership domestic campaign - with Coleraine and Linfield also collecting the Irish Cup and BetMcLean Cup silverware, respectively.

However, Dungannon have continued to put up the fight against the so-called big boys after back-to-back top-six finishes and Irish Cup final appearances.

“You've got boys who are working all day and obviously they've got a game that evening,” said Gillespie, who enjoyed a celebrated career for country and across the water at the highest level. “So they’re rushing home, getting some food in them to give them some energy, but that is really tough when boys who they're playing against who are full-time have been lying with their feet up all afternoon and getting that necessary rest.

“But I think it's good for the league, I think that the league is improving every single year and I've seen quite a few games this season.

“I went to the Irish Cup final and I really enjoyed it, I think it was a really, really good game.

"I think when you talk about is it hard to compete...well, it is hard, but then you look at what Dungannon's done.

"They've had a magnificent season again and to nearly back that up by winning back-to-back Irish Cups is credit to what (manager) Rodney McAree has done there.”

Gillespie, who is a current club ambassador at Bangor, has hailed the work carried out by manager Lee Feeney as the Seasiders have climbed through the leagues and retained their Premiership status last season.

However, he knows Bangor will need to produce the goods in the 2026/27 campaign to avoid the dreaded “second-season syndrome” that could result in a relegation fight.

He added: “Lee's been brilliant since he came through the door...I'd be worried if he keeps doing well that somebody would come and try to poach him.

“But you know if that happens, when somebody wants your manager, it shows you what a good job they've done.

“So to be very close to nearly closing the gates years ago, to going to the Ballymena and District League, where I think we struggled at the beginning of that, to then get into the Premier Intermediate and then obviously in the Championship and then to get back up has been amazing.

“The main objective was survival this year and I think the start that we had really helped us because we did struggle a little bit towards the end but we just had enough points on the board to see us over the line.

"I think the big challenge now is...I think you've seen a couple of years ago Loughgall had a really good season and then they had that second-season syndrome where they did struggle.

"So it is something that everybody will be mindful of at Bangor, so we'll just see what happens.”