Last updated on .From the section IrishThe race for the Gibson Cup started in October this season due to Covid-19The 2021-22 Irish Premiership season will start on Saturday 28 August. The Northern Ireland Football League said the date was agreed by the 12 clubs and decided on after feedback from the Premiership managers through a recent managers' forum meeting. A start date for the Premier Intermediate League will be confirmed "once clarification is sought on dates of other non-NIFL competitions". The Irish Premiership campaign usually starts in early August, but the schedule has been disrupted by the Covid-19 restrictions. There have been no matches played in the Championship and Premier Intermediate League, the Irish League's second and third tiers, since the initial outbreak of coronavirus in March 2020.

Source: BBC April 26, 2021 12:17 UTC