Northern Ireland – nothing new, nothing exciting. Ups and downs in the professional league every year with little significance.
Glenavon (Lurgan) were strong in 1978-79, reaching UEFA Cup spot – apparently exhausted by the effort, they slipped down to 9th place in 1979-80. Three clubs finished behind them. Good season enjoyed Glentoran (Belfast) – 3rd, and Ballymena United – 2nd. And way above every other club was familiar name – Linfield. The usual champions… they finished 9 points ahead of Ballymena United, collecting one more and entirely routine title.
The champions left nothing to other clubs: they reached the Cup final too, and promptly won 2-0 over city rivals Crusaders. The statisticians website records 2-0 victory; the Irish newspaper bellow – 2-1. Whatever the result…
A double for Linfield (Belfast) and Peter Rafferty was perhaps becoming familiar name and face around Europe, thanks to repetition of local success. Crusaders (Linfield) earned a spot in the Cup Winners Cup as losing finalists, and Ballymena United won the single Irish spot in the UEFA Cup.