Linfield ready to wrest title away

AFTER the country’s success at Euro 2016 there is a real buzz surrounding the start of the Northern Ireland Premiership this weekend.

High-profile additions have also boosted the anticipation and although the excitement has been tempered slightly by Portadown’s failure to pay a league fine and their suspension for the season’s opening round of fixtures, it still promises to be a cracking campaign.

Crusaders are 11-8 to successfully defend their title and although they were comfortable seven-point winners last term, there are reasons to believe those quotes are on the short side.