Watch: Cliftonville v Larne, plus text updates on all five Irish Premiership games

BBC News

2 days ago

Update:
Date: 19:38 BST
Title: Highlights: Carrick get the better of Glenavon
Content: Watch highlights of Carrick Rangers' 1-0 win over Glenavon at Taylors Avenue on Saturday as Danny Gibson's goal made it two wins out of two at the start of the new Premiership campaign for Stephen Baxter's side.
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Highlights:Gibson seals win for Carrick
Update:
Date: 19:37 BST
Title: No panic at Glenavon despite slow start - McLaughlin
Content: Glentoran v Glenavon (19:45 BST)
Glenavon manager Paddy McLaughlin will not be pushing the panic button despite a stuttering start to the new season.
The Lurgan Blues travel to the Oval on Tuesday (19:45 BST) to face a Glentoran team on maximum points.
On Saturday, Danny Gibson's goal just before the break was enough for Carrick Rangers to inflict a second loss of the campaign on Glenavon.
Despite that result leaving his side still in search of their opening points, McLaughlin feels a result in east Belfast can kick-start their season.
"There's only two games gone and anybody looking at the league table now would be very foolish," he told BBC Sport NI after Saturday's 1-0 loss at Carrick
"Nobody wants to be bottom, but there is a long way to go and a lot of points to be won and lost in a 38-game season.
"The Glens are off to a flier, as you'd expect. They've a good side and it's always a difficult task going to the Oval.
"It's a good game to look forward to and a good game to bounce back, so a good way to get our season up and running if we get a result."
Paddy McLaughlin's Glenavon have lost their opening two league matches
Update:
Date: 19:36 BST
Title: Team news
Content: Glentoran v Glenavon (19:45)
Declan Devine makes two changes to his side tonight as they aim to go top, if they can find a way past Glenavon. Captain Marcus Kane and midfielder Liam Burt come into the starting 11.
Paddy McLaughlin also makes just the double change, as he introduces Michael O'Connor and Paul McGovern into the line-up. The Lurgan Blues are hoping to collect their first win of the season.
Glentoran: Mills; Cooney, Kane, Palmer, Stewart, Coll, McEleney, Burt, Amos, Singleton, Jenkins.
Subs: Urminsky; Hvid, Kelly, Ferris, Lindsay, Russell, Johnson
Glenavon: Carney; McMullan, Burns, McKeown, Malone, Mallon, McClelland, Lowe, O'Connor, Carlin, McGovern
Subs: Byrne; Murphy, McDaid, Lomboto, Wilson, Smith, Quinn
Glentoran v Glenavon
Update:
Date: 19:35 BST
Title: Currie wants to make Shamrock Park 'a fortress'
Content: Portadown v Ballymena Utd (19:45 BST)
Niall Currie has urged his Portadown players to make Shamrock Park a "fortress" as they prepare to host Ballymena United on Tuesday (19:45 BST).
The Ports banked their first points of the new campaign with an impressive 4-1 win away to Dungannon Swifts with Eamon Fyfe and Joshua Ukek on target in the first half before a second half brace from Jordan Gibson sealed victory.
That win followed an opening day home loss against Glentoran and Currie is keen of replicating last year's form at Shamrock Park when they lost in the league just four times.
Ballymena sat out the weekend as their game against Linfield was postponed, but the Portadown manager noted their opening win away to Glenavon and wary of the threat of Jim Ervin's side.
"We're delighted to get off the mark," he told BBC Sport NI following Saturday's win.
"Sometimes you look at the fixtures and wonder where the first points are going to come from, so this was really pleasing.
"Ballymena are up next, and they've started strongly with a win over Glenavon. It'll be another tough game, no question.
"But the key for us is Shamrock Park. Last year, we made it a difficult place for teams to come, and that's exactly what we want to do again. We want to create a fortress here, somewhere nobody wants to visit."
Niall Currie's Portadown have lost to Glentoran and beaten Dungannon Swifts
Update:
Date: 19:34 BST
Title: Team news
Content: Portadown v Ballymena United (19:45)
Victories for both these sides in their previous outings makes team selection a relatively straightforward task for both managers.
Portadown name the same 11 players who started Saturday's impressive 4-1 win at Dungannon. The only change to their panel from that game is on the bench, with the addition of Rhys Annett, signed on a season-long loan deal from Linfield.
Ballymena's selection is even more routine - manager Jim Ervin names the same panel of 18 players who earned the Sky Blues an opening day victory at Glenavon.
Portadown: McCarey, Chapman, Altintop, MacKinnon, McCullough, Thompson, Wylie, Teelan, Ukek, Fyfe, Obhakhan.
Subs: Moore, Isamala, Rea, Mayse, Gibson, Traynor, Annett.
Ballymena United: O'Neill, Toure, Gould, O'Donnell, Clarke, Thompson, Rocks, McEleney, Corbally, Kennedy, McCurry.
Subs: Breen, Nelson, Jarvis, O'Connor, O'Reilly, Edogun, McCallion.
Portadown v Ballymena United
Update:
Date: 19:33 BST
Title: Highlights: Ports too strong for nine-man Swifts
Content: Watch highlights of Portadown's 4-1 victory over Dungannon Swifts at Stangmore Park on Saturday, a game which saw the home side have two players sent off.
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Highlights: Dungannon Swifts v Portadown
Update:
Date: 19:32 BST
Title: Swifts should embrace Coleraine challenge - McAree
Content: Coleraine v Dungannon Swifts (19:45 BST)
Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree has urged his players to "embrace the challenge" as they head to Coleraine in search of their first league points on Tuesday (19:45 BST).
Last season's Irish Cup winners have made a slow start to the season, losing by three goals to Linfield and Portadown, but McAree identified some shoots of light in the second half of Saturday's home defeat to the Ports.
However, they will have to do it without captain Gael Bigiramana and Leo Alves who were sent off at the weekend, while goalkeeper Declan Dunne is serving the second of a two-game suspension.
"Coleraine are a very good side with very good players," McAree told BBC Sport NI after Saturday's 4-1 home defeat.
"They have the resources to compete in the market, and they have title ambitions. It's going to be a challenge.
"We'll be going there with three players suspended after just two games, which is disappointing. But we'll go and embrace the challenge, see if we can get something, and try to bounce back."
Rodney McAree's Dungannon are looking to pick up their first points of the Premiership season
Update:
Date: 19:31 BST
Title: Team news
Content: Coleraine v Dungannon Swifts (19:45)
The Coleraine starting XI shows three changes to that which began Saturday's scoreless draw against Cliftonville at Solitude.
Levi Ives, Lewis McGregor and Matthew Shevlin drop to the bench and are replaced by Dean Jarvis, Ronan Doherty and Declan McManus.
Dungannon Swifts head coach Rodney McAree goes one better, making four changes to the team which went down 4-1 to Portadown three days ago.
Club captain Gael Bigirimana misses out after being sent off at Stangmore Park while Caolan Marron, Kealan Dillon and Andrew Mitchell are named among the replacements.
James Knowles, Thomas Maguire, Mal Smith and Bobby-Jack McAleese get the nod to start.
Coleraine: Harris, Kane (c), Jarvis, Boyle, Lyons-Foster, Patching, Cooper, Doherty, Glackin, Dunne, McManus.
Subs: Evans, Long, McGregor, Shevlin, Ives, McGonigle, Stewart.
Dungannon Swifts: Henderson, S. Scott, Knowles, Galvin, Glenny, McGinty (c), Maguire, Smith, McAleese, Wallace, McAllister.
Subs: Glass, J. Scott, Maguire, Marron, Bermingham, Dillon, Mitchell.
Coleraine v Dungannon Swifts
Update:
Date: 19:29 BST
Title: Post
Content: Coleraine v Dungannon Swifts
One notable change for Coleraine this evening - and it's not on the pitch.
Manager Ruaidhri Higgins misses out because of a 'minor medical procedure.'
"Due to a minor medical procedure Ruaidhri is currently recovering at home and will miss the game," said a Coleraine FC spokesperson.
"We look forward to him returning later this week."
Former Institute manager Kevin Deery, part of the management team at the Showgrounds, steps up to take charge of affairs tonight.
Update:
Date: 19:26 BST
Title: Higgins satisfied with Coleraine's defensive efforts
Content: Coleraine v Dungannon Swifts (19:45 BST)
Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins says he is pleased that his side are limiting their opponents' goalscoring opportunities as the Bannsiders prepare to put their unbeaten start to the season on the line at home to Dungannon Swifts on Tuesday night.
A late Joel Cooper goal gave Higgins' team a 1-0 win over Larne in their Premiership opener at Ballycastle Road and his side kept another clean sheet in achieving a 0-0 draw away to Cliftonville on Saturday.
"In the two games we've been involved in we've given up very little in terms of chances, which is really, really pleasing," the Coleraine boss told BBC Sport NI.
"Between both boxes we were excellent [against Cliftonville]. It's not often you see teams coming to Solitude and dominating the ball as much as we did.
"The disappointing thing for me was our final pass, cross or set-piece delivery wasn't on the money and we know we've got special players who will make that happen. But in terms of our general performance, happy with a lot of it."
Coleraine will face a Dungannon team who have had a disappointing start to their campaign - going down 3-0 to Linfield and 4-1 to Portadown.
"We know that Dungannon are a smashing team, it's only the start of the season, and it will only be a matter of time before they find their feet.
"They'll be a really good side I've no doubt, I just hope they wait until after Tuesday night!".
Higgins' Coleraine are unbeaten in their first two Premiership matches
Update:
Date: 19:23 BST
Title: Team news
Content: Bangor v Crusaders (19:45)
There are two changes to the Bangor starting XI who were defeated by Glentoran on Saturday with Robbie Garrett and Ben Cushnie replacing Jack O'Mahony and Liam Hassin.
Meanwhile Declan Caddell sticks with the same side from their only league fixture of the season so far when Carrick Rangers came from behind to defeat them by 4-3.
Musa Dibaga starts between the posts with Robbie Weir captaining the side.
Bangor: Deane, Lynch, Owens, Neale, McGuinness, Mulvenna, Harrison, Mulvenna, Morgan, Cushnie, Arthurs.
Subs: McMahon, Haughey, Cushnie, Ferguson, Mathieson, Garrett, Burns. Cushnie
Crusaders: Dibaga, K Forsythe, Hamilton, Weir, Brooks, Thorndike, Dunlop, J Forsythe, Bryden, Anderson, Lew Barr.
Subs: Tuffey, Williamson, Od McCart, Nixon, Ol McCart, Leo Barr, Boyd
Bangor v Crusaders
Update:
Date: 19:20 BST
Title: Highlights: Glens see off Bangor at Oval
Content: Watch highlights as Glentoran beat Bangor 1-0 at the Oval on Saturday to continue their winning start to the season.
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Highlights: Glens edge Bangor in tight Oval encounter
Update:
Date: 19:17 BST
Title: Performances key for Bangor boss Feeney
Content: Bangor v Crusaders (19:45 BST)
Bangor manager Lee Feeney says the nature of his side's performances in their opening two matches of the Irish Premiership season have been pleasing for him.
Last year's Championship winners began life in the top flight with a 3-1 win over Cliftonville at Clandeboye but were edged out 1-0 by Glentoran at the Oval on Saturday.
Next up for Feeney's charges is the visit of Crusaders on Tuesday night.
"The big thing for me is performances. The last two games we have had good performances and that's important to me.
"If you can pick up points on the way then that's even better. We'll take the positives, learn from it and grow.
"I'm really happy with the attitude of the players and proud of the performances they put in.
"We'll look forward to Crusaders coming to Clandeboye on Tuesday night, which will be another very tough game."
Lee Feeney's side have won one and lost one of their opening two Premiership games
Update:
Date: 19:14 BST
Title: Highlights: Cliftonville and Coleraine share Solitude spoils
Content: Watch highlights of Cliftonville's 0-0 draw with Coleraine in their Irish Premiership encounter at Solitude on Saturday.
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Highlights: Cliftonville and Coleraine share Solitude spoils
Update:
Date: 19:11 BST
Title: Team news
Content: Cliftonville v Larne (19:45)
Reds boss Jim Magilton rings the changes after Saturday's goalless draw with Coleraine, making five alterations to his line-up.
Shaun Leppard, Michael Glynn, Adebayo Fapetu, Conor Falls and Joe Gormley all come into the side, with Jonny Addis, Harry Wilson, Rhyss Campbell, Ryan Curran and Luke Conlan dropping out.
Campbell and Conlan are long-term injury concerns for the hosts.
In the opposite dugout, Gary Haveron takes interim charge of Larne for the second time following Nathan Rooney's abrupt exit.
Haveron has tweaked his starting XI from last week's 0-0 stalemate against Portuguese side Santa Clara, with James Simpson and Matthew Lusty drafted in for the suspended duo of Aaron Donnelly and Conor McKendry.
Cliftonville: Morrison, Pepper, Lavery, Hale (c),
Falls, Leppard, Gormley, Glynn, Casey, Keaney, Fapetu.
Subs: Ridd, Addis, Wilson, Curran, Gordon, Barr,
McWoods.
Larne: Ferguson, Gallagher, Randall, O'Connor, S.
Graham, Nolan, Cosgrove (c), Bent, Lusty, Simpson.
Subs: D. Graham, Magee, Bridgman, Kee, Moore,
Hastings, Wallace.
Cliftonville v Larne
Update:
Date: 19:09 BST
Title: Rooney leaves Larne after one game of new Irish Premiership season
Content: Cliftonville v Larne (19:45 BST)
Nathan Rooney has left his position as Larne manager by mutual consent just one game into the new Irish Premiership season.
The Englishman was brought in as Tiernan Lynch's successor last November from Gibraltar side Bruno's Magpies.
However, he temporarily became Larne's head of football just three weeks after being appointed because he did not hold the licence required to lead the club in Uefa Conference League matches.
Read more here
Rooney was appointed as Tiernan Lynch's replacement last year
Update:
Date: 19:06 BST
Title: Tuesday night's fixtures
Content: Five-game Premiership programme
A reminder of Tuesday night's five fixtures in the Irish Premiership.
Tuesday night's fixtures
Update:
Date: 19:03 BST
Title: 'Sockgate', face-offs and Gibson goals - Takeaways from Saturday's games
Content: The second set of fixtures of the new Irish Premiership season may have seen only four matches played rather than the regular six, but Saturday's action still managed to throw up its fair share of talking points.
Carrick Rangers and Glentoran established themselves as the pacesetters at this very early stage of the 2025-26 campaign as both clubs made it six points from six by securing home wins over Glenavon and Bangor respectively.
Elsewhere, Cliftonville and Coleraine played out a goalless draw at Solitude, while Portadown defeated nine-man Dungannon Swifts at Stangmore Park for their first victory of the new term.
BBC Sport NI looks at some of the main takeaways from the weekend's quadruple-header.
Read more about the talking points from Saturday's games here.
Coleraine's Joel Cooper in action against Harry Wilson of Cliftonville
Update:
Date: 19:00 BST
Title: Five-match Premiership programme
Content: Good evening and welcome to our coverage of tonight's five games in the Irish Premiership, including a live videostream of the meeting of Cliftonville and Larne on BBC iPlayer and at the top of this page.
That encounter will see both clubs attempt to secure their first wins of the new league season.
The match is given added intrigue by the announcement on Monday that Larne were parting company with manager Nathan Rooney, Gary Haveron assuming the role of interim manager while the Invermen begin their search for a successor to the Englishman.
The east Antrim club lost to Coleraine in their solitary top-flight outing to date while their opponents at Solitude this evening have lost to Bangor and drawn with Coleraine.
Elsewhere, Glentoran put their 100% record on the line when they host Glenavon at the Oval. The Lurgan Blues chase their first point of the campaign after suffering defeats to Ballymena United and Carrick Rangers.
Unbeaten Coleraine are at home to a Dungannon Swifts side who have yet to collect a point so far, Portadown entertain Ballymena United at Shamrock Park and Bangor face Crusaders at Clandeboye Park.
We'll have text updates from all five fixtures throughout the evening, plus in-play clips of the best of the action, so stay with us and you won't miss a thing!