Larne, Ballymena, Coleraine & Ports secure victories

Patrick McEleney celebrates scoring Ballymena's opener against Dungannon

Larne have moved up to third place in the Premiership thanks to a 1-0 victory over 10-man Loughgall at Lakeview Park.

Paul O'Neill scored the only goal with an early deflected strike while Robbie Norton was dismissed after 67 minutes.

Ballymena United eased to a 3-0 over Dungannon Swifts, who struggled after keeper Declan Dunne was red-carded on 13 minutes.

Patrick McEleney netted from the resulting free-kick before goals from Jordan McMullan and Success Edogun.

A superb free-kick from substitute Declan McManus nine minutes from time gave Coleraine a 1-0 win against Glenavon at Mourneview Park.

Josh Ukek's rebound finish on 83 minutes earned Portadown a 1-0 home victory over Carrick Rangers in the evening game.

Champions claim the points

O'Neill's sixth-minute finish settled matters as the Inver Reds claimed maximum points against basement side Loughgall.

Olatunde Bayode tormented Adam Towe down the left flank before expertly picking out O'Neill, whose goal-bound effort deflected off James Carroll and wrong-footed a helpless Nathan Gartside.

The champions should have been out of sight before the interval but squandered a series of gilt-edged opportunities.

Tiarnan O'Connor was the chief culprit, somehow steering wide from point-blank range after connecting with O'Neill's pinpoint delivery, then seeing another effort brilliantly clawed away by Gartside after waltzing past Lewis Francis and Ben Murdock.

Loughgall threatened sporadically, with Norton's curling effort from Kirk McLaughlin's clever lay-off whistling inches over the woodwork in the first half.

After the restart, the Villagers mounted a spirited response as substitute Lee McMenemy's venomous drive from distance flashed narrowly over, while McLaughlin's audacious overhead kick had home supporters rising from their seats.

Any comeback hopes were extinguished in the 69th minute when Norton received two quickfire cautions – first for clipping Sean Graham's heels, then for a reckless lunge on Oisin Devlin – leaving 10-man Loughgall powerless.

Ballymena capitalise on early red

The first major talking point came on 13 minutes when Dunne was sent-off for clattering into Ballymena striker Calvin McCurry just outside the penalty area.

From the resultant free kick, McEleney curled a fabulous strike past replacement keeper Alex Henderson to give United the lead.

Henderson did well to prevent Ballymena from doubling their advantage when he spread his body to block an effort from the clear-breaking Edogun.

Dungannon almost levelled close to the break as Andrew Mitchell's header from Danny Wallace's back post cross beat Sean O'Neill but defender Stephen O'Donnell was alert to clear off the goal-line.

Ballymena doubled their tally six minutes into the second period when Edogun did well to hold the ball up before laying it off for McMullan to fire home a snap-shot from the left hand side of the penalty area.

Brandon Bermingham forced Ballymena keeper O'Neill into a fine save from a free kick but it was Ballymena who wrapped up the points with 10 minutes left when Edogun cut inside a forced a left-footed shot beyond Henderson.

McManus magic as Bannsiders edge it

A brilliantly taken free-kick from McManus earned Coleraine a first league win at Glenavon in over five years.

In a game of few chances, the Scottish striker produced a rare moment of quality to flight a right-footed effort past Tadhg Ryan from 30 yards for what proved to be the winner.

The win completes a first hat-trick of league wins for Dean Shiels' side this season and sees them leapfrog Portadown and Cliftonville into the top half of the table.

Glenavon thought they had opened the scoring midway through the first half but Charles Dunne somehow got back to acrobatically clear the ball off the line from Peter Campbell's inswinging corner.

At the other end, Tadhg Ryan produced a remarkable save to parry away Levi Ive's clever free-kick from the edge of the penalty area and he was called into action again just before the break to deny Jamie Glackin after the midfielder had exchanged passes with Matthew Shevlin.

The Glenavon goalkeeper produced another fine stop midway through the second half to deny Matthew Shevlin.

The Coleraine striker did well to beat the offside trap but Ryan raced off his line to get his hand to Shevlin's goal bound effort.

Davy McDaid went close for the hosts with an audacious effort from just inside the Coleraine half after spotting Rory Brown off his line but his volley went just the wrong side of the Coleraine goal.

But it was McManus' moment of magic - seconds after Glenavon believed they should have been awarded a free-kick - proved the difference on the day.

Ukek on hand to win it for Ports

It was a first half of few chances at Shamrock Park with Carrick's best opportunity coming when keeper Aaron McCarey deflected Kyle Cherry's free-kick away before Danny Gibson's follow-up effort was blocked.

The home side came close to opening the scoring on 25 minutes when the Carrick wall was able to divert the path of Steven McCullough's free kick.

However, Divin Isamala controlled the ball and found Ahu Obhakhan, whose shot from the edge of the six-yard box struck the crossbar with his second attempt, a header, also denied by the woodwork.

After the restart Joe Crowe's pass left Gibson through on goal but McCarey was able to thwart the chance on the second attempt.

There was little goalmouth action for most of the second half, but it came to life in the final 10 minutes with Jack McIntyre making a good close-range save just before the Ports broke the deadlock seven minutes from time.

Shay McCartan's low drive from range was saved by McIntyre, but the Carrick stopper spilt the ball with Ukek on hand to convert the rebound.

Ukek nearly got a quick second with McIntyre making a diving save to stop the chance. Despite a few half chances late on, the away side were unable to find a leveller meaning that Portadown now move up to sixth position.