Image source, Press Eye

The winners of the BetMcLean Cup will automatically go into the Irish Premiership's European play-off final from next season.

Cliftonville, who secured European qualification by winning the play-off last season, are also the holders of the BetMcLean Cup.

"It adds real incentive for clubs and fans and raises the profile of the BetMcLean Cup even further," said NIFL CEO Gerard Lawlor.

"This isn't just a cup final anymore; it's potentially a golden ticket to Europe."

The number of European positions for Irish Premiership clubs will remain unchanged.

The league winners will secure a Champions League qualification spot and second place will also automatically qualify for Europe.

Teams which finish from third to seventh will enter the European play-offs, and the winner of that end-of-season play-off will join the Irish Cup winners in earning a European place.

Jamie Mulgrew picks up a caution from Jamie Robinson for having a chat that was a little too vociferous for the referee's liking.

Tomas Galvin is the latest player to head wide when he probably should have done better. Players are perhaps still getting their GPS settings corrected!

Almost a debut goal for Peter Maguire as the former Ballinamallard man heads Kealan Dillion's corner wide.

Just under ten to go in the first half here at Windsor Park.

Matt Fitzpatrick really should have scored there! Charlie Allen picks him out with space in the box but he blazes over from almost on the penalty spot.

Image source, Pacemaker

Linfield are going up through the gears but are being denied by the one man band of Caolan Marron. First, he slides in to stop Charlie Allen's effort then diverts Jamie Mulgrew's cross behind.

From the resulting corner, Matt Fitzpatrick drills the ball across the box but nobody in a black shirt can connect.

That's the closest we have come to an opener! After a corner is cleared by the Dungannon defence it is recycled on the right of the penalty area to Kirk Millar.

His tempting delivery is over Matt Fitzpatrick's head but is met by Ben Hall who nods wide. He probably should have done better.

Twenty played here in south Belfast and it is still largely uneventful. Kealan Dillon has a low shot easily stopped by Chris Johns as the drizzle is falling and the floodlights are on.

On the pitch feels like July but the conditions feel more like October!

Kirk Millar is getting his eye in with his free-kicks as he whips one in from the left that finds Ethan McGee at the back post.

However, Dungannon smother his attempt and clear the danger.

Ten minutes in and this game very much has the feeling of being the first week in July.

I know it's not exactly tropical but I am stunned to see Danny Wallace and Adam Glenny wearing an undershirt!

Better build-up from Linfield as Kirk Millar attempts an overhead kick but connects with nothing but air!

We have played five minutes and so far an overhit free kick for Dungannon has been the height of the action.

We are underway at Windsor Park on Jamie Robinson's whistle!

Both sides sporting their away strips with Linfield in black and gold getting us underway attacking the Kop with Dungannon in all yellow.

Linfield defender Euan East: "Spirits are high in the camp and we want to get going again and try to retain what we did last year.

"It's good to get into a competitive game so quickly. You need that competitive edge to a game that that will give us. It's a good way to start the season.

"Dungannon always give you a hard game and we know they will always be up for it."

Dungannon winger Thomas Maguire: "It's a bit of a bonus having this game to look forward to. It's not a friendly, there's something to play for against good opposition on a good pitch with something on the line.

"Everyone is looking forward to the game and then just kicking on and hopefully it will stand us in good stead for Europe."

The first team news of the season is in! For David Healy's side, Chris Johns is back between the sticks having been dropped in favour of David Walsh midway through last season while Jamie Mulgrew wears the armband as usual.

Rodney McAree gives three players their competitive debut as Peter Maguire, Tiernan Kelly and Mal Smith all start with Gael Bigirimana captaining the side after Dean Curry's retirement at the end of last season.

Linfield: Johns, East, Millar, Allen, Hall, Archer, Mulgrew (C), McGee, Fitzpatrick, Morrison, Orr

Substitutes: Walsh, Roscoe, Whiteside, Shields, Offord, McKee, Brown, McCullough, Annett, McKay

Dungannon Swifts: Dunne, P. Maguire, Marron, Galvin, Dillon, Glenny, Kelly, T. Maguire, Smith, Wallace, Bigirimana (C)

Substitutes: Henderson. Glass, S. Scott, J. Scott, King, Boyd, Alves, McGinty, McAleese, McAllister

Image source, BBC Sport

Linfield secured their place in this year's Charity Shield by emphatically lifting the Gibson Cup for a record-extending 57th time.

The Blues built an unassailable lead before the five sets of post-split fixtures and finished 22 points ahead of second-placed finishers Larne.

The south Belfast side go into the game boosted by the news that manager David Healy has signed a three-year extension to his contract as boss.

Dungannon followed up their hugely impressive fourth-place finish in the Premiership by collecting the Irish Cup for the first time in their history.

The early-May decider with holders Cliftonville ended in a 1-1 draw after extra time, but Rodney McAree's side prevailed 4-3 in a penalty shootout.

Image source, Inpho

It feels like yesterday the Irish Premiership season came to a close, but a new campaign is now upon us.

It's time for the Charity Shield to kick things off and Iris Cup winners Dungannon Swifts take on runaway Irish Premiership champions Linfield.

We'll have live updates right here so you can follow along.

Thanks for joining us.