Perfect conditions at Mourneview Park for a meeting of two teams at opposite ends of the league table.

Thundery showers are forecast for after kick-off but the visitors will be hoping lightning can strike twice here following a 1-0 win on their most recent visit back in March - a victory which ended a barren six year run at the Lurgan venue.

Declan McManus gets the game under way.

After a minute's silence following the passing of former Ballymena vice-chairman Maurice Smyth, referee Shane McGonigle gets the action underway at the Showgrounds.

The home side gets us under way here at Stangmore Park.

Here are some of the key stats ahead of today's four games from Irish League Stats Man.

• Ballymena United have lost just one of their last seven at home, netting 13 goals.
• Glentoran are unbeaten in their last five league visits to Seaview (four wins and one draw), scoring 12 and conceding four.
• Carrick boss Stephen Baxter has only three losses in his last 17 games against Dungannon, though two came in their last two meetings.
• Coleraine have scored in 15 of their last 18 away games.

Creating and taking chances has been Glenavon's "Achilles heel" according to manager Paddy McLaughlin, whose side are still seeking their first points of the season against Coleraine this afternoon.

The Lurgan Blues were improved in their 2-0 defeat at Glentoran on Tuesday but are still to hit the net this season as they prepare to welcome the Bannsiders to Mourneview Park.

McLaughlin was happy with much of what his team did at the Oval, but is aware that performances must translate into points.

"It's been our Achilles heel so far this season - we're not being clinical or ruthless enough in the final third," he said.

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Three changes for Dungannon following their midweek defeat to away to Coleraine.

There’s a change between the posts, with Declan Dunne returning to the starting line-up and Alex Henderson dropping to the bench.

Elsewhere, Brandon Bermingham and Leo Alves start today’s game, while James Knowles and Thomas Maguire drop to the bench.

Carrick Rangers had a rest during midweek because they were due to take on Linfield, who were involved in European action against Shelbourne.

There’s one change to the side that beat Glenavon 1-0 last weekend, with Ryan McKay joining on loan and going straight into the starting line-up and Luke O’Brien missing out on the match-day squad.

Dungannon Swifts: Dunne, Scott, Bermingham, Galvin, L Alves, Glenny, McGinty, Smith, McAleese, Wallace, McAllister.

Subs: Henderson, Maguire, Marron, Knowles, Dillon, Maguire, Mitchell.

Carrick Rangers: Gartside, Callacher, Gibson, Lecky, McCullough, Steele, Crowe, P Heatley, Snoddy, McKay, Scott.

Subs: Pengelly, Burns, Waide, Maciulaitis, Buchanan-Rolleston, Boyd, Cherry.

Image source, BBC Sport

Looking to kickstart their season at home to Carrick Rangers this afternoon, Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree says his side can still take "a lot of positives" from the three consecutive defeats they have suffered so far.

The Stangmore Park club, who finished fourth in the league last season and won the Irish Cup, have lost 3-0 to Linfield, 4-1 to Portadown and 2-0 to Coleraine at the start of the 2025-26 term.

"Things haven't been good for us over the first three games but there have been a lot of positives, positives in each game," said McAree.

"The Portadown match is maybe one we would want to forget about but there is no travesty in going to Coleraine and losing 2-0 with the team that they have at the moment.

"They're certainly going to be there around the top come the end of the season."

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Image source, Inpho

Declan Caddell makes two switches to the starting XI who came from behind to defeat Bangor by 3-1 on Tuesday night.

There is a change between the posts with Jonny Tuffey replacing Musa Dibaga, who saved two penalties midweek. Captain Jarlath O'Rourke also returns to the line-up with Brendan Hamilton dropping to the bench.

There is just the one alteration to the Glentoran side who made it three wins from three games against Glenavon on Tuesday with Josh Kelly replacing Ciaran Coll.

Crusaders: Dibaga, K Forsythe, Weir, Brooks, Thorndike, Dunlop, J Forsythe, O'Rourke, Bryden, Anderson, Lew Barr.

Subs: Nimaga, Hamilton, McKechnie, Williamson, Nixon,Clarke, Boyd.

Glentoran: Mills, Cooney, Kane, Kelly, Palmer, Stewart, McEleney, Burt, Amos, Singleton, Jenkins.

Subs: Urminsky, Hvid, Hoban, Ferris, Lindsay, Russell, Johnson

Image source, BBC Sport

Ballymena United manager Jim Ervin says all the members of his playing squad will have a significant role to play if the club is to have any success this season.

The Sky Blues boss has boosted his panel over the summer months and the Braidmen have begun their campaign with successive 2-0 away league wins over Glenavon and Portadown.

Competition for places are keen within the United squad, with the visit of Bangor to the Showgrounds on Saturday next up for Ervin's charges.

"We've now got a really competitive squad and we've got players disappointed that they're not starting and players who are disappointed they're not in the squad but it's a team game and it will take a squad effort for us to do anything this year," said Ervin.

"Everybody's going to play their part.

"It's going to be another extremely difficult game [against Bangor]. Lee Feeney has done a tremendous job there and we're looking forward to getting back home again."

Ervin was pleased with the character shown by his side in their two opening victories on their travels.

"We work extremely hard on the training pitch, no matter who we are playing, and the boys have stood up and been counted. It's two games away from home and it's six points and two clean sheets.

"For as long as we can stay in games and keep defending well we've got matchwinners in the team.

"We just look at the next game each time and make sure we give each team the respect that they deserve.

"Our boys have stood up and dealt with everything that has been thrown at them."

Image source, Inpho

Ballymena name an unchanged panel of 18 players for the third game in succession as they aim to win their opening three Premiership fixtures for the first time since the 12-team format was introduced in 2008.

Bangor boss Lee Feeney has been forced to ring the changes, which include a debut for 16-year-old goalkeeper Lawton McMahon, who replaces the ill Gareth Deane.

Suspension deprives the Seasiders of the services of Stephen McGuinness and Matthew Ferguson after their midweek red cards and Feeney also recalls Mark Haughey, Liam Hassin and Jack O'Mahony.

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.

Bangor: McMahon, O'Mahony, Haughey, Owens, Lynch, Neale, Harrison, Hassin, Mulvenna, Cushnie, Arthurs.

Subs: Walker, McArthur, Mathieson, Garrett, Ferguson, Morgan, Burns.

Image source, BBC Sport

Coleraine assistant manager Kevin Deery says the Bannsiders want to "keep the momentum going" when they come up against Glenavon at Mourneview Park on Saturday.

The Ballycastle Road club have picked up seven points from their first three fixtures without conceding a goal while, in contrast, the Lurgan Blues are without a point after three defeats to commence their campaign.

"We're prepared for a tough game in Glenavon and one in which we want to keep this momentum going and win the game," Deery told BBC Sport NI.

"We're a brand new group, doing it how we want to do it and we want to put on a positive performance and pick up three points."

The former Institute boss is pleased that the team has managed to keep clean sheets in each of their three opening Premiership encounters.

"We haven't conceded a goal this season. We're delighted with the way we're digging in. We're pressing from the front and showing real guts to get the points on the board.

"It's been really positive from that sense."

Deery says new arrivals at the club before the transfer window closes are unlikely given the quality Coleraine have already been able to attract.

"We have a really competitive squad, a brilliant squad, so it would need to be proper quality to improve us.

"If that comes along we would of course have a look at it and try to do something that improves us."

Image source, Inpho

Glenavon may not have taken any points from their midweek trip to the Oval, but Paddy McLaughlin must have taken encouragement from the manner of his players' performance.

The experienced manager goes with the same team as started in the defeat to Glentoran, the only change on the bench where Peter Campbell replaces on loan Corey Smith who is unable to play against his parent club.

Bannsiders' boss Ruadhri Higgins, back in the dugout after missing midweek because of a medical issue, makes three changes to the side which started Tuesday's 2-0 home win over Dungannon Swifts.

Jamie Glackin picked up an injury in that game and misses out completely while Dean Jarvis and Ronan Doherty revert to the bench.

In their place come Lewis McGregor, Levi Ives and Jamie McGonigle who is handed a rare start.

Glenavon: Carney, McMullan, Burns, McKeown (c), Malone, Mallon, McClelland, Lowe, O'Connor, Carlin, McGovern.

Subs: Byrne, Murphy, McDaid, Campbell, Lomboto, Wilson, Quinn.

Coleraine: Harris, Kane (c), Boyle, Lyons-Foster, McGregor, Patching, Cooper, Ives, Dunne, McGonigle, McManus.

Subs: Evans, Jarvis, Long, Shevlin, Doherty, Stewart, Brolly.

Image source, BBC Sport

Glentoran assistant manager Tim McCann said that they hope to have striker Patrick Hoban back available soon.

Hoban, who signed for the Glens from Derry City in July, is yet to make his competitive debut after picking up an injury before the opening game against Portadown.

McCann is hopeful he will be one of a number of injured players Glentoran can welcome back in the next few weeks after they lost David Fisher to injury against the Ports with Ryan Cooney and Liam Burt also now doubts after going off against Glenavon midweek.

"Pat is making good progress, hopefully we get him back in training this week," McCann said after Tuesday's 2-0 home win.

"Ryan Cooney has a broken nose and a black eye and we have to assess the other boys."

The east Belfast side have won their opening three games without conceding a goal to top the Irish Premiership table and McCann has been delighted with their ability to shut teams out so far.

"If we can keep clean sheets, I always believe we will always have the quality to create chances and score goals," he added.

"Massive credit has to go to our defenders and our goalkeeper for that."

The Glens now make the trip to north Belfast to take on Crusaders, who picked up their first win of the season in a thrilling game against Bangor on Tuesday.

"Crusaders will have their tails up, going to Bangor is tough but they have obviously done well there.

"We'll see what kind of squad we have, we'll go there and give it a go, do our best and hope to come out on the right side of the result."

A reminder of today's four fixtures.

Image source, BBC Sport

After that game last night, Larne's interim boss Gary Haveron was full of praise for Mark Randall who pulled the strings throughout the 4-0 win for the Inver Reds.

Matthew Lusty opened the scoring for the hosts with Randall then netting twice and Tiernan O'Connor rounding off the scoring.

And Haveron was pleased with midfielder Randall's two goals and his overall performance.

"We knew the importance of the game and to get three points," he told BBC Sport NI.

"When we got the first one it settled us, then the second from a well worked set- piece and credit to Alan Manus for that as he works on our attacking set-pieces.

"Mark Randall was a joy to watch all night then he dispatched the penalty and the fourth was the icing on the cake."

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There was one game on Friday night and you can watch the highlights as Larne beat Portadown 4-0 in the Irish Premiership to pick up their first win of the season.

READ MORE: Larne ease past Portadown for first win of the season

Don't forget to follow all of our Irish Premiership coverage on our dedicated Irish League Football page

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The first set of midweek fixtures in the Irish Premiership were staged on Tuesday and did not disappoint. Across an eventful night of Irish Premiership action there were plenty of goals, red cards and penalty misses.

Glentoran moved top of the table with their third straight win, this time at home against winless Glenavon.

Elsewhere, Ballymena United made it two wins from two, Coleraine and Crusaders also won, the latter picking up three points against nine-man Bangor and Cliftonville and Larne played out an entertaining draw at Solitude.

If you missed it, catch up with all the action here., external

Hello and welcome to our coverage of today's four Irish Premiership games.

Early pacesetters Glentoran make the trip to Seaview to take on Crusaders, who have been involved in a few exciting games already this season.

Ballymena United host promoted side Bangor, with Jim Ervin's side looking to build on successive wins.

Dungannon Swifts will hope to register their first points of the season as they take on Carrick Rangers, who have made a bright start to the season.

Another side who are yet to win this season are Glenavon, who face Coleraine at Mourneview Park.

We will have live text commentary and in-play clips from both games as well as radio commentary from 14:00.

Enjoy!

Image source, Pacemaker Press