Summary

  1. Watch: Dungannon Swifts overcome Ballymena Unitedpublished at 14:24 BST 4 October

    Dungannon Swifts v Larne: Carrick Rangers v Ballymena United (15:00 BST)

    Watch highlights from Dungannon Swifts 2-0 win against Ballymena United, as Rodney McAree's side registered back-to-back victories for the first time this season.

    Bobby-Jack McAleese and an OG sealed the victory.

    Media caption,

    Highlights: Swifts stun Sky Blues at the Showgrounds

  2. Coleraine 'found a way to win' against Carrickpublished at 14:21 BST 4 October

    Bangor vs Coleraine: Carrick Rangers vs Ballymena United (15:00 BST)

    Coleraine boss Ruaidhri Higgins said he was delighted that his side "found a way to win" as they came from behind to defeat Carrick Rangers at the Showgrounds.

    The Bannsiders fell behind to Ryan Waide's opener but then levelled through Zane Okoro's first goal for the club.

    Joel Cooper then capped off a fine team move to ensure Coleraine bounced back from last week's defeat against Glentoran by picking up the win which moves them a point behind the Glens.

    "The most pleasing thing about it for me was we went a goal down, but we managed to find a way," he told BBC Sport NI.

    "The equalising goal, it was a great pass from Levi (Ives) to Zane and the second goal was a brilliant team goal.

    "We weren't at our best, but we found a way to win which is the most important thing after a defeat.

    "Today wasn't overly free flowing but we dug in, the players showed character. We needed to bounce back against a good team, so it is a big win."

    Carrick boss Stephen Baxter, whilst frustrated that his side left the Showgrounds empty handed, was delighted that they ran the Bannsiders close.

    It was a brilliant performance from us, we were more than a match, and we have pushed this Coleraine team," he said.

    "Sometimes you need that little bit of luck and we didn't get it, but in such a short space of time to have your team playing like this away from home, you can be disappointed with the result, but not the performance."

    Coleraine boss Ruaidhri HigginsImage source, Inpho
  3. Highlights: Goals from Okoro and Cooper seal the three points for Colerainepublished at 14:18 BST 4 October

    Bangor vs Coleraine: Ballymena United vs Carrick Rangers (15:00 BST)

    Watch highlights as Coleraine come from behind to beat Carrick Rangers 2-1 at the Showgrounds to move within a point of Irish Premiership leaders Glentoran.

    Carrick Rangers are now without a win in their last four games.

    Media caption,

    Coleraine 2-1 Carrick Rangers

  4. Magilton frustrated by Reds' display in late Ports losspublished at 14:15 BST 4 October

    Friday: Cliftonville vs Glentoran (P)

    Cliftonville boss Jim Magilton was left to bemoan some poor defending as his side suffered a last gasp 2-1 defeat against Portadown at Solitude.

    Odhran Casey thought he had cancelled out Eamon Fyfe's opener to rescue a late point for the Reds when he headed home an equaliser on 90 minutes.

    But the midfielder then squandered possession on the halfway line in the 96th minute, which allowed James Teelan to race through and score a late winner.

    "The first goal was poor, our organisation was poor," he said.

    "We pressed, we tried to win the game at home, but again, we were all over the place organisationally. They set up to counter attack, executed it really well, and they leave with three points."

    The Reds have now slipped to back-to-back league defeats after a recent upturn in form and Magilton says he demands more from his players, who struggled in possession.

    "It's down to fear. I think Portadown gave us enough opportunities to play, but when players don't have the confidence to take it, or they're careless with the ball, it affects us and spreads through the team.

    "As a result, people tend to hide. We've got to regroup. At the end of the day, we must accept the criticism. I'm the manager, I pick the team, so I take responsibility and will try to rally the players.

    Jim MagiltonImage source, Inpho
  5. Watch: Late drama at Solitudepublished at 14:12 BST 4 October

    Portadown v Glenavon (17:30 BST)

    Watch highlights from Solitude as James Teelan scored a last-minute winner to help Portadown to a first victory at Solitude since 2014.

    Niall Currie's side won 2-1 in north Belfast after Odhran Casey's 90th minute goal had cancelled out Eamon Fyfe's strike.

    Media caption,

    Highlights: Unsavoury scenes as Ports edge out Reds at Soltiude

  6. Highlights: Glenavon's hunt for their first three points of the season continuespublished at 14:10 BST 4 October

    Portadown v Glenavon (17:30 BST)

    Watch highlights as Glenavon's winless run in the league stretched to nine games as they were beaten 2-0 by Crusaders at Mourneview Park.

    In what proved to be Paddy McLaughlin's final game in charge of the Lurgan Blues, goals from Adam Brooks and Lloyd Anderson secured the three points for the north Belfast side.

    Media caption,

    Highlights: Glenavon 0-2 Crusaders

  7. Glenavon part ways with McLaughlin after winless startpublished at 14:08 BST 4 October

    Portadown v Glenavon (17:30 BST)

    Glenavon have confirmed that Paddy McLaughlin has been relieved of his duties as manager.

    McLaughlin's departure comes after Saturday's 2-0 defeat against Crusaders at Mourneview Park.

    That was the Lurgan Blues' ninth straight league defeat which leaves them bottom of the Irish Premiership table, nine points off Portadown and Bangor above them.

    "Glenavon FC can confirm the departure of manager Paddy McLaughlin this evening," a club statement said on Sunday.

    "The club would like to express its gratitude to Paddy for his contributions."

    The former Cliftonville and Institute boss replaced Stephen McDonnell as Glenavon boss in November 2024 on a three-and-a-half-year deal.

    The club were 11th when he took over, but McLaughlin oversaw an upturn in form to steer them away from relegation worries as they finished 10th last season.

    Despite investment in the summer to bring in 12 players, McLaughlin's side failed to click and scored just two goals in their first nine games.

    Glenavon have yet to confirm who will be in the dugout for their next game against Portadown at Shamrock Park on Saturday, 4 October.

    Paddy McLaughlin, former Glenavon managerImage source, Inpho
  8. Both of Friday's Premiership games postponedpublished at 14:06 BST 4 October

    Both of Friday's Irish Premiership games have now been postponed with confirmation the meeting of Linfield and Crusaders has fallen victim to Storm Amy.

    The Windsor Park clash was initially given the all-clear but at 17:30 BST, the Northern Ireland Football League announced the game "has now been postponed following stadium safety concerns raised by the home club".

    Linfield also confirmed their game is off "due to health and safety concerns at the stadium".

    Earlier on Friday, the NIFL confirmed the fixture between Cliftonville and leaders Glentoran at Solitude - due to be shown live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website - was off at Glentoran's request "due to several players and staff residing and travelling from an amber warning zone".

    The Women's Premiership game between Lisburn Ladies and Crusaders has also been called off.

    There is an amber warning for high winds in parts of Northern Ireland, issued due to the arrival of Storm Amy.

    Earlier on Friday, Derry City's League of Ireland Premier Division game against Sligo Rovers at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium was rescheduled for Sunday, 5 October at 16:00 BST.

    Cliftonville flagImage source, Gett
  9. Saturday's fixtures take centre stagepublished at 14:02 BST 4 October

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

    Despite both of last night's fixtures being postponed due to Storm Amy, all games today look set to go ahead.

    Bangor will look to bounce back from their defeat last Friday night against Linfield when they welcome Coleraine, who have only lost one game so far this campaign.

    At Taylors Avenue, Carrick Rangers face Ballymena United with both teams coming into the game off the back of defeats last weekend.

    Dungannon Swifts have picked up nine points from their last four league games and host Larne, who are unbeaten in their last 10 league visits to Stangmore Park.

    We have one 5:30 kick-off for you to enjoy as well and it's the Mid-Ulster derby with Portadown taking on winless Glenavon in the Lurgan Blues first game since they parted ways with manager Paddy McLaughlin.

    We will have our usual blend of radio and text updates as well as in-play clips, so you see all the action as it happens.

    Enjoy!

    Saturday's fixturesImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    Saturday's fixtures