Image source, Inpho

2024-25 League position: 5th

Manager: Ruaidhri Higgins

Opening fixtures: Larne (H) - 10 August; Cliftonville (A) - 16 August; Dungannon Swifts (H) - 19 August; Glenavon (A) - 23 August; Linfield (H) - 29 August (live on BBC iPlayer)

There is huge excitement and expectation surrounding Coleraine this season, who have signed some big players in this transfer window from rival clubs.

Last year's Player of the Season Joel Cooper is the obvious one, but they have also added Kodi Lyons-Foster, who was named in the team of the season last year and Will Patching, who impressed at Derry City.

It will be boss Ruaidhri Higgins' first full season in charge but given the calibre of players brought in he will be tasked with preparing the Bannsiders for a title charge this season that will be spearheaded by Cooper.

Time will tell whether Higgins can get his new look side to gel quickly enough, but bringing European football back to the Coleraine Showgrounds will surely be the minimum aim.

They have a tough enough start to the season, with a mouthwatering first game at home to Larne on Sunday and a big game against Linfield later in the month which will be good indicators to see if the Bannsiders are up for the title fight.

2025-26 signings so far: Kodi Lyons-Foster (Glentoran), Joel Cooper (Linfield), Stephen Fallon (Linfield), Will Patching (Carlisle United - loan), Conor Murray (Hamilton Academical), Lewis McGregor (Airdrieonians), Ryan Schofield (Morecambe), Adam Long (AFC Flyde), Harry Evans (Derby County - loan)

2025-26 departures so far: Kyle Spence (unattached), Paddy Burns (Glenavon), Kyle McClelland (end of loan), Rory Brown (unattached), Rhyss Campbell (Cliftonville), Corey Smith (Glenavon), Jack Scott (Carrick Rangers), Aidan Tejada (Institute - loan)

While there was no debate about the game of the day yesterday, the best goal was surely Donal Rocks' stunning second for Ballymena United in their 2-0 win over Glenavon.

Was it, as his manager Jim Ervin said afterwards, a case of "hit and hope"? Judge for yourself...

2024-25 League position: 4th

2024-25 Irish Cup winners

Manager: Rodney McAree

Opening fixtures: Linfield (A) - 10 August; Portadown (H) - 16 August; Coleraine (A) - 19 August; Carrick Rangers (H) - 23 August; Bangor (A) - 30 August

Dungannon Swifts are hoping to build on a memorable 2024-25 campaign that culminated in their first Irish Cup triumph.

That cup win opened the door to Europe for the Mid Ulster outfit, and while they secured a 1-0 away win against Vaduz, they were beaten in extra-time in the return leg.

With their Conference League adventure over, the Swifts begin the domestic season with a trip to champions Linfield on Sunday.

Boss Rodney McAree has, however, had to plan for the new season without a few key players. Irish Cup-winning captain Dean Curry has retired while frontman John McGovern joined League of Ireland side Shamrock Rovers.

McAree has strengthened his squad, though, bringing in defender Mal Smith following his departure from Crusaders while forward Darragh McBrien has returned for a second spell at Stangmore Park after being released by Linfield.

2025-26 signings so far: Mal Smith (Crusaders), Peter Maguire (Ballinamallard), Sean McAllister (unattached), Tiernan Kelly (Loughgall), Darragh McBrien (Linfield)

2025-26 departures so far: Dean Curry (retired), Oliver Crowe (Loughgall - loan), John McGovern (Shamrock Rovers), Grant Hutchinson (unattached), Padraig Lynch (Institute), Tommy Connolly (Ballinamallard United - loan), Aidan Hegarty (Institute - loan)

Image source, Inpho

Linfield begin their defence of the Gibson Cup as they welcome Irish Cup winners Dungannon Swifts to Windsor Park this afternoon.

The Swifts of course beat the Blues on penalties in the Charity Shield early last month, but it's the hosts who have won 18 of the last 20 head-to-head ties between the two sides.

David Healy makes two changes to his starting XI from Thursday's defeat in the Faroe Islands to Vikingur. Kyle McClean and Charlie Allen come in with Ethan McGee dropping to the bench and Jamie Mulgrew absent.

Rodney McAree also makes changes with three alterations from Dungannon's 3-0 Conference League play-off defeat to Vaduz last week. In come Thomas Maguire, Malachy Smith and Andrew Mitchell for Steven Scott, Leo Alves and Tiernan Kelly.

Linfield: Johns, Roscoe, Hall, Orr, Allen, Shields (capt), McClean, Archer, Millar, Offord, Fitzpatrick.

Subs: Walsh, McGee, McKee, Brown, Annett, McKay, Morrison.

Dungannon Swifts: Dunne, Marron, Knowles, Glenny, McGinty, T.Maguire, Smith, Wallace, Mitchell, Bigirimana (capt), McAllister.

Subs: Henderson, J.Scott, P.Maguire, Bermingham, Galvin, Dillon, McAleese.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Inpho

2024-25 League position: Champions

Manager: David Healy

Opening fixtures: Dungannon Swifts (H) - 10 August; Ballymena United (A) - 15 August (live on BBC iPlayer); Carrick Rangers (A) - 19 August; Cliftonville (H) - 23 August; Coleraine (A) - 29 August (live on BBC iPlayer)

After finishing 22 points ahead of Larne last season, the 2025-26 campaign is all about Linfield preserving their place at the Irish Premiership summit.

Of course, the Blues have a proven track record of maintaining their superiority, having won four titles in a row before Larne broke through in 2023.

Linfield boss David Healy - who will celebrate 10 years at Windsor Park in October - must, however, mount a title defence without some star names, chiefly reigning player of the year Joel Cooper and Stephen Fallon, both of whom have joined Coleraine.

The Blues have added defender Sean Brown following his release from Larne, with Healy admitting his squad was not in "dire need" of additions, but a longer campaign in Europe may change that if Linfield qualify for the Uefa Conference League.

2025-26 signings so far: Sean Brown (Larne)

2025-26 departures so far: Joel Cooper, Stephen Fallon (both Coleraine), Darragh McBrien (Dungannon Swifts), Ethan Devine (H&W Welders), Rhys McGarry (Ballyclare Comrades), Kalum Thompson (Nottingham Forest), Liam Burns (Bangor)

Image source, Inpho

Speaking after the shock turnaround, Crusaders manager Declan Caddell was frustrated by refereeing decisions that went against his side.

"The first 35 minutes we dominated, scored three goals and could have had five or six, but a big call and a big decision has allowed Carrick to get back into the game," he told BBC Sport NI.

"You try to calm down over the summer, forget about things and look forward to a new campaign, but at 3-0 up we are cruising. A big call, which I think he got wrong, changed that game and from that we lost our way.

"I can take a bit of responsibility for that in the second half, as to how the players performed. I don't think they were at it, but big calls change games.

"Even the last penalty, I'm not sure again, so it's two huge calls from the referee that has given Carrick Rangers three points today."

Read more.

Picture the scene - it's the first day of the new season, the sun is shining, and three new signings have put your side 3-0 up in just over half an hour.

Life could hardly be better...then, all of a sudden, everything that could go wrong does.

Just in case you need to see it to believe it, here's how Crusaders went from 3-0 up to a 4-3 loss against Carrick Rangers yesterday.

Thirty-seven rounds of action remaining but it's hard to imagine there'll be a better comeback all season.

Image source, Inpho

2024-25 league position: 7th

Manager: Jim Magilton

Opening fixtures: Bangor (A) - 10 August (live on BBC iPlayer); Coleraine (H) - 16 August; Larne (H) - 19 August (live on BBC iPlayer); Linfield (A) - 23 August; Glenavon (H) - 30 August

Cliftonville are rebuilding once again after a difficult campaign last season which saw them finish in the bottom half of the table and lose the Irish Cup final.

The north Belfast side have lost some of their best players with the likes of Shea Kearney and Axel Piesold moving on and so far, they seem unable to adequately replace them ahead of the start of the season.

Young players Conor Falls and Conor Barr have been brought in and could thrive under Jim Magilton, who has a knack for unearthing young talents, whilst Rhyss Campbell looks to be a good signing from Coleraine.

They have lost a raft of players and only brought in four, so squad depth could be an issue for the Solitude club this term.

It was evident in their Uefa Conference League tie against St Joseph's which they lost in extra-time with their bench full of academy players.

A top-half finish, European football and some deep cup runs will likely be the aim for last year's BetMcLean League Cup winners.

2025-26 signings so far: Conor Falls (Huddersfield Town), PJ Morrison (Alloa Athletic), Conor Barr (Derry City, loan), Rhyss Campbell (Coleraine), Adebayo Fapetu (unattached)

2025-26 departures so far: Ruaidhri Donnelly (Newington), Declan Breen (Ballymena), Destiny Ojo (unattached), Kris Lowe (Glenavon), Arran Pettifer (Arbroath), Ryan Markey (unattached), Stephen McGuinness (Bangor), Axel Piesold (end of loan, Galway United), David Odumosu (Cork City), Shea Kearney (Dunfermline), Sean Stewart (Sligo Rovers), Reece Jordan (Loughgall, loan)

Lee Feeney hands debuts to new signings Gareth Deane, Harry Lynch and former Cliftonville defender Stephen McGuinness in Bangor's first Premiership starting XI since 2009.

Cliftonville make four changes to the side who bowed out of the Uefa Conference League against St Joseph's with Rhyss Campbell, Conor Barr, Jack Keaney and Adebayo Fapetu replacing Luke Conlan, Shaun Leppard, Conor Pepper and Joe Gormley.

Bangor: Deane, Neale, Owens, Harrison (c), McGuinness, Hassin, Mulvenna, O'Mahony, Lynch, Arthurs, Cushnie.

Subs: McMahon, Haughey, Ferguson, Mathieson, Garrett, Morgan, Burns.

Cliftonville: Ridd, Barr, Casey, Keaney, Addis, Campbell, Glynn, Fapetu, Wilson, Hale (c), Curran.

Subs: Morrison, Pepper, Falls, Conlan, Gordon, Gormley, Corrigan.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Inpho

2024-25 league position: 1st (NIFL Championship)

Manager: Lee Feeney

Opening fixtures: Cliftonville (H) - 10 August (live on BBC iPlayer); Glentoran (A) - 16 August; Crusaders (H) - 19 August; Ballymena United (A) - 23 August; Dungannon Swifts (H) - 30 August

A first season back in the top flight since 2009 awaits Bangor, who have a tough set of early-season fixtures, including today's opener against Cliftonville at Clandeboye Park.

Manager Lee Feeney, who signed a three-year contract extension in the summer, has moved to add some Irish Premiership experience to his team with the additions of Gareth Deane and Mark Haughey from Glenavon.

Stephen McGuinness and Harry Lynch are exciting additions as young players attracted to the Seasiders with the promise of more regular game time.

While retaining many of the key performers from their title-winning season, their squad still looks a bit undercooked for the demands of the top flight, something Feeney will want to address before the window shuts.

They will hope Championship Player of the Year Ben Arthurs can make the step up to the Irish Premiership after netting 23 goals in the second tier last season.

His goals will be crucial to Bangor's hopes of staying up, with survival their main aim this campaign.

2025-26 signings so far: Gareth Deane (Glenavon), Stephen McGuinness (Cliftonville), Ross Ferguson (Larne), Mark Haughey (Glenavon), Harry Lynch (Glenavon), Liam Burns (Linfield), Paul Osew (unattached)

2025-26 departures so far: Adam Neale (Ballymacash Rangers), Jack Reilly (Ards), James Taylor (Ards), Callum Byres (Victoria Athletic), Ben Fry (Knockbreda), Patrick Solis Grogan (Dungannon Swifts - end of loan)

It has been a whirlwind 12 months for fans, players and staff at Coleraine.

The club has had a major shake-up in the last year, spearheaded by 24-year-old Henry Ross, who became the majority shareholder in December.

Sweeping changes followed that announcement with sporting director Oran Kearney and head coach Dean Shiels stepping down in May.

The club has also switched to a full-time model; Dale Pryde-MacDonald has been brought in as their new general manager and Ruaidhri Higgins is set for his first full season in charge after being appointed in May.

There have been plenty of changes on the pitch in recent months too with a number of impressive new additions including last season's Football Writers' Player of the Year Joel Cooper joining from Linfield.

Their summer business sees them tipped as title contenders this campaign, but with the Bannsiders without a trophy in the last five years, failing to make Europe in the last four and trying to bed in so many new signings, can they challenge for the Irish Premiership title?

BBC Sport NI contributor Jana McCabe has been taking a look.

Read more.

Image source, Inpho

After a thrilling opening day yesterday, which included a contender for game of the season that will be hard to beat over the next nine months, we're back for another three games of Irish League action this afternoon.

We'll have live coverage of Bangor's return to the top flight here and on iPlayer with Lee Feeney's side playing host to Cliftonville at Clandeboye Park.

Elsewhere, after European exertions midweek, last season's top two are both in action too.

Larne are away to Coleraine with there sure to be plenty of interest in seeing how the new-look Bannsiders, with last season's Joel Cooper in blue and white for the first time, fare against the Inver Reds.

Last season's champions Linfield open up at home with Irish Cup winners Dungannon Swifts travelling to Windsor Park in another intriguing game - can Rodney McAree's men punch above their weight again this year? Or will David Healy's men pick up where they left off in their dominating title charge last time around?

We'll have live text coverage of both those games right here too.

One thing's for sure, if we get anything half as good as Carrick's win over Crusaders yesterday then we're all in for a treat.

Great to have you with us!

Image source, BBC Sport