Summary

  • FT: Coleraine 2-2 Ballymena United

  • FT: Crusaders 2-0 Cliftonville

  • FT: Dungannon Swifts 2-1 Loughgall

  • FT: Glenavon 2-0 Portadown - Ports keeper Aaron McCarey sent off

  • FT: Glentoran 0-0 Linfield - Linfield's Sam Roscoe and Glentoran's Marcus Kane sent off

  • FT: Larne 0-0 Carrick Rangers - Larne have three goals disallowed

  1. 'All-round lack of creativity from both sides'published at 15:58 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December

    Crusaders 0-0 Cliftonville

    Philip Major
    Sportsound summariser

    Both keepers had a fairly easy first half, there were too many loose passes and an all-round lack of creativity from both sides. Both teams can do much better in the second half. If I was Declan Caddell, I would want to expose the lack of pace in the Cliftonville backline, that is where they can get joy.

    Joe Gormley is looking lively but Taylor Steven hasn't got into the game and both midfielders have cancelled each other out but Crusaders were starting to come into the game more.

  2. Disallowed goal decisions debatablepublished at 15:53 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December

    Larne 0-0 Carrick Rangers

    David Jeffrey
    Former Larne, Linfield & Ballymena manager on BBC Sport NI

    For the first 20 or 25 minutes Carrick were the better side. It took Larne a while to get into the game. The two disallowed goals against Larne were charitable decisions I thought, unlucky for Larne.

  3. HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:52 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December

    Coleraine 0-2 Ballymena United

    It's visitors Ballymena United who lead 2-0 at the break thanks to two first half goals from Ethan Devine.

    The big striker headed home from close range from an Alexander Gawne cross after 31 minutes and the same combination were at it again in added time at the end of the half as Devine finished from another Gawne delivery.

    Plenty to do, then, for the hosts after the break.

  4. Watch: Devine delivers for Ballymenapublished at 15:51 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December

    Coleraine 0-2 Ballymena United

    Watch Ethan Devine score his first goal of the afternoon with a glancing header from Alex Gawne's delivery.

    Media caption,

    Watch: Ethan Devine scores for Ballymena United to make it 1-0

  5. HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:50 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December

    Dungannon Swifts 1-0 Loughgall

    Referee Declan Hassan draws a close to the first half at Stangmore Park between Dungannon and Loughgall, with the hosts well worth their 1-0 lead.

    With what was their fifth corner of the half, Dungannon took the lead when a Leo Alves corner was met by the head of captain Dean Curry, who steered his header into far corner of the net and beyond Nathan Gartside.

    Andrew Mitchell also came close to doubling the lead for the home side and probably should have done better with his headed effort after he was picked out with a Tomas Galvin cross.

    Little for the visitors to cheer about and Loughgall manager Dean Smith will be hoping for more in the second half.

  6. 'Blues practically non-existent up front'published at 15:49 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December

    HT: Glentoran 0-0 Linfield

    Liam Beckett
    Sportsound summariser

    Linfield have been practically non-existent up front. The ball's not sticking, the back four's being worked stupid. It's non-stop pressure. It's hard to see them holding out for much longer.

  7. goal

    GOAL - Coleraine 0-2 Ballymena Unitedpublished at 15:49 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December

    Ethan Devine (46 mins)

    Ethan Devine with his second goal of the game doubles Ballymena United's lead on the stroke of half-time.

  8. HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:47 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December

    Crusaders 0-0 Cliftonville

    A low-key affair for the most part but the tilt of the game is certainly in favour of the Crues particularly towards the end.

    Declan Caddell will certainly be the happier of the two managers as Jim Magilton will be looking for more from his side.

  9. HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:47 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December

    Larne 0-0 Carrick Rangers

    Referee Ian McNabb brings the first half to a close.

    It hasn't been the worst 45 minutes but a goal would take this game to a new level.

    Larne have had two goals ruled out - the first of them more mysteriously than the second - while Carrick have looked dangerous on the counter-attack.

    Hopefully this game has another gear in it after the break.

  10. HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:47 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December

    Glentoran 0-0 Linfield

    Goalless at the break in the Big Two derby.

    If anyone looks like breaking the deadlock it's most definitely the hosts.

    The Glens were looking more likely as the half progressed, with Linfield having Euan East and David Walsh to thank just before the break for denying what looked like certain goals.

    Work to do for David Healy's Linfield in the second period. Declan Devine will be fairly pleased with his side's first 45 minute display.

  11. HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:46 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December

    Glenavon 1-0 Portadown

    Peter Campbell's goal separates the sides at the break.

    Not too many gilt-edged chances but it certainly has been a feisty one so far!

  12. CLOSE!published at 15:46 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December

    Crusaders 0-0 Cliftonville

    Best chance of the game so far by far! More good build-up from the Crues sees Jordan Forsythe pick out Jarlath O'Rourke arriving at pace and his cutback finds Jordan Stewart.

    However, he can't make good contact and scuffs wide when he should have done better.

    Into two added minutes now.

  13. Postpublished at 15:46 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December

    Coleraine 0-1 Ballymena United

    Sean O'Neill flies across his goal to palm away Connor Murray's free-kick, award following a foul on Jamie Glackin.

    Three additional minutes to be played at the end of this half.

  14. Postpublished at 15:45 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December

    Glentoran 0-0 Linfield

    Linfield have Euan East to thank for a superb last-ditch tackle on Dylan Connolly, or else the Glens were in on goal and likely to break the deadlock.

    Moments later Jordan Jenkins is denied by the outstretched leg of David Walsh, who's quick reactions deny the lively striker.

  15. Postpublished at 15:44 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December

    Dungannon Swifts 1-0 Loughgall

    Decent effort from Tomas Galvin at the edge of the area but it’s a relatively straightforward save for Loughgall’s Nathan Gartside.

  16. Postpublished at 15:44 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December

    Glenavon 1-0 Portadown

    Just the one minute of additional time to be played at the end of the first half.

  17. YELLOW CARDpublished at 15:44 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December

    Coleraine 0-1 Ballymena United

    Oisin Devlin becomes the first Ballymena United player to be booked for a late challenge on Jamie Glackin.

  18. Postpublished at 15:44 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December

    Glenavon 1-0 Portadown

    Davy McDaid weaves his way round multiple Portadown players before firing well wide.

    Certainly stylish build-up play, not so sure about the strike!

  19. CLOSE!published at 15:43 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December

    Dungannon Swifts 1-0 Loughgall

    Tomas Galvin whips in a great ball into the Loughgall area and it finds Andrew Mitchell unmarked in the box, but he had to stoop down low to get his head to the ball and Nathan Gartside is able to pull off a good save to keep the scoreline to 1-0.

  20. Postpublished at 15:43 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December

    Crusaders 0-0 Cliftonville

    Crusaders' build-up, particularly down the flank, has been causing the visitors problems but the final ball has been lacking so far.