Referee Declan Hassan blows his whistle to start the action on an absolute bowling green of a surface at Mourneview Park.

It's immediately noticeable that Glenavon boss Paddy McLaughlin has increased the width of the pitch from the narrower dimensions favoured by his predecessor Stephen McDonnell.

Hopefully the outcome of that change will be a fast, expansive game.

The whistle goes and the 2025/26 campaign begins.

It’s a clear, dry afternoon at Shamrock Park, where a decent crowd has gathered to see if the hosts can finally end their long wait for a home league win over the Glens.

Carrick get us under way at a sunny Seaview.

Who can get their season off to a flyer? Let's find out!

Portadown manager Niall Currie believes that his side will 'still be really competitive' despite 'everyone's levels going up' ahead of this year's Irish Premiership.

The Ports were in the chase for the European spots last season and missed out on seventh place by just two points.

"I was really proud of last season and I think we massively overachieved for what we have," Currie told BBC Sport NI.

"You'll see everyone's levels going up this year, so we're going to have to be better than last year and that's going to be really difficult because I thought we were absolutely brilliant."

"However, I think we'll still be really, really competitive for everybody."

Eight players have left Shamrock Park during off season with Jamie Rea, Alex Moore, Divin Isamala and Rayhaan Tulloch joining the club.

Despite believing that his side will be competitive, Currie has acknowledged the need for new facilities at the County Armagh side.

"We have got to hang on here and stay in the Premiership until we get into a situation where we can move to a hybrid model and get a new pitch to give us a chance," Currie continued.

"I am Portadown man since I was born and the town needs new facilities and fingers crossed we'll get a bit of good news.

"If we can get that in, then it changes a lot for us. It gives us our own facilities and it gives us a much better chance to make sure we're in the Premiership for a long time."

Image source, Inpho

Carrick Rangers have completed the signing of midfielder Matthew Snoddy from Glenavon.

The 32-year-old was made available for transfer by the Lurgan Blues this summer after spending five years with the club.

Snoddy previously worked under Carrick boss Stephen Baxter at Crusaders and also had a spell at Coleraine.

He becomes Carrick's ninth summer signing and joins ahead of their Irish Premiership opener against the Crues at Seaview.

"I'm delighted to be here and get the deal over the line. When I knew Carrick and Stephen were interested it was a no brainer for me," Snoddy told the club's website.

"Stephen didn't have to sell the club much to be fair, I know there's a project here and it's exciting and it's definitely a club on the up.

"It can be difficult moving to a new club, but knowing I was coming here with a lot of boys I've played with before made the decision a lot easier and I'm looking forward to getting amongst all the lads."

Image source, Thinkstock

2024-25 league position: 9th

Manager: Jim Ervin

Opening fixtures: Glenavon (A) - 9 August; Linfield (H) - 15 August (live on BBC iPlayer); Portadown (A) - 19 August; Bangor (H) - 23 August; Larne (A) - 29 August

Just like last season, it has been a busy summer at the Ballymena Showgrounds with plenty of ins and outs.

Some of the new arrivals will excite the Sky Blue faithful with the likes of Daire O'Connor, Matthew Clarke and David Toure among the more eye-catching additions who have performed well in the Irish Premiership with different clubs.

While Ben Kennedy scored 11 goals in 12 games in the early part of last season, when they started to dry up Ballymena lacked a clinical striker to share the burden, a position Ervin will surely be keen to try and strengthen before the window closes.

The Sky Blues made a bright start to the 2024-25 campaign, briefly topping the table in October after an eight-game winning run in the league, but then their form dipped, and they registered just six more win from 26 games.

The Braidmen will hope to cut out those inconsistencies this time around with a stronger squad as they push to break into the top six.

Image source, Inpho

Ballymena United manager Jim Ervin believes last season was a "reality check" for his side, but believes the Sky Blues have "gelled really well" ahead of the new campaign.

After finishing ninth last term, it was a busy transfer window on Warden Street with eight players joining the side and 12 leaving the club.

"They have all gelled really well. We had a training camp two weekends ago and it was all about trying to get the new boys gelled in," Ervin told BBC Sport Northern Ireland.

"Obviously there are a lot of new faces and big personalities and stuff like that. So it's important that you try and get them gelled in as quickly and as early as possible.

"I think the guys have settled in really well and they're just itching to get going as well."

Despite last season bringing welcome improvements from the previous campaign when the side finished 11th and had to overcome Institute to retain their Premiership status, Ballymena still struggled with consistency through 2024-25.

During the final six games, they registered just one victory after going 12 games unbeaten earlier in the season.

"The biggest disappointment of last season was how we faded off in the split. It was a massive reality check to me and the staff in terms of what we want to do and where we want to go," added Ervin.

"That's why we've went and recruited certain positions and certain personnel. We are trying to improve not only that position, but also the competition levels.

"We want everything to be as high a standard as we possibly can and we feel with bringing in certain types of players that we've brought in, they'll hold that standard really high and they'll call people out when they fall below it."

Image source, Inpho

2024-25 league position: 10th

Manager: Paddy McLaughlin

Opening fixtures: Ballymena United (H) - 9 August; Carrick Rangers (A) - 16 August; Glentoran (A) - 19 August; Coleraine (H) - 23 August; Cliftonville (A) - 30 August

Having been forced into some mid-season firefighting when he was appointed last November, Paddy McLaughlin hopes to drive Glenavon forward after a first pre-season at the helm.

It has been a busy summer, too, with eight players signed amidst a raft of departures.

Squad additions include versatile and experienced Kris Lowe and former Republic of Ireland under-21 international Stephen Mallon, both of whom worked under McLaughlin at Cliftonville. Last week, McLaughlin also added winger Francelo Lomboto from Sligo Rovers.

First up on Saturday is a home fixture against Ballymena United, who finished one place above the Lurgan Blues last season.

McLaughlin will be hoping that last weekend's 3-0 pre-season defeat by H&W Welders was only a blip as he plots a fast start to the season.

Image source, Inpho

A reminder of today's three Irish Premiership fixtures.

Image source, BBC Sport

Having finished sixth in last season's Premiership, Declan Caddell will be hoping for an improved 2025/26 campaign, and he has some new blood to revitalise today's team.

In comes new goalkeeper Musa Dibaga, former Glentoran player Finley Thorndike and Scottish forward Adam Brooks to make their competitive debuts as the Hatchetmen look to make a statement.

You could be forgiven for thinking that the away team are Crusaders in disguise when you read down the Carrick Rangers team sheet. Old Seaview men Jimmy Callacher, Adam Lecky, Paul Heatley all start for Stephen Baxter's side, with former Crues skipper Billy Joe Burns named on the bench.

New signing Matthew Snoddy also starts after signing in the last 24 hours from Glenavon. Snoddy also previously had a spell at Seaview. It really feels like a home away from home for Rangers today.

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

Subs: Tuffey, Williamson, Od McCart, Nixon, Ol McCart, Leo Barr, Boyd

Carrick Rangers: Gartside, Callacher, Gibson, Lecky, McCullough, Shiels, Crow, Heatley, Snoddy, Scott, O'Brien.

Subs: Pengelly, Burns, O'Malley, Waide, Maciulaitis, Buchanan-Rolleston, Cherry

Image source, BBC Sport

Two teams hoping to improve on their recent fortunes go head-to-head at Mournview Park.

Glenavon have six new faces in their starting line-up with debuts for Jacob Carney, Paddy Burns, Harry Murphy, Stephen Mallon, Kyle McClelland and Corey Smith.

There are for new faces in the Ballymena line-up with David Toure, Ali Gould, Matthew Clarke and Joel Thompson making their first appearances for the Sky Blues.

Glenavon: Carney, Murphy, McKeown (C), McClelland, Wilson, Burns, Carlin, Malone, Mallon, Smith, McGovern.

Subs: Byrne, McMullan, McDaid, Baird, Lowe, Lomboto, O'Connor.

Ballymena United: O'Neill (C), Toure, Gould, O'Donnell, Clarke, Thompson, McEleney, Rocks, Corbally, Kennedy, McCurry.

Subs: Breen, Nelson, McCallion, O'Reilly, O'Connor, Jarvis, Edogun.

Image source, BBC Sport

2024-25 league position: 11th

Manager: Stephen Baxter

Opening fixtures: Crusaders (A) - 9 August; Glenavon (H) - 16 August; Linfield (H) - 19 August; Dungannon Swifts (A) - 23 August; Glentoran (A) - 30 August

The 2024-25 season was a miserable one that many Carrick Rangers fans would like to forget.

They won the promotion/relegation play-off against Annagh United to retain their top-flight status and end a tumultuous campaign on a high after just seven league wins from 38 games.

Boss Stephen Baxter, who replaced Stuart King last year, has opted for players he trusts in the transfer window as he looks to steer the club away from another season of fighting relegation.

The former Crusaders manager has raided his old club for experienced trio Jimmy Callacher, Billy Joe Burns and Adam Lecky.

He has also brought in Nathan Gartside as his new number one goalkeeper as well as striker Ryan Waide and midfielder Jack Scott, who impressed in spells with Coleraine last season, to help boost a thin squad.

They will hope Danny Gibson can continue to score goals to push them up the table after he managed 15 in all competitions last season, but they do have a tough set of opening fixtures to contend with.

Image source, Inpho

Carrick Rangers manager Stephen Baxter has said that he is "building something new" as he approaches his first full season in charge.

Carrick finished 11th last season but a convincing 8-3 aggregate victory over Annagh United in the relegation/promotion play-off secured their Premiership status for the 2025-26 season.

During his first pre-season with Carrick, Baxter has acknowledged that the club are still searching for another two players before the window closes.

"We had 12 players who left so it was a total rebuild at my end and we have brought in good players and we are still on the search for maybe another two before the season starts," Baxter told BBC Sport Northern Ireland.

Image source, Inpho

Portadown kick off their Premiership season at home to Glentoran, looking to extend last term’s seven-match unbeaten run at Shamrock Park.

Niall Currie’s side, who posted the league’s second-best home record in 2024/25, start with a familiar XI, while summer recruits Rayhaan Tulloch, Jordan Gibson, Jamie Rea and Alex Moore are named on the bench.

The Glens finished third last season but stuttered on the road, winning just once in their final seven away fixtures. History favours the visitors, though - five straight league victories and nine unbeaten at today's venue.

New signings Ryan Cooney, Daniel Larmour and Jordan Stewart start, while Jordan Jenkins, scorer in both meetings last term, again leads the line.

Declan Devine is without Christie Pattisson, Dylan Connolly and Joe Thomson due to carry-over bans. Shane Andrews is the referee as Portadown seek a first home league win over the east Belfast side since 2015.

Portadown: McCarey, Altintop, MacKinnon, Chapman, Wylie, Ukek, McCullough, Fyfe, Teelan, Obhakhan, Thompson (C).

Subs: Moore, Isamala, Rea, Mayse, Gibson, Traynor, Tulloch.

Glentoran: Mills, Cooney, Kelly, Stewart, Coll, McEleney, Fisher, Larmour, Amos, Singleton (C), Jenkins.

Subs: Urminsky, Ferris, Burt, Lindsay, Russell, Wightman, Douglas.

Image source, BBC Sport

2024-25 league position: 6th

Manager: Declan Caddell

Opening fixtures: Carrick Rangers (H) - 9 August; Larne (A) - 17 August; Bangor (A) - 19 August; Glentoran (H) - 23 August; Portadown (A) - 29 August

It has been a busy summer at Crusaders, who look to be rebuilding after an inconsistent first season under Declan Caddell.

As they did last year, the north Belfast side have brought a lot of players in from clubs in Scotland, hoping to unearth the next Kieran Offord, who was a revelation during his six-month spell at the club.

Of their seven additions, five come from Scottish clubs and it is a bit of a gamble whether they will settle in or fail to get going.

They have lost some experienced players with the likes of Billy Joe Burns, Daniel Larmour and Philip Lowry departing, but Kurtis Forsythe is a shrewd addition and Finley Thorndike has the potential to shine with regular game time.

Retaining their pace in the top six and pushing for Europe will be the aim under Caddell this season as well as improving their home form, which was patchy last year.

Image source, Inpho

Declan Caddell has said he has "put his own stamp" on a much-changed Crusaders side for the new Irish Premiership campaign.

Caddell led the north Belfast side to a sixth-place finish in his first season in charge after taking over from long-serving manager Stephen Baxter.

The Crues have signed a number of young players from Scotland summer window so far but have lost the likes of Philip Lowry, Daniel Larmour and Billy Joe Burns.

"Everything has been going well. Obviously, there is a big turnover of players, we were all aware there was going to be a rebuild at the club," Caddell told BBC Sport NI.

"We are really happy with the players we have brought in. We have a lot of youth about us, lots of energy, enthusiasm, and a lot of quality as well. They're all gelling and settling in well which is a positive for me.

"This is my second year now and it's always difficult coming into a club. Stephen did such a great job but, ultimately, a lot of them were Stephen's players and obviously times change, and I am looking to build something new and put my own stamp on things."

Caddell paid tribute to the long-serving players like Lowry and Burns for their contributions to the club but says he is excited to move forward with a younger squad.

"It's my responsibility to look after the benefit of the club and where it goes moving forward and big decisions had to be made," Caddell continued.

"We're sorry to lose all those players as they were a big fabric of all the success that the club had, but we had to move on. We now have these younger players coming in and they want to make a name for themselves, and that's something for us all to look forward to."

Image source, Inpho

2024-25 League position: 3rd

Manager: Declan Devine

Opening fixtures: Portadown (A) - 9 August; Bangor (H) - 16 August; Glenavon (H) - 19 August; Crusaders (A) - 23 August; Carrick Rangers (H) - 30 August

For Glentoran, the 2024-25 season yielded joy and pain. In winning the County Antrim Shield, they pocketed their first silverware in five years, but failed to add another trophy when they lost the BetMcLean Cup final to Cliftonville.

Their Irish Cup campaign also ended in humbling fashion with defeat by Bangor, while they were knocked out of the European play-offs by Cliftonville.

Finishing 22 points behind Linfield in the league, however, encouraged the club to act decisively in the transfer market. Jordan Stewart has returned to the Oval, a decade on from leaving for Swindon, while Daniel Larmour has followed him to the Glens from Crusaders.

And in 34-year-old Pat Hoban, Glentoran have added a proven goalscorer who Devine labelled a "major coup".

As ever, Devine will be tasked with getting a good tune out of his new players to keep on the right side of an expectant fanbase.

Image source, Inpho

Glentoran manager Declan Devine is confident the new arrivals at the Oval can help push the club on to new heights this season.

The Glens made a raft of summer signings, including striker Pat Hoban from Derry City and Scottish midfielder Liam Burt, who won League of Ireland titles with Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers in recent seasons.

Former Crusaders duo, Jordan Stewart and Daniel Larmour, made the move to east Belfast, while Ryan Cooney arrived from Crewe Alexandra and goalkeeper Peter Urminsky joined from St Mirren on loan.

Adding such experience can not only increase the competition for places, but aid the development of the younger players according to Devine whose team opens their Premiership campaign with a trip to Portadown on Saturday (15:00 BST).

"Pat needs no introduction," Devine told BBC Sport NI.

"He spoke to five or six clubs and felt this was his best opportunity to win trophies. He can lead men too and brings an incredible professionalism about him, so he'll have a big role for us this year.

"Liam's had a lot of success wherever he's been, played in the group stage of Europe and knows what it takes to get there.

"Jordan Stewart has four or five league titles under his belt, Daniel Larmour has two Irish Cups and played 10 games in Europe, so we've brought a lot of experience to the group. Add in Ryan Cooney who has 246 games in League One and League Two in England."

Read more from Devine here.

Image source, Inpho

2024-25 league position: 8th

Manager: Niall Currie

Opening fixtures: Glentoran (A) - 9 August; Dungannon Swifts (A) - 16 August; Ballymena United (H) - 19 August; Larne (A) - 22 August; Crusaders (H) - 29 August

Having pushed for a place in last season's European play-offs, Portadown hope to push for a spot in the top six this term.

But Niall Currie's side will be challenged from the outset with a trip to Glentoran first up.

Currie has lost a great deal of experience with Ross Redman retiring and Dougie Wilson leaving for Loughgall. But the Shamrock Park outfit have made some intriguing signings, including a couple of League of Ireland imports in winger Rayhaan Tulloch from Shelbourne and defender Divin Isamala from Bohemians.

Currie has also added goalkeeper Alex Moore following Jordan Williamson's departure to Ballymacash.

The Ports will also be hoping for a better run in the Irish Cup after being dumped out of the fifth round by Annagh United last season.

Image source, Inpho