Dungannon Swifts' rise to third in the table has been one of the stories of the Irish Premiership season.

The Swifts are also in the quarter-finals of the Irish Cup and won the Mid-Ulster Cup in January.

It was a stable window for Rodney McAree's side as they look to consolidate their place in the table.

Striker Brandon Bermingham, 23, was the sole recruit for the Swifts in January and has made a goalscoring start to life at Stangmore Park.

There weren't too many outgoings, either, with three departures on loan to Championship clubs.

Goalkeeper Patrick Solas Grogan has moved to Bangor, midfielder Aidan Hegarty has joined Institute while Tommy Taggert will feature for Newry City.

In: Brandon Bermingham (free agent).

Out: Patrick Solas Grogan (Bangor - loan), Tommy Taggert (Newry City - loan), Aidan Hegarty (Institute - loan)

Coleraine were the story of the transfer market before the January window had opened after being heavily linked to Linfield's Joel Cooper.

Cooper is set to move to Coleraine in the summer after signing a pre-contract with the club.

The Bannsiders, with fresh investment, were active in the window and strengthened by bringing in Ronan Doherty from Cliftonville and Levi Ives from Larne.

Defender Paddy Burns was snapped up as a free agent and Declan McManus and Charles Dunne have arrived from TNS and St Mirren respectively.

Dean Shiels' side have also been boosted by the loan extension for Connor Murray, who will remain at the Showgrounds from Hamilton Academical until the end of the season.

Loughgall snapped up striker Kirk McLaughlin from Coleraine on deadline day, while Mackenzie Carse, Ciaron Harkin and Sam McClintock have left the club.

Coleraine sit ninth in the table and will be hoping their new recruits can help push them up the table in the second half of the season.

In: Ronan Doherty (Cliftonville), Levi Ives (Larne), Declan McManus (TNS), Charles Dunne (St Mirren), Paddy Burns (free agent), Connor Murray (Hamilton Academical - loan).

Out: Kirk McLaughlin (Loughgall), Mackenzie Carse (released), Ciaron Harkin (Derry City - end of loan), Sam McClintock (Limavady United - loan).

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It has been an interesting campaign for Larne, who are playing catch up in the Irish Premiership after their European exploits earlier in the season.

Two key players of their squad departed in the January window, as Levi Ives moved to Coleraine and Joe Thomson signed for Glentoran.

Benji Magee has rejoined Loughgall on loan, while Jack Hastings will look to get experience at Carrick Rangers.

Gary Haveron has brought in Tiernan O'Connor and Josh Kee from H&W Welders, with the latter heading back on loan to the Championship side.

Larne have also recruited forwards Olatunde Bayode from Bruno's Magpies and Harry Panayiotou as a free agent.

Losing Ives and Thomson will be a blow to the charging Inver Park side, but Haveron will be hoping the new recruits can fire his side back up the table.

In: Tiernan O'Connor (H&W Welders), Josh Kee (H&W Welders), Harry Panayiotou (free agent), Olatunde Bayode (Bruno's Magpies), Oisin Devlin (Ballymena United - end of loan), Sean Brown (Ballymena United - end of loan), Caolan Donnelly (Ballyclare Comrades - end of loan).

Out: Levi Ives (Coleraine), Joe Thomson (Glentoran), Josh Kee (H&W Welders - loan), George Marsh (released), Ethan Simpson (Ards), Benji Magee (Loughgall - loan), Baris Altintop (Portadown - loan), Jack Hastings (Carrick Rangers - loan), Caolan Donnelly (Ballinamallard United - loan) Sam Todd (Derry City - end of loan).

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Larne manager Gary Haveron praised his players after the Premiership champions fought back to defeat Carrick Rangers 2-1 in the east Antrim derby.

Nedas Maciulaitis gave the hosts a first-half lead at Taylors Avenue with a backpost finish.

Larne hit back back in the second half with Sean Graham heading in the equaliser before Tiarnan O'Connor slotted into the bottom corner to win it with seven minutes left.

"[There were] difficult conditions with the pitch but the boys showed great character," said Haveron.

"The goal we went behind to I thought it was offiside, I though it was a quite clear and obvious offside but it doesn't go for you.

"At half time I was saying to the boys 'don't feel sorry for yourselves, you've got to keep fighting' - I thought we were the better side throughout the game and we got our just rewards in the end by pure persistence and keeping going."

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It has been a busy window for Carrick Rangers, who are in no man's land in the Irish Premiership relegation/promotion play-off place.

While a run of victories could see them challenge the teams above them, manager Stephen Baxter will be hoping his new recruits can help fire Carrick to Irish Cup glory. They face Dungannon Swifts in the last eight.

Defender Ethan Boyle is a familiar face to the Irish League after a spell with Linfield, while Reece Webb and Cian O'Malley also arrive from League of Ireland First Division side Wexford.

Carrick are the league's lowest scorers with 21 goals in 24 matches, and Baxter has recruited striker Jack Hastings on loan from Larne, and attacking players Jack O'Reilly and Shane Forbes.

Former Larne goalkeeper Jack McIntyre was another late addition at Taylors Avenue after leaving Ayr United.

Emmett McGuckin has left the club to join Limavady United, while Ben McCauley and Ronan Kalla have moved onto pastures new.

In: Ethan Boyle (Wexford), Reece Webb (Wexford), Cian O'Malley (Wexford), Shane Forbes (Athlone Town), Jack O'Reilly (Ytterhogdals IK), Jack McIntyre (Ayr United), Luke O'Brien (St Pat's Athletic), Jack Hastings (Larne - loan).

Out: Ben McCauley (Coagh United), Ronan Kalla (Newington), Emmett McGuckin (Limavady United), Jaydyn Whiters (Ballyclare Comrades).

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After a rollercoaster few seasons, there is a feel-good factor around Glentoran again.

Declan Devine's side won the County Antrim Shield, are in the final of the BetMcLean Cup and quarter-finals of the Irish Cup, and are second in the Irish Premiership table.

With his winner at Loughgall and red card against Linfield, Joe Thomson has already made an impact after signing from Larne.

Shane McEleney and Ciaron Coll have moved to the Oval after leaving Derry City, while Christie Pattison has joined from Waterford.

Nathaniel Ferris was an arrival late in the window from Loughgall and will boost the Glens' goalscoring options.

There are a number of outgoings, all on loan. Striker Jay Donnelly is the headline departure as he signs for Newington, while Harry Murphy and Lorcan Donnelly two of those also depart.

In: Shane McEleney (Derry City), Ciaran Coll (Derry City), Joe Thomson (Larne), Christie Pattison (Waterford), Nathaniel Ferris (Loughgall).

Out: Jay Donnelly (Newington - loan), Harry Murphy (Glenavon - loan), Lorcan Donnelly (Newry City - loan), Theo McToal (Ballyclare Comrades), Casey Smyth (Newry City - loan), Callan Farley (Warrenpoint Town - loan), Owen McNeill (Lisburn Distillery - loan), Tony McIlhone (Newington - loan).

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Two teams who played in midweek meet for a third game in seven days for both at Taylor's Avenue.

Carrick Rangers lost by the odd goal in three at home to Larne on Tuesday night while Coleraine and Cliftonville fought out a scoreless draw at the Showgrounds.

Stephen Baxter rings the changes from Tuesday as Ross Glendinning, Kurtis Forsythe, David Cushley and Benjamin Buchanan-Rolleston drop to the bench while midfielder Joe Crowe misses out through illness.

Jack McIntyre takes over in goals while there are also league debuts for Luke O'Brien and Jack Hastings, along with recalls for veteran Paul Heatley and Reece Webb.

Bannsiders' boss Dean Shiels makes three changes from the Reds draw as Jamie McGonigle starts among the substitutes while Jamie Glackin and Dean Jarvis are injured.

Paddy Burns comes in for his first Coleraine start while Rhyss Campbell and top scorer Matthew Shevlin are promoted to the starting line-up.

Carrick Rangers: McIntyre, Maciulaitis, McCullough (c), Cherry, Heatley, Gibson, Webb, Boyle, O'Brien, Hastings, O'Malley.

Subs: Glendinning, Forsythe, Cushley, Buchanan-Rollestin, Forbes, O'Reilly, Foley.

Coleraine: Brown, Kane (c), Boyle, Campbell, Scott, Shevlin, Murray, Burns, Ives, Dunne, McManus.

Subs: Little, Stewart, Spence, McClelland, McGonigle, Smith, Doherty.

Image source, BBC Sport

The Irish Cup quarter-final tie between Bangor and Glentoran is to be broadcast live across BBC Sport NI on Friday 28 February.

The game at Clandeboye Park will kick off at 19:45 GMT and can be viewed on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

The Championship leaders secured their place in the last eight of the competition with a 3-0 win over Annagh United in the sixth round.

Glentoran emerged 2-1 victors in a hard-fought derby encounter against Linfield, Finley Thorndike firing home the winner for the Oval outfit in extra-time.

Lee Feeney's side are one of two Championship sides left in this year's competition, with Ards being the other.

Glentoran are aiming to lift the Irish Cup for the first time since 2020 and for the 24th time in their history.

Bangor's sole success came back in 1993.

The other three quarter-final matches will be played on Saturday 29 February.

Crusaders host Cliftonville in a north Belfast derby, Ards welcome Loughgall and Carrick Rangers entertain Dungannon Swifts with coverage of those games live on 'Sportsound' on BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Sounds.

Larne have played two league matches since their visitors have been in league action.

Gary Haveron makes just one change from Tuesday's 2-1 win over east Antrim rivals Carrick Rangers. Andy Ryan returns from suspension with Shaun Want dropping to the bench. Paul O'Neill is fit enough for a place among the subs.

Crusaders know that a win will, temporarily at least, catapult them from sixth above fourth-placed Larne. Declan Caddell makes four changes from the side that squeaked past Larne's conquerors Limavady United in the Irish Cup last weekend.

In come Jimmy Callacher, Josh Williamson, Jay Boyd and Lewis Barr with match-winner Harry Jewitt-White among those missing out.

Larne: Ferguson, Donnelly, McKendry, Randall, O'Connor, Graham, Nolan, Cosgrove (C), Sloan, Gallagher, Ryan

Subs: Graham, Want, O'Neill, McEneff, Panayiotou, Bayode, Wallace

Crusaders: Tuffey, Callacher, Lowry (C), Blaney, Forsythe, O'Rourke, Williamson, Smith, Clarke, Boyd, Barr

Subs: Brown, Stewart, O'Connor, Franklin, Little, McCart, Karrabecaj

Image source, BBC Sport

Ballymena boss Jim Ervin said that his side's dramatic 2-2 draw with Linfield was a "hard pill to swallow".

After falling behind to Matthew Fitzpatrick's opener, the Sky Blues levelled through Donal Rocks before taking the lead in injury time through a Patrick McEleney penalty.

Kyle McClean salvaged a point for leaders Linfield with an 100th-minute equaliser, which was deflating for Ervin and his players.

"It feels like a defeat, I don't know what to say I'm gutted," he told BBC Sport NI.

"The boys went a goal down early on after a mistake, but the response was great, and I think if we came away with three points anyone who was watching would not have disagreed," Ervin continued.

"We have to take the positives, we went toe to toe with the league leaders and should have got three points, so we need to build on that."

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League leaders Linfield moved 20 points clear at the top of the Irish Premiership on Friday night, but needed a last-gasp equaliser from Kyle McClean to salvage a 2-2 draw against Ballymena United.

Read more.

It's second versus third this afternoon as Glentoran welcome Dungannon Swifts to the Oval.

The hosts won the last head-to-head meeting here in east Belfast, but the Swifts did defeat the Glens earlier in the season at Stangmore Park.

Declan Devine makes two changes to the side that defeated Linfield last Friday night in the Irish Cup. Finlay Thorndike, who scored the winner against the Blues, and Johnny Russell come into the starting XI with Joe Thomson missing out through suspension and Ciaran Coll also absent.

The visitors are unchanged as former Glens boss Rodney McAree sticks to the same side that defeated Coleraine after extra-time in last week's Irish Cup tie.

Glentoran: Gyollai, Lyons-Foster, Kane (capt), Sule, Palmer, Fisher, Amos, Pattisson, Russell, Jenkins, Thorndike.

Subs: Mills, Hvid, Connolly, McEleney, Lindsay, Ferris, Douglas.

Dungannon Swifts: Dunne, Scott, Curry (capt), McGovern, Dillon, Ucha Alves, Glenny, McAleese, Wallace, Mitchell, Bigirimana.

Subs: Henderson, King, Knowles, Boyd, Galvin, Hutchinson, Bermingham.

Image source, BBC Sport

Just the three games in the top-flight today.

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Hello and welcome to our coverage of today's three Irish Premiership fixtures.

After Linfield dropped points with a draw at Ballymena United last night, the chasing pack have a chance to close the current 20-point gap.

Glentoran, who have been on a fine run of form lately and knocked the Blues out of the Irish Cup, welcome high-flying Dungannon Swifts to the Oval in what is set to be an intriguing encounter.

Elsewhere, champions Larne, who picked up a much-needed league win during the week, welcome Crusaders to Inver Park as they look to continue their march up the table.

At Taylor's Avenue, struggling Carrick Rangers host Coleraine, who drew with Cliftonville during the week, with both sides in desperate need of a win.

We will have live text commentary and in-play clips of all the action to come as well as highlights, a report and reaction.

You can also listen to radio commentary of the games on BBC Radio Ulster's Sportsound programme from 14:00.

Thanks for joining us - enjoy!

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