Defender Daithi McCallion, up for a corner, curls a shot wide for Ballymena in the first opening of the game on a slippery Showgrounds surface which has already caught out a couple of players.

Kealan Dillon drags a shot outside the near post for Dungannon but it all stemmed from a little bit of hesitancy in the Crusaders defence.

Kirk Millar and Joel Cooper combine down the left, with Millar finding the Blues' leading marksman in space.

Cooper, seeking his tenth league goal of the campaign, drives to the byline but can't maintain control as the promising move fizzles out.

A bright start from the hosts, with Paddy McLaughlin patrolling his touchline area.

First real opportunity of the game falls to Crusaders as Ross Clarke whips in along the end line and Jordan Stewart is there to meet, but can't get a full contact on the shot.

Ryan Mayse and Ahu Obhakhan combine cleverly at the corner flag, but Mayse's subsequent delivery lacks the necessary menace to trouble David Walsh.

The league's most potent attack against the division's form team is beginning to take shape at Windsor Park.

Corner to Glenavon inside the opening two minutes.

Peter Campbell's delivery goes all the way across goal where Rhyss Campbell connects on the volley but is unable to keep his shot down.

Cammy Palmer is the first to be cautioned by Tony Clarke.

Joel Cooper's early involvement leads to a freekick for the Blues after Eamon Fyfe's mistimed challenge on Ethan McGee.

Cooper's attempt to unlock the Ports' defence with an in-swinging delivery is confidently claimed by Aaron McCarey, who settles any early nerves for the visitors.

Jack Malone gets us underway on a dry but chilly afternoon in Lurgan.

Glenavon are looking to end a run of seven games without a win while visitors Coleraine are seeking a first win at Mourneview Park in over five years.

Plenty, then, for both sides to play for.

Referee Jamie Robinson starts the action at Ballymena.

Carrick have won three of their last four league visits to the Warden Street Showgrounds - Stephen Baxter will hope Rangers can extend that sequence today.

If Ballymena win today, they will surpass their points total for the whole of last season - a sign of the marked improvement in fortunes for Jim Ervin's side.

Ross Dunlop blows his whistle, and we're underway.

The Blues, perched atop the league, face a resurgent Ports side eager to continue their impressive run of form.

Referee Steven Gregg blows the whistle and the hosts get us underway at a rather gloomy Seaview.

Jordan Jenkins gets the ball rolling at a rainy Lakeview Park.

Can Loughgall end their run of three defeats in a row or will the away side build on the 'Big Two' victory last weekend and grab the three points this afternoon?

Northern Ireland manager Tanya Oxtoby reacts to her side's 4-0 defeat against Norway in the first leg of their Euro 2025 play-off final at Inver Park.

Read more here

Norway all but ended Northern Ireland's dream of qualifying for back-to-back European Championships with a 4-0 win in the first leg of their play-off at Inver Park last night.

Caroline Graham Hansen starred for the visitors, who defeated Albania 14-0 in their play-off first round and last failed to qualify for a Euros in 1984.

The Barcelona playmaker opened the scoring in the seventh minute when she slotted home from close range.

Tuva Hansen drilled in a second from outside the area in the 14th minute, before Graham Hansen grabbed her second with a neat finish on 26 minutes.

Tanya Oxtoby's side settled after the restart and improved, but Norway added a fourth in the 67th minute when Guro Bergsvand poked home after a scramble in the area.

While Oxtoby will take heart from a much-improved second-half performance as Northern Ireland put on some late pressure, the damage was ultimately done in the first half by Norway.

The second leg takes place in Oslo on Tuesday, and Northern Ireland's young side will have to quickly regroup to stop the wounds becoming much deeper.

Read report here

Both Declan Caddell and Rodney McAree make two changes for today's meeting between Crusaders and Dungannon Swifts at Seaview.

Following last week's 2-1 win at 10-man Coleraine, Robbie Weir is back to skipper the home side today with Josh Williamson dropping to the bench, while Jordan Forsythe replaces Jarlath O'Rourke.

The goalscorers from six days ago, Jordan Stewart and Kieran Offord, retain their places in the starting line-up.

Dungannon come into this game sitting third in the table following last week's 1-0 win at Carrck Rangers.

However, there is no place in the starting line-up today for the match-winner on that occasion, James Knowles, as he drops to the bench with Ladislau Leonel Urcha Alves coming in, while John McGovern starts in place of the suspended Steven Scott.

Crusaders: Tuffey, Callacher, Jewitt-White, Weir, Stewart, Blaney, Forsythe, Offord, Clarke, Franklin, Barr.

Dungannon Swifts: Dunne, Curry, McGovern, Dillon, Alves, Glenny, McGinty, Galvin, Wallace, Mitchell, Bigirimana.

Image source, bb

Larne are still seeking their first points in the Uefa Conference League as they finished with 10 men in a 1-0 defeat by Olimpija.

The Ljubljana hosts dominated and Larne keeper Rohan Ferguson made two excellent saves before Olimpija broke the deadlock on 67 minutes.

Ivan Durdov was brought on just seconds before meeting Raul Florucz's inswinging corner and heading into the top corner.

Larne wasted two good openings in the second half as Dylan Sloan dragged wide before Matthew Lusty found himself in space but could only shoot straight at Matevz Vidovsek.

Larne played the final eight minutes with 10 men after Sean Graham was sent off for two yellow cards.

The Irish Premiership champions remain bottom of the 36-team group with their fourth defeat from four games.

Read report here

Image source, Getty Images