Cliftonville have signed defender Jack Keaney from League of Ireland side Drogheda United.

The 25-year-old was part of the Drogs side that beat Derry in the FAI Cup final last year during his sole season with the club.

Keaney started his career at Sligo Rovers, where he worked under Cliftonville assistant coach Gerard Lyttle, making 48 appearances in two seasons after being promoted to the first team.

The Republic of Ireland underage international then enjoyed a four-year stint with UCD before he linked up with Kevin Doherty's side last year.

Image source, Inpho

The Reds make four changes from their midweek cup triumph over Larne, as Aaron Pettifer, Kris Lowe, Ryan Markey and Stephen McGuiness come into the starting XI.

They replace Luke Conlan, Rory Hale, Joe Gormley, and Axel Piesold, with 15-goal striker Gormley's absence particularly notable.

The visitors make three alterations following their Irish Cup success against Institute, with Nathan Gartside returning between the posts in place of Berratt Turker.

Jordan Gibson and Conor McCloskey are also recalled as Fra McCaffrey - despite his winning goal on Tuesday - and Alberto Balde both drop out.

Cliftonville: Odumosu, Addis, Pettifer, Kearney, Curran, Lowe, Markey, Glynn, Casey, Wilson, McGuiness.

Subs: Ridd, Pepper, Ojo, Conlan, Corrigan, Madden, Sheridan.

Loughgall: Gartside, Rea, Murdock, Kelly, Ferris, Norton, Gibson, Mahon, Carroll, Towe, McCloskey.

Subs: Turker, Waide, Cartwright, McMenemy, Francis, Boyd, McCaffrey.

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Glenavon coach Colin Coates said he was happy to come out on top after a "rollercoaster" 3-2 win over Dungannon Swifts at Stangmore Park.

Goals from David McDaid and Jack Malone had the Lurgan Blues 2-0 in front at the interval but a second-half penalty from John McGovern and Andy Mitchell's header drew the home side level.

Malone's sublime finish clinched Glenavon's fifth victory in six matches in all competitions.

"I thought we played well in the first half and we got ourselves into a 2-0 lead. Unfortunately Dungannon pulled a goal back at the start of the second half and then they had all the momentum," said Coates.

"We conceded a second goal and you kind of fear the worst and you nearly take the point at that stage.

"But credit to the players, they galvanised and the subs helped us regain a foothold in the game and get on top again and on the front foot.

"Jack Malone finished with a bit of style and then we hung on and saw the game out."

Image source, Pacemaker

Larne confirmed their second signing of the January transfer window with the addition of attacker Olatunde Bayode on a short-term deal until the end of this season.

Bayode arrives at Inver Park from Gibraltar Football League side Bruno's Magpies, having begun his career at then English Premier League side Burnley under Sean Dyche.

The pacy winger was a key member of Larne head of football Nathan Rooney's Magpies side which won The Rock Cup during the 2022-23 season and produced distinguished performances in the Uefa Conference League against Crusaders and Derry City.

Rooney is full of praise for the qualities he believes the 25-year-old can contribute.

"Tunde is a player who possesses a number of attributes which we feel can provide a different dynamic to our attack during the second half of this season," Rooney explained on the Larne FC website.

"Tunde had a really good upbringing at Burnley, coming through the ranks and learning from Sean Dyche on the training pitch each day. As a player, he is very direct with rapid pace and an eye for creative flair which is something we have been keen to add during the January transfer window."

Image source, Larne FC

In just three days time these two sides will battle it out for the first piece of silverware of 2025, the County Antrim Shield, but before that there are three crucial points in the league up for grabs.

Declan Devine makes three changes to the starting XI who advanced to the BetMcLean League Cup final mid-week after defeating Crusaders in extra-time.

Frankie Hvid, Jay Donnelly and David Fisher return to the line-up with Dylan Connolly dropping to the bench and Shane McEleney and Jordan Jenkins, who scored twice on Tuesday, not in the squad.

There are four switches to the Larne side who had contrasting fortunes in the League Cup and were beaten by Cliftonville in a dramatic game at Inver Park.

Joe Thomson, Mark Randall, Benji Magee and Ryan Nolan all start with Cricky Gallagher, Aaron Donnelly, Jordan McEneff and the suspended Shaun Want making way.

Glentoran: Gyollai, Lyons-Foster, Hvid, Sule, Palmer, Donnelly, Fisher, Amos, Pattison, Singleton, Russell.

Subs: Mills, Connolly, Aouachria, Murphy, Lindsay, Farley, Thorndike.

Larne: Ferguson, Ives, Thomson, McKendry, Randall, Graham, Magee, Bolger, Nolan, Cosgrove, Sloan.

Subs: McEneff, Ryan, Bayode, Besant, Devlin, Wallace, Simpson.

Image source, BBC Sport

Watch highlights as Glenavon edge out Dungannon Swifts 3-2 in their Premiership game at Stangmore Park on Friday.

Read the match report here.

Glentoran forward David Fisher hopes to chalk up a first win over Premiership champions Larne when the sides meet at the Oval on Saturday.

The Englishman joined the east Belfast side from AFC Wimbledon in September 2023.

The in-form Glens, who lie third in the standings, will lock horns with Larne again three days later in the County Antrim Shield final.

"I've lost every game to Larne since I've got here - if we can prepare and do everything right that we have been doing then we can give them a good game," said Fisher.

"They're a very good side and they don't have the Conference League anymore so they'll be fully focused on the league.

"It's going to be a difficult game but one that we really want to try and show that we're there."

Image source, Presseye

Good afternoon and welcome to our coverage of what promises to be another exciting afternoon of action in the Irish Premiership.

Today leaders Linfield hope to keep up their pace at the head of affairs as they travel to face fourth-placed Portadown while three points for Glentoran against Larne at the Oval would see Declan Devine's team jump above Dungannon Swifts into second place in the table.

Elsewhere, Cliftonville will aim to halt an alarming sequence of four straight league defeats as they host Loughgall at Solitude, Coleraine are at home to Crusaders and Carrick Rangers entertain Ballymena United.

We'll have our usual mix of live audio courtesy of Radio Ulster's Sportsound, live text commentary and in-play clips, followed by a report, highlights from each of the games and reaction, so stay with us and you won't miss a thing!

Image source, BBC Sport