Summary

  1. Postpublished at 15:09 British Summer Time 26 April

    Carrick Rangers 0-0 Glenavon

    Having made 11 changes to today's side it is perhaps little surprise that Carrick are struggling for some continuity on the ball. However, Glenavon are playing a rather high defensive line that the hosts may feel capable of capitalising on.

  2. Postpublished at 15:06 British Summer Time 26 April

    Carrick Rangers 0-0 Glenavon

    It has been all Glenavon so far here in Carrickfergus, with the away side winning two corners in quick succession, but ultimately they cannot make them count.

  3. Postpublished at 15:03 British Summer Time 26 April

    Carrick Rangers 0-0 Glenavon

    Glenavon with the first attack on goal.

    David Toure swings in a cross from the right that has Carrick goalkeeper Jack McIntyre at full stretch to keep the ball out.

  4. KICK-OFFpublished at 14:59 British Summer Time 26 April

    Carrick Rangers 0-0 Glenavon

    Glenavon get us under way at a wet Taylors Avenue.

  5. Larne cannot host European games in 2025-26published at 14:58 British Summer Time 26 April

    Larne v Glentoran (17:30 BST)

    Larne will be unable to host European matches at Inver Park next season should they qualify for the Uefa Conference League after their home ground failed a Fifa Pro Standard pitch test.

    The two-time Irish Premiership champions, who this season lost their crown to Linfield, have nominated the Ballymena Showgrounds as their potential home venue.

    Larne have said improvements to the pitch at Inver Park are an "important component" of their application for funding from the Northern Ireland Football Fund.

    "As the playing surface at Inver Park comes to the end of its natural lifespan for European competition, we have been unsuccessful in the latest Fifa Pro Standard pitch test," said a club statement.

    "An upgrade of the artificial surface at Inver Park is an important component of our recent application to the Northern Ireland Football Fund, alongside a much-needed rebuild of our stadium's main stand."

    Inver ParkImage source, Inpho
  6. Healy, Magilton and McAree lead NIFWA nominationspublished at 14:54 British Summer Time 26 April

    David Healy, Jim Magilton and Rodney McAree lead the nominations for Manager of the Year at the annual Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association awards.

    Healy guided Linfield to the Irish Premiership title and the Blues made history by becoming the first team to secure the trophy before the split.

    Magilton's Cliftonville won the BetMcLean Cup in March and will look to win a cup double when the Reds face Dungannon Swifts in the Irish Cup final on 3 May.

    On top of the Irish Cup decider, Dungannon have had a superb campaign under McAree and have broken into the top six in the Irish Premiership, and have also won the Mid-Ulster Cup this season.

    The Swifts also have a nominee in Irish Premiership Player of the Year through midfielder Gael Bigirimana, while Linfield's Joel Cooper and Cliftonville's Joe Gormley are also up for the award.

    The same three clubs are represented in Young Player of the Year through Dungannon forward John McGovern, while Cliftonville's Shea Kearney and Linfield's title-winning defender Matthew Orr have also been nominated.

    David Healy Jim Magilton and Rodney McAreeImage source, Inpho
  7. Team newspublished at 14:49 British Summer Time 26 April

    Carrick Rangers v Glenavon (15:00)

    With one eye on the upcoming relegation/promotion play-off, it is perhaps no surprise that Carrick manager Stephen Baxter makes wholesale changes to his line-up today from the one that drew with Loughgall last time out.

    Baxter makes 11 changes from last week, with notable inclusions including Mark Surgenor who took over as joint caretaker manager early in the season, and veteran David Cushley, who captains the side. Carrick may not be able to avoid the play-off now, but they must ensure they carry some momentum forward.

    Paddy McLaughlin knows his side are secure in 10th spot and this will certainly be Glenavon's last outing of the season.

    He has resisted making changes for the sake of it and makes just three from the team that defeated Ballymena United 2-0 last weekend. In come Rhys Marshall, Sean Carlin and James Heaney for the Lurgan Blues.

    Carrick Rangers: McIntyre; Surgenor, Gordon, Cushley (C), Buchanon-Rolleston, Webb, Boyd, Forbes, Hastings, O'Malley, McFarland.

    Subs: Ross Glendinning, Maciulaitis, Reece Glendinning, Trimble, O'Brien, Hill.

    Glenavon: Ryan; Toure, Lynch (C), Murphy, O'Sullivan, Wilson, Campbell, McGovern, Marshall, Carlin, Heaney.

    Subs: Byrne, Birney, Haughey, McDaid, O'Connor, Hamilton, Allen.

    Carrick Rangers v GlenavonImage source, bb
    Image caption,

    Carrick Rangers v Glenavon

  8. Battle for second spot reaches its finalepublished at 14:45 British Summer Time 26 April

    Six-match Premiership programme

    There's no doubt which game tops the bill on this final Saturday of the regular Irish Premiership season as Larne face Glentoran at Inver Park to decide which of the two clubs will claim runner-up position and the automatic European qualification which goes with it.

    Larne hold a two-point advantage over the Glens going into today's encounter so only a victory will suffice for Declan Devine's charges if they are to leapfrog Gary Haveron's side in the league standings.

    You can watch the game live on the BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and there will also be live coverage on Sportsound on BBC Sounds. Kick-off is at 17:30 BST.

    Elsewhere in the top half of the table, Coleraine host champions Linfield and Dungannon Swifts warm up for next week's Irish Cup final as they face Crusaders.

    In the bottom half, Cliftonville can clinch seventh place if they pick up at least a draw away to relegated Loughgall but were they to lose to the Villagers that would open the door for Portadown to move above them if they could seal a third successive league win by beating Ballymena United at Shamrock Park.

    The only 15:00 BST kick-off today sees Carrick Rangers take on Glenavon at Taylors Avenue.

    In addition to the livestreamed coverage of Larne v Glentoran, we will provide text commentary and in-play clips on all of today's matches, plus a report and highlights of all six matches. We have you covered.

    Cammy Palmer and Mark RandallImage source, Inpho