Irish League Football

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Friday's planned NIFL Premiership game between Glentoran and Carrick Rangers is postponed.

Northern Ireland's U21 1-0 win over Latvia took place at the Oval on Thursday, but following a pitch inspection on Friday morning, the surface was deemed unplayable following heavy rainfall in Belfast over the past few days.

An announcement on the date of the re-fixture will be made in due course.

"Glentoran Football Club can confirm that, following a pitch inspection, tonight's Sports Direct Premiership fixture against Carrick Rangers at the BetMcLean Oval has been postponed," the club said in a statement.

"A new date for the fixture will be confirmed in due course, and we will communicate updated arrangements to supporters as soon as they are available.

"All tickets will remain valid for the rescheduled fixture."

As it stands, Saturday's games will proceed as planned with Crusaders set to host Glenavon at Seaview and Portadown welcoming Bangor to Shamrock Park.

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Ballymena United manager Jim Ervin has bolstered his midfield options with the signing of former Scotland international Dylan McGeouch on a short-term deal.

The 32-year-old had spells with Celtic and Rangers at youth level before making a return to Celtic Park where he began his senior career.

Twice capped by Scotland, McGeouch moved on to Hibernian where he helped the club win the Scottish Cup before spells with Sunderland, Aberdeen, Forest Green Rovers and Carlisle United.

A free agent since the summer, McGeouch is delighted to restart his career in Ballymena where he hopes to add to his medal collection.

"The opportunity came up to talk to the guys behind the scenes here and I jumped at the chance to be able to come and help this squad and club going forward," he told the Ballymena United website.

"Experience is something hopefully I can bring on and off the pitch. I've been at a lot of good clubs and still think I have a lot to give.

"One of the selling points was that the club have a lot to play for. We're looking to compete and get into that top six, along with the cup competitions and it's exciting times."

The Braidmen's injury list prompted manager Ervin to act now and he is happy to have someone of McGeouch's experience arrive at The Showgrounds.

"It's well documented the injury list we have and it seems to be increasing week by week, so it's great to get another body available to us, but it's more about the experience he brings," Ervin said.

"He's one we've been looking at for a number of weeks and he's come in as a free agent so is able to play straight away.

"The desire Dylan showed when we started conversations struck me straight away. He could've held fire to see what came up in January, but he was happy with what we discussed with him. He's a quality player and we're looking forward to seeing him on the pitch."

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Coleraine striker Matthew Shevlin has been awarded the Irish Premiership's player of the month for October by the Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association.

Shevlin scored four league goals in the month against Portadown and Linfield, while he also netted twice against former club Ballymena United.

By scoring a double against Ballymena, the 26-year-old reached the landmark of 100 goals for Coleraine.

It is the third time the striker has won the prestigious award.

"It's been a fantastic few weeks for me because I have been scoring goals and helping the team to win games, so this award is a nice way to top that off," Shevlin sad.

"I also scored my 100th goal for Coleraine during October, which was a nice moment. However, results are what matters."

Shevlin's goals have helped Ruaidhri Higgins' Bannsiders move to the top of the Irish Premiership table.

"We have experienced players in the dressing room who have won leagues at other clubs, and I think that will really help us in the second half of the season," Shevlin added.

"Personally, I'm desperate to be part of a club that wins a league title. I was part of a Linfield squad that won it, but I don't really count that as I didn't play too much.

"We just need to take every game as it comes."

Runner-up was Bangor defender Reece Neale, while Dungannon Swifts striker Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe was third.

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Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree said his side conceded " very soft goals" during their 2-0 loss against Cliftonville at Solitude.

After a goalless first half, Cliftonville made the breakthrough on 51 minutes when Jonny Addis fired home from close range for his second league goal of the season.

The home side doubled their lead in the 69th minute as Jack Keaney curled a free-kick low into the bottom-left corner.

"I thought the first half was even enough, to be honest," McAree told BBC Sport NI.

"I was relatively confident at half-time and in the second half, we started slowly and Cliftonville started well.

"We conceded two very soft goals. We've got to do better from the set-piece and we can't give away such a cheap free-kick on the edge of the box either."

The Swifts had enjoyed a good run of form in the last number of weeks and had registered six victories in their last seven league games.

However, the defeat is their second loss of the week after being knocked out of the BetMcLean Cup by Moyola Park.

"There has to be accountability among the players," McAree continued.

"They'll accept that because they're an honest group and a good group.

"That 15- or 20-minute spell in the second half really killed us today."

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Ballymena United manager Jim Ervin said he is "over the moon" after his side overcame Bangor by 3-2 thanks to Success Edogun's stoppage-time goal at Clandeboye Park.

Goals from Ben Arthurs and Jay Boyd levelled the match after an own goal and Matthew Clarke's strike had put the away side ahead.

Edogun scored the vital goal in the 94th minute when he was on hand to convert Clarke's cross.

"For the players, I am over the moon," Ervin told BBC Sport NI

"We have shown a different side to ourselves today with the character, resilience and ability to bounce back."

The dramatic victory puts to an end Ballymena's run of four league games without a victory.

However, all four of those fixtures were against full-time teams with Ervin adding those games "won't define" their season.

"It is no disgrace losing to any of those four full-time clubs, you always want to pick up points but that won't define your season," Ervin continued.

"It is important that we come away from home to places like Clandeboye and grind out a result and that is what we have done today."

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Bangor manager Lee Feeney said his side are "hurting" after Success Edogun's 94th minute goal secured all three points for Ballymena United at Clandeboye Park.

An own goal from Reece Neale and Matthew Clarke's strike gave Ballymena a 2-0 lead, but the Seasiders responded and netted through Ben Arthurs and Jay Boyd.

However, the goals weren't done there as, deep into additional time, Edogun converted Clarke's cross from close range.

"The boys are hurting in there and rightly so because they gave everything," Feeney told BBC Sport NI.

"I thought we could have gone on and won the game, and I think most people in the ground would have thought that.

"We know football isn't like that and sometimes be smart, and the cross came in, it should never have come in."

Edogun's goal is the second stoppage time winner that the Seasiders have been defeated by recently after conceding in the closing stages of their match against Carrick Rangers in the last round of Premiership fixtures.

Despite a tough couple of weeks, Bangor sit sixth in the table, ahead of the Sky Blues on goal difference.

"That's the disappointing thing, their three goals are so avoidable," Feeney continued.

"We have been defending well, but it is a sucker punch to concede again in the last minute."

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Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins said his side "were second best for 65 minutes" during their 1-1 draw with Linfield at Windsor Park.

Matthew Shevlin scored in additional time to cancel out Matthew Fitzpatrick's bicycle kick.

However, despite having a two-man advantage at the end, the Bannsiders couldn't find another late goal to secure all three points.

"I am extremely frustrated and disappointed with us in the first 65 minutes," Higgins told BBC Sport NI.

"We were the second best for 65 minutes but, in the last 25 minutes, we were really good and could have nicked it in the end.

"Taking in the first 65 minutes, we will take a point, but we have to be better than what we were in that period and be more like we were in the last 25 minutes."

Coleraine sit top of the table with 33 points and are unbeaten in their last eight games.

The Bannsiders are aiming to clinch their first Premiership title since 1974 with Higgins adding that his side have made "big progress" this season.

"We finished 30 points off Linfield last season, so we are making big progress," Higgins continued.

"We are content with where we are at the minute but as a manager and as coaching staff and players, you always want more, and we have to strive to be better."

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Crusaders manager Declan Caddell said "everything clicked" for his side during their 2-1 victory over Carrick Rangers at Taylors Avenue.

Goals from Fraser Bryden and Ross Clarke put Crusaders ahead going into the final five minutes.

Paul Heatley did make it a one-goal game against his former club late on, but Crusaders defended resolutely to secure the three points.

"The last couple of weeks have been tough, and the performances haven't been where we want them to be but today was night and day," Caddell told BBC Sport NI.

"It was a complete domination of a football match and we scored two, maybe we should have scored a lot more.

"Everything clicked today. We have been wanting that full performance over 90 minutes and the boys delivered today."

The north Belfast side have struggled with consistency this season and sit in 11th place in the Premiership.

The result also puts to an end their run of three games without a victory.

"We showed a bit of hunger, that has something that has been missing the last two games," Caddell continued.

"To come up here, a really difficult place against a very experienced side, who will put you under pressure, they stood up as men today."

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Linfield manager David Healy said his side "worked hard" during their action-packed 1-1 draw with Coleraine at Windsor Park.

Matthew Fitzpatrick's bicycle kick gave the home side the lead 12 minutes into the second half.

However, Matthew Shevlin netted in additional time to level the game with Ethan McGee and Ben Hall both dismissed late on for the Blues.

"Frustrated, I thought we had done enough to win the game " Healy told BBC Sport NI's Thomas Kane when asked about his thoughts on the game.

"One or two things got away from us today, which is disappointing, but I thought we were good and I thought we worked hard today.

"We probably had the best moments and frustratingly we didn't go and see the game out."

The result is the second draw between the two sides in a matter of weeks after their clash at the Showgrounds ended 2-2.

It was the home side who enjoyed the better chances this time, until the final 20 minutes when Coleraine looked the more likely to snatch all three points.

"Coleraine are well drilled, well organised and probably the best team that has come to Windsor in a good number of years in terms of their squad set-up," Healy continued.

"If we had of been short today, we probably would have lost the game."

Linfield sit in fourth position and are 11 points behind the Bannsiders, but they have three games in hand.

Healy, who celebrated ten years in charge of the Blues last month, added that this is "the toughest and most competitive" season with multiple teams "every inch champions".

"It is the toughest and most competitive," the former Northern Ireland international replied when asked about the league this year.

"Other teams are every inch champions this year when you look at some of the three or four other teams.

"It is a really competitive league this year and days like today when momentum swings, you feel like you have lost something."

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Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton said his side "fully deserved" their 2-0 victory against Dungannon Swifts at Solitude.

After a goalless first half, Jonny Addis' strike from close range gave Cliftonville the lead six minutes after the restart.

On 69 minutes, Jack Keaney's well-timed free-kick gave the home side a more comfortable advantage.

"I'm really delighted," Magilton told BBC Sport NI.

"Dungannon always pose problems for us here, so to win the game and keep a clean sheet is excellent.

"In the second half, I thought we did a really good job and fully deserved the result."

The result means that the Reds now sit on 18 points and are now unbeaten in their last three games.

Keaney's goal was his third goal of the campaign with the 26-year-old firing a low strike into the bottom-left corner.

"It was a wonderful finish," Magilton replied when asked about Keaney's goal.

"He's developed a lovely habit of popping up with important goals and long may that continue."

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Carrick Rangers manager Stephen Baxter said that Crusaders "were the better team" after the Crues' 2-1 victory at Taylors Avenue.

Fraser Bryden fired Declan Caddell's side ahead in the first half before Ross Clarke's goal doubled their advantage in the second half.

Paul Heatley's late goal for the home side set up a tense finish. However, Carrick couldn't find an equaliser at the end.

"We didn't deserve anything out of the game and Crusaders were the better team by some distance," Baxter told BBC Sport NI.

"I thought Crusaders were first to the ball in the first half, opened up good spaces and were sharper to the ball in the first half.

"The disappointment for me is getting an experienced player sent off in the second half."

Trailing 1-0 at the break, Stephen Baxter has made a double substitution ahead of the second half and brought on Kyle Cherry and Adam Lecky.

However, just nine minutes after the restart, half-time substitute Cherry was sent off for two bookable offences.

"When you bring a player on to bring some stability into midfield, as that is where we lost the battle in the first half, and to get him sent off so early is very disappointing," Baxter continued.

"We were actually better with the 10 men in the second half and we played really well."

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Holders Cliftonville have been drawn away to Glentoran in the quarter-finals of the BetMcLean Cup.

It is a repeat of the 2025 final which the Reds won 1-0 courtesy of an extra-time goal from Joe Gormley.

The other all-Premiership encounter sees Ballymena United host Larne at the Showgrounds.

Premier Intermediate Newry City, who knocked out Glenavon, have a home game against Linfield.

Coleraine will travel to third tier Moyola Park, who beat Dungannon Swifts in the last round.

Those ties will be played on Tuesday, 2 December and Wednesday, 3 December.

For the first semi-final, the winner of Newry v Linfield will be at home against either Ballymena or Larne.

For the second last four tie the winner of Glentoran v Cliftonville will face Moyola or Coleraine.

Those ties will take place on Tuesday, 27 January and Wednesday, 28 January.

Quarter-final draw - ties to be played Tuesday, 2 and Wednesday, 3 December

Ballymena United v Larne

Newry City v Linfield

Moyola Park v Coleraine

Glentoran v Cliftonville

Semi-final draw - ties to be played Tuesday, 27 and Wednesday, 28 January

Newry City/Linfield v Ballymena United/Larne

Glentoran/Cliftonville v Moyola Park/Coleraine

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Glenavon manager Michael O'Connor said he is "over the moon" after the Lurgan Blues' 3-1 victory over Glentoran at Mourneview Park.

A first-half double from David McDaid put the Lurgan Blues in the driving seat at the break.

Paul McGovern would then make it 3-0 with Ryan Cooney's strike for Glentoran proving to be a consolation goal.

"I am over the moon," O'Connor told BBC Sport NI.

"To beat Glentoran is hard to do, and I thought today the boys showed everything I asked of them.

"They take the credit, and I am just here to help them out. I thought they defended for their lives at the end."

The victory is just the Lurgan Blues second of the season with both wins coming since O'Connor has became manager.

Basement side Glenavon face 11th-placed Crusaders next with O'Connor adding that it will be a "tough" match.

"It is going to be a tough one," O'Connor continued.

"If you look at it, it looks like a six pointer, but we will approach it the same as we approached the Glentoran game and try win it."