Irish League Football

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Glenavon manager Stephen McDonnell says their 2-0 victory against Coleraine earlier in the season is the "perfect case study" for how his side can beat Crusaders on Saturday.

Crusaders are unbeaten in their opening four games whilst Glenavon have managed just one win in six games this campaign, which came at the Showgrounds.

"[The Coleraine win] is the perfect case study that we’ll want to replicate to the best of our ability," he said.

"We will take confidence from the away performance in Coleraine, we know we can beat teams of good quality, so we’ll go there [Seaview] to win."

Despite their mixed start to the season, McDonnell is confident that getting some players back from injury and points on the board can help turn the tide.

He confirmed that Keith Ward and Jack Malone will return for the trip to north Belfast, but that Niall Quinn, Rhys Marshall, Mark Haughey and Jamie Dornan are still missing.

"We have had a very disorganised fortnight with injuries but the middle group in the table, one or two points separates five teams so there is a lot to still be optimistic about," McDonnell explained.

"If you get three points on Saturday the whole complexion changes so we’ll go there with confidence that we can develop a game plan to get maximum points."

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Larne have signed Republic of Ireland defender Ryan Nolan.

The 25-year-old arrives at Inver Park after a spell with Spanish fourth tier side Hercules.

Nolan, who was capped for the Republic of Ireland up until under-18 level, had a stint in Inter Milan's academy.

He was there for three years but failed to make a first team appearance despite making the bench on a number of occasions under Luciano Spalletti.

The County Clare native also had spells with Getafe, Northampton and Raith Rovers.

“Playing in the Scottish Championship two years ago will help me I think, it’s quite similar in terms of the style of play and the physicality," he told the club's website.

“Spending time in Spain and Italy I’ve hopefully learned the other side of the game on the ball too, so I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead.”

Larne boss Tiernan Lynch expressed his delight at bringing in Nolan.

“Ryan comes to us having played at a good level and having experienced different styles of football in his career so far," Lynch explained.

“We’re looking forward to working with him and having him as part of the group.”

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Ballymena United's match-winner Ben Kennedy says they "proved people wrong" by beating defending league champions Larne 1-0 on Saturday.

The Sky Blues sealed a stunning victory at Inver Park thanks to the 27-year-old's fifth goal in as many games.

"People don't come here and turn over the league champions, and we did that," Kennedy told BBC Sport NI after the win.

"I don’t think anyone literally expected us to get anything but we proved people wrong and showed what a good side we can be when we’re at it."

Kennedy's 85th minute winner made it back-to-back victories for Ballymena in the top flight and a first clean sheet of the season.

"Game by game, we’re getting better and stronger," Kennedy added.

"We frustrated them, we stuck in there and I thought we were absolutely terrific. Defensively, they stepped up today and they deserved that clean sheet.

"We said from the start, we have a whole new squad basically so it takes time to gel.

"I'm the one scoring but there’s people creating them for me so I can only thank them but I’m enjoying it and playing with a smile on my face."

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Carrick Rangers manager Stuart King says he is 'disappointed' after his side suffered their fourth defeat of the season at home to Portadown.

Eamon Fyfe netted the only goal of the game to secure a first league victory of the season for the Ports.

"I’m really disappointed, I thought we were comfortable in the game," King told BBC Sport NI.

"I thought we didn’t have an end product today but overall, we were comfortable and we have gave away one opportunity and we haven’t defended properly and that one opportunity they have put the ball in the back of the net."

Stuart King's side are without a win since their opening game of the season against Glenavon and have been beaten by Loughgall, Glentoran, Crusaders and now Portadown.

"Listen it’s a poor start, but we have to stay strong. I still believe in my players - they all have to up their game now and we need results.

"We can blame people being injured, we have a lot of senior players not available but that is the hand I have been dealt and we have to deal with it and suck it up and make sure we do better.

"I felt today, as I said we were comfortable, but you get no points for being comfortable or ok, you have to win games of football.

"You have got to see it out and do whatever you have to do to win games of football and the lads have just been told that."

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Loughgall manager Dean Smith admitted he was "disappointed" that his side did not gain all three points after their 2-2 draw with Glenavon at Mourneview Park.

Smith's team were ahead twice thanks to goals from Jay Boyd and Jordan Gibson, but Glenavon responded both times to cancel out the advantage.

“We’re disappointed to not to take the three points, especially when you go ahead twice in the game and with 10 minutes to go after the second [Glenavon] goal, we’re a bit disappointed we didn’t get another," Smith told BBC Sport NI.

“In terms of the performance, attitude and desire I thought we were superb today.

“I’ve said to the boys, it probably feels like a defeat in there but give me that every week and we’ll be fine."

It looked like there was more drama to come at Mourneview Park when Tiernan Kelly’s low strike in the final seconds of the game looked destined to secure the three points for Loughgall, but Gareth Deane denied the effort.

“Deane had a highlight reel against Coleraine not so long ago and he’s probably got another one here today.

“He’s been super over the last few weeks but from our point of view, we’re behind him and we think it’s right into the bottom corner and somehow, he gets a fingertip to it. It’s a fantastic save, but that’s the way it goes sometimes."

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Glenavon manager Stephen McDonnell has admitted that his side are low on numbers and confidence after the 2-2 draw with Loughgall.

Four goals in 19 minutes in the second half meant that the points were shared at Mourneview Park, with Barney McKeown and James Doona netting for the hosts.

“We’re disappointed with the chances in the first half, nothing was clean," McDonnell told BBC Sport NI.

"On another day, with a group that is full of confidence, the game is maybe over on the 60th minute and you have a couple of goals on the scoreboard.

“If you don’t take your chances, it comes back to bite you, and the first goal is extremely poor on our end from a defensive point of view."

It has been a challenging start to the campaign for Glenavon, who had lost four and won one coming into the clash with Loughgall.

“We’re having a wee bit of bad luck in terms of having 10 players injuries here in the last fortnight.

"I have to credit the lads, to be able to battle back in that fashion and not lose the game is important as that point keeps us in that little pack of the teams that ultimately were in and around us last season and it’s probably going to be that way this season.

"We are low on numbers, players playing injured, low on confidence and ultimately, we managed to grab a point at the end."

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Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree has praised his side's "positive start" to the season after their 1-0 victory over Glentoran at Stangmore Park.

John McGovern, who netted last weekend during the Swifts' victory over Loughgall, scored the only of the game on the 41st minute.

"It was difficult, it was very physical in terms of dealing with a lot of direct balls," McAree told BBC Sport NI.

“We gave away a lot of free-kicks and we invited pressure onto ourselves, but the pressure we put onto ourselves we dealt with it. You have to admire the players for that, they dug in and they fought their corner for each other and we got a clean sheet.

“We have been better on our day and we have to improve in possession, but I thought out of possession we were very good."

The result means that Dungannon move up to fourth place after their third consecutive victory and clean sheet.

“It is very early days; we have to focus on our next match and go to Portadown and try to find a way of getting a positive result there.

“We’ll build on what we have done, it has been a good, positive start. I think we look more solid off the ball than we did last season and that was important so we’ll keep working on it and keep trying to improve.”

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Niall Currie says he is "over the moon with three points" after his side defeated his former club Carrick Rangers 1-0 at Taylors Avenue.

The breakthrough came on the 69th minute when Eamon Fyfe slotted past Ross Glendinning after skilful build-up play from the striker.

“I’m over the moon with the three points," Currie told BBC Sport NI.

“I’m very proud of the players today, we knew how difficult this place is to come to. It’s a really difficult place to get points and to come away with three points today is fantastic.

“Performance wise, I’m happy that we were able to be aggressive as they are big strong team and very aggressive and we matched them in a lot of departments today and we were able to curtail them."

Currie also said he is "really pleased" with newly promoted Portadown's performances in their opening five games since their return to the top flight.

"I think our performances have been good from the start of the season, I’m really pleased with the boys and the group.

"It’s obviously a lot of new players and trying to get that amalgamated into a togetherness is hard sometimes."

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Glentoran manager Declan Devine says his team "were very wasteful in one box and very careless in the other" during their 1-0 defeat against Dungannon Swifts.

John McGovern scored the only goal of the game on the 40th minute when he connected with Kealan Dillon's through ball and fired past Daniel Gyollai.

“Very poor performance from us even though we still created three or four opportunities that must be taken," Devine told BBC Sport NI.

“We were very wasteful in one box and very careless in the other. For the goal we gave away, we actually have a throw-in in our favour, 60/70 yards from goal and we conceded from it and that is totally unacceptable.

“Really disappointed and really angry but I fully take responsibility myself, I lined the team out with the tactics that we had today, and we obviously came up short."

The result is Glentoran's second defeat of the season after defeating Portadown, Carrick Rangers and Cliftonville and drawing with Coleraine following an opening day defeat by Crusaders.

“We have to learn from that and learn quickly as that is not acceptable for this club," Devine continued.

"We’ll analyse this one, show the players and break it down.

"It’s completely unacceptable because it is a real good, honest bunch of lads but today's performance was way below par."

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Larne manager Tiernan Lynch says his side "missed that killer instinct in the final third" during their 1-0 defeat to Ballymena United at Inver Park.

Ben Kennedy scored the only goal of the game in the final five minutes to secure back-to-back victories for Ballymena.

Larne have picked up one point from their first two league fixtures and trail leaders Linfield by 12 points with three games in hand after just beginning their top flight campaign against Coleraine last week.

The defending league champions are playing catch up after their opening games were postponed due to their European exploits.

“Hugely disappointing afternoon, hugely frustrating afternoon," Lynch admitted to BBC Sport NI.

"Probably lots of things in there that we didn’t do well enough. We had a poor first half performance which is very unlike us and then to get caught with a sucker punch.

"We definitely lacked that [spark] today. I thought we were very dominant as far as possession and all that goes with it, but we missed that killer instinct in the final third and we didn’t show enough to kill the game off."

Larne will face Linfield in their next league encounter next weekend.

“Last Sunday was hugely disappointing and this one was even more disappointing.

"We have to dust ourselves off and maybe stop feeling sorry for ourselves and gloating on other things and get back to business and we need to do that very quickly," warned Lynch.

John McGovern races through to score the only goal as Dungannon Swifts edge Glentoran 1-0 at Stangmore Park.

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Ballymena United manager Jim Ervin says his game plan 'worked a treat' and praised the performance of match winner Ben Kennedy after his side defeated defending league champions Larne 1-0 at Inver Park.

Kennedy's decisive goal came on the 85th minute when Josh Carson's corner, which was missed by Larne stopper Rohan Ferguson, was headed home by the Ballymena striker from close range.

"We have now shown what we are capable of," Ervin told BBC Sport NI.

“We worked desperately hard all week, obviously we had the game Tuesday night, we recovered Thursday, and we set our stall out and the game plan worked a treat.

“To a man, they gave me absolutely everything. Every one of them did their jobs and they did it tremendously well and we have got our rewards for it, so I am absolutely over the moon for the boys.

“To come to Inver Park and get three points is nothing short of incredible.”

New signing Kennedy has now netted five goals so far this league campaign after joining the Sky Blues from Crusaders in the summer and scored a hat-trick last weekend against Glenavon.

“Ben is a threat from set plays, as he showed today,” Ervin continued.

“That’s why we brought Ben to the football club, he is a match winner and today he has shown that.

“I thought his performance was super, he probably did more defending today than he wanted to, but my word did he put on a performance.”