Irish League Football

Image source, BBC Sport

It's a blockbuster weekend in the Irish Premiership this weekend with all the sides in action.

With the top three teams separated by just three points, it could be all change at the top come Saturday evening.

And at the foot of the table, we'll find out if Glenavon can build on their first win of the season to close the gap on Crusaders.

You can follow all the action on BBC Sport NI.

We'll have live coverage of every game on the BBC Sport NI website on Saturday with Sportsound on air on Radio Ulster, BBC Sounds and the website from 14:00 BST.

There will be live text commentary from every ground on the website with videos of the goals as they go in too.

After the matches, we'll have highlights and reaction from every game.

Carrick Rangers v Cliftonville - 15:00 BST

Crusaders v Glentoran - 15:00 BST

Dungannon Swifts v Glenavon - 15:00 BST

Linfield v Ballymena United - 15:00 BST

Portadown v Coleraine - 15:00 BST

Larne v Bangor - 17:30 BST

Join us on Saturday from 14:00 BST on the BBC Sport NI website

Image source, Pacemaker

Details of the next eight Irish Premiership matches that will be streamed live on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website have been announced.

On Saturday, 8 November, champions Linfield will host title-contenders Coleraine at Windsor Park (17:30 GMT).

Irish Cup winners Dungannon Swifts' trip to the Oval to face Glentoran on Friday, 21 November (19:45 GMT) will also be live followed by the Glens' trip to Clandeboye Park to face high-flying Bangor on Friday, 28 November (19:45 GMT).

Larne will welcome Linfield to Inver Park on Friday, 5 December (19:45 GMT) and then Glentoran at the same venue on Friday, 12 December (19:45 GMT).

The BBC cameras will then be at the Oval on Friday, 19 December (19:45 GMT) for the meeting between Glentoran and Coleraine.

The final stream of 2025 will come from the Showgrounds on Tuesday, 30 December (19:45 GMT) as Coleraine and Linfield lock horns again.

The first Irish Premiership stream of 2026 takes place at Inver Park as Larne host Coleraine on Friday, 2 January (19:45 GMT).

Live Irish Premiership games for November & December (all BBC iPlayer & website)

Saturday, 8 November: Linfield v Coleraine, 17:30 GMT

Friday, 21 November: Glentoran v Dungannon Swifts, 19:45 GMT

Friday, 28 November: Bangor v Glentoran, 19:45 GMT

Friday, 5 December: Larne v Linfield, 19:45 GMT

Friday, 12 December: Larne v Glentoran, 19:45 GMT

Friday, 19 December: Glentoran v Coleraine, 19:45 GMT

Tuesday, 30 December: Coleraine v Linfield, 19:45 GMT

Friday, 2 January: Larne v Coleraine, 19:45 GMT

Image source, PressEye

Cliftonville defeated 10-man Linfield 4-1 to reach the semi-finals of the County Antrim Shield, as Larne beat Ballymacash Rangers 3-0.

Rory Hale and Keevan Hawthorne put Cliftonville two up at Solitude but Callumn Morrison pulled a goal back in the 44th minute.

However, the game turned when Linfield forward Chris McKee was shown a straight red card in additional time for a tackle on Hale.

Jim Magilton's side made the most of their man advantage after the restart and Ryan Curran and Thomas Lavery puts the Reds in control.

In Tuesday's other quarter-final at the Bluebell Stadium, Larne beat Premier Intermediate side Ballymacash Rangers 3-0.

Tomas Cosgrove headed in the opening goal on the half-hour mark and Cormac Austin added a second with 12 minutes to play.

Conor McKendry scored a third in injury time to secure the win for Larne, who have won the Shield four seasons in a row before last year's final defeat by Glentoran.

Larne and Cliftonville complete the line-up for the last four after Ballymena United beat Newington and Carrick Rangers defeated Glentoran on penalties on 14 October.

The first semi-final between Ballymena United and Cliftonville is scheduled for Tuesday, 11 November, and the east Antrim derby between Carrick Rangers and Larne is set for the following day.

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Linfield manager Ryan McConville said his side "have to learn" from their 2-0 defeat by Cliftonville in the Women's Challenge Cup final.

Caitlin McGuinness' early goal gave the holders the lead at Windsor Park before Fi Morgan doubled the Reds' advantage.

Despite Linfield's attempts, they struggled to test Rachael Norney and couldn't spark a second half comeback.

"We knew coming into the game that it was going to be hard," McConville told BBC Sport NI.

"Cliftonville have been a fantastic side all year and lost the league in the last game of the season to a brilliant Glens team, so we knew coming into the game that it was going to be difficult and that proved the case.

"I think we matched them, and I think it was a night when Cliftonville took their chances and we didn't. We have to learn from that."

The Blues haven't won the Challenge Cup since 2016 with this year's final their first since 2019.

In the league, McConville's side finished third for a second year in a row with the Linfield manager keen to build on that in the next campaign.

"We are a very young side to play in the Challenge Cup final," McConville continued.

"That is a testament to the work that has gone on in the academy and the players coming through.

"We have to look to next year and try and build on that."

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Carrick Rangers manager Stephen Baxter said his side "didn't do enough" during their 1-0 defeat against the Lurgan Blues at Mourneview Park.

Jack Malone's free-kick secured the three points for Glenavon, with the win their first of the season.

Despite an impressive victory over Glentoran midweek in the County Antrim Shield, Carrick have now registered just one victory in their last seven league games.

"I thought it was a very poor game in terms of the quality we've seen," Baxter told BBC Sport NI.

"The disappointment for me is that we didn't threaten their goal, and they didn't really threaten ours either.

"They fought harder for the game, I felt. I was disappointed that we didn't do enough, that we didn't show composure on the ball or feed our strikers the way we'd like.

It was a game of few chances, but the Lurgan Blues have now won four of their last five meetings at Mourneview Park against Carrick.

Baxter, who registered his 1000th game in management during the week, said his side "didn't create enough chances" during the match.

"Ultimately, we didn't create enough chances," Baxter continued.

"Credit to Glenavon for their work rate, effort and desire - they were determined to keep the ball out of their net, and they did."

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Glenavon manager Michael O'Connor said his side "controlled the game" and were "unbelievable" during their 1-0 win against Carrick Rangers, their first victory of the campaign.

In O'Connor's first game in charge, Jack Malone's free-kick from 25-yards curled into the top corner to seal their first three points of the season.

O'Connor was appointed as the new manager of the Lurgan Blues after Paddy McLaughlin parted ways with the club after nine defeats in a row.

"I thought the boys were unbelievable from minute one to minute 95," O'Connor told BBC Sport NI.

"Their work rate out of possession pleased me the most. We created a few chances and, to be honest, I don't think our keeper had a save to make.

"I thought we controlled the game across the pitch and fully deserved to win."

The Lurgan Blues remain at the foot of the table but are now seven points behind Crusaders.

O'Connor's side travel to Stangmore Park to take on Dungannon Swifts, who sit in eighth position, next weekend.

"I've told the lads whatever's happened before today is gone, it's a clean slate," O'Connor continued.

"The season starts now, and there are still plenty of points to play for.

"We'll need to be every bit as good as we were today, and then some, if we want to back this result up."

Image source, Inpho

Linfield manager David Healy told BBC Sport NI that he "nearly booed himself" after watching his side's "unacceptable" performance on their 2-0 defeat by Portadown at Shamrock Park on Friday night.

Second-half goals from Baris Altintop and James Teelan secured an impressive victory for Niall Currie's side and condemned the champions to a second reverse on the road during this campaign.

"Really disappointing. Our performance levels were nowhere near the expected levels," said Healy.

"That's why we lost. Our attitude was wrong, which is even more disappointing, because I thought we had prepared going into the game. But obviously not.

"I'll have a hard look at that. I've said to the players that I think we have 15 players out of contract this year and to be honest looking at tonight I'm not in a hurry to renegotiate anything with anybody at the minute until we find out where we are as a group."

The Blues boss added that the discontent shown by the Linfield supporters at the end of the game was understandable.

"I went and clapped the supporters tonight and they booed me and absolutely rightly so.

"I nearly booed myself walking over to clap them as I felt embarrassed for myself tonight and I felt embarrassed for the players for the level of football we turned in.

"Something I've driven at this football club is a mentality and an attitude. You may not always be at your best but you go and you empty the tank.

"You wear the shirt with pride and we didn't do that tonight. I'm responsible for that, I pick the team, it's my fault at the end of the day.

"I wish I could have crossed the white line tonight because I probably wouldn't have done any worse than some of the players who played."

Healy says the squad will now turn their attention to Tuesday night's County Antrim Shield quarter-final away to Cliftonville.

"I'll assess the game, we'll be in on Saturday and then we play on Tuesday, which gives us an earlier return to try and put things right.

"When you do lose a game your most important one becomes your next one so Solitude on Tuesday night, County Antrim Shield, not the most important trophy, but it becomes your most important game."