Irish League Football

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Three weeks into the Irish Premiership season and already the league table is starting to take shape. Five of last season's top six sit in the top of half of the standings, with the lone exception being the back-to-back champions Larne who have yet to kick a ball in domestic action owing to their European run.

Tiernan Lynch's side, who would have been hosting Portadown this weekend, will sit out another round this weekend in preparation for next week's Uefa Conference League qualifying second leg against the Lincoln Red Imps, but we've still five games across Friday and Saturday.

Carrick Rangers striker Curtis Allen gives us his predictions for a slate that starts with his current side up against his old team.

Carrick Rangers v Glentoran - Friday 19:45 BST (live on BBC iPlayer)

We're expecting a tough game but we welcome it with confidence. They beat us in the cup but didn’t beat us in the league. I feel we can get something out of the game.

Prediction: 1-0 (Result: 2-3)

Coleraine v Glenavon - Saturday 15:00 BST (live on Sportsound on Radio Ulster/BBC Sounds)

Coleraine have had a more positive start to the season with Glenavon yet to win a game. I'd expect both teams to score but Coleraine to win.

Prediction: 2-1

Crusaders v Cliftonville - Saturday 15:00 BST (live on Sportsound on Radio Ulster/BBC Sounds)

This will be a close one. A derby game and neither team will want to lose their winning start. Both teams will be happy with a point. I predict a draw for that one.

Prediction: 1-1

Dungannon Swifts v Ballymena United - Saturday 15:00 BST (live on Sportsound on Radio Ulster/BBC Sounds)

Both teams with a start they wouldn’t have hoped for. Will be close but I think Dungannon might shade this one.

Prediction: 2-1

Linfield v Loughgall - Saturday 15:00 BST (live on Sportsound on Radio Ulster/BBC Sounds)

It's hard to look past Linfield. Loughgall look fit, like they always do, but with Linfield starting so well and hitting the ground running they will win comfortably.

Prediction: 3-0

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Larne manager Tiernan Lynch said two defensive lapses proved costly as they were defeated 2-1 by Lincoln Red Imps in the Uefa Conference League play-off first leg in Faro.

Matty Lusty's brilliant long-range strike gave the Premiership champions an early lead but Kike Gomez levelled before Joe put the Gibraltar side in front before the break in Faro.

"We're disappointed with the goals we conceded," said Lynch.

"We've been absolutely outstanding out of possession but it was just two moments that we lapsed and we got punished."

Larne will become the first Irish League team to reach the group stage of a major European competition if they secure an aggregate victory, with qualification likely to secure them in excess of £3m.

There were also positives from Thursday night's game for Lynch as Larne prepare for what could be a history-making showdown in the return leg at Inver Park next week.

"We can't take away from how hard the boys worked, the effort and commitment.

"I thought we had a much better second half and looked more like ourselves - hopefully that gives us confidence going into the second leg."

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Glentoran first team coach Tim McCann says the east Belfast side have to "get on with it" as they prepare for a third league game in six days.

Declan Devine's squad travel to Carrick on Friday night in a game to be shown live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.

"Three games in six days, you hear Premier League managers complaining if they've two games in six days," said McCann.

"The schedule hasn't been kind to us. It's been difficult, but you get on with it, you don't moan about it."

Glentoran go into the game with a number of injury doubts after Jay Donnelly, Joshua King and Cameron Palmer had to be substituted during the 0-0 draw with Coleraine at the Oval on Tuesday night.

"We'll see what we're like," added McCann. "The physios and masseurs will have their work cut out.

"You know what you're going to get at Taylor's Avenue.

"It's going to be a battle and we need to make sure we're up for the battle."

In contrast, having been idle midweek, Carrick Rangers manager Stuart King is itching to get his side back on the pitch.

Due to play Larne on Tuesday night, their fixture was postponed due to the league champions' ongoing European campaign, leaving the Taylor's Avenue club six days to stew over a 3-0 defeat to Loughgall last weekend that King deemed "not acceptable".

"It is what it is, a real bad day at the office and hopefully we can sort it out for Friday," he said.

"Just write it off. You can sit and mope about it.

"I genuinely wish we [had been] playing Tuesday night, obviously the game [was] called off because of Larne's success in Europe. We go again Friday."

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Larne have a "great chance" of qualifying for the Uefa Conference League but their play-off against Lincoln Red Imps "won't be easy", says Desi Curry, who has held high-profile roles in both the Northern Ireland and Gibraltar football structures.

After serving as the Irish FA's technical director, Curry spent five years in a similar role with the Gibraltar FA between 2017 and 2022 and had a spell in charge of their national team, which included several Lincoln players.

"For Larne, it's fantastic opportunity and they'll be very well prepared for that," Curry told BBC Sport NI.

"I think they have a great chance but over two legs it's not going to be an easy game.

"Both teams will be giving it their all because the financial rewards are so big but it's a great opportunity for Northern Ireland football to showcase the NIFL league on the European stage."

With several Red Imps players boasting international caps and experience of having played at Estadio Algarve in Faro - the venue for Thursday's first leg - Curry warns that the Gibraltarian champions will not be overawed by the occasion.

Indeed, they famously beat Celtic in 2016 and qualified for the 2021-22 Conference League group stage.

"Going to that stadium and playing in a game like this, 50 or 60% of their squad have international experience and playing against teams like the Netherlands, Norway and France," added Curry.

"So for many of them this will not necessarily be a big occasion. It'll be a run-of-the-mill game."

Who are Lincoln Red Imps, the side standing between Larne and history?

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Loughgall manager Dean Smith says he is like a "proud dad" after Benji Magee sealed a move to Irish Premiership champions Larne this week.

The 22-year-old striker scored 16 goals in the Villagers' return to the top flight last year, helping Smith's side to a 9th place finish.

Magee was one of the most sought after players in the Irish Premiership's transfer market this summer and with just over a week to go in the window moves to Inver Park to replace Lee Bonis who joined Ado Den Haag this month.

"For us, as the window went on we maybe thought we'd a chance of keeping him," admitted Smith.

"I'm delighted for him. I keep saying I'm like a proud dad.

"We've had him here for three seasons, he's matured. He's come in a real good prospect and left a really good player.

"For me, Larne have got a real exciting talent who can bounce on again from Larne in the way that Lee Bonis has done."

Magee's old side started life without their star forward with a 2-2 draw against Portadown on Tuesday night, twice coming from a goal down to take a share of the spoils.

While Smith felt that Josh Ukek was offside for Portadown's second, and that his own side created enough opportunities to win the game, he views the point as a sign of progression.

"For me, I thought we created the better chances from open play and maybe more chances than Portadown," he added.

"We're a wee bit disappointed not to get the winner but I said to the boys, 12 months ago we'd have lost this game. We'd have tried to win it and ended up conceding.

"Hopefully our game intelligence is growing and the players are growing."

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New Glentoran goalkeeper Daniel Gyollai believes Declan Devine's squad are all pulling in the same direction after "de-weeding" at the Oval over the summer.

The east Belfast side - who have not won the title since 2009 - finished a disappointing fifth last season with Devine instigating a huge clearout of the playing squad after being named Warren Feeney's permanent successor in April.

There were more than twice as many outgoings as incomings but, despite a relatively modest four points from their first three games, Gyollai saw plenty of fight on show in Tuesday's goalless stalemate with Coleraine.

"I've been told of the issues of the past," said the former Hungarian under-21 international.

"I think it's been a bit of de-weeding, getting rid of those who weren't pulling for the shirt, pulling for each other.

"I think we've an absolute brilliant group of lads that are fighting for each other."

Glentoran were forced into several reshuffles during the game against the Bannsiders thanks to injuries to Joshua Kelly and Cammy Palmer, with both Paddy McClean and James Singleton deployed in multiple positions over the 90 minutes.

"You see Paddy and Singo playing in three different positions I think that shows that the group are fighting for each other," Gyollai added.

"We've got a lot of room for improvement. You can see there are still relationships being made on the pitch. Off the pitch, the boys are brilliant."

Devine, a former Glentoran player himself, has made a point of reconnecting with the side's storied history, bringing in the likes of club legend Paul Leeman to discuss his own silverware winning experiences and restoring pride in the shirt has been a recurring theme.

"Everyone is reminding us that this is a big club and what it means to play for this club," Gyollai said.

"All we can do is show them the fight and make sure we get the results for them and for the fans."

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Portadown's Josh Ukek believes the Shamrock Park outfit can build upon taking their first point back in the Irish Premiership.

Niall Currie's newly promoted club started the season with back-to-back defeats at the hands of Cliftonville and Glentoran before getting off the mark with a 2-2 draw away to Loughgall on Tuesday night.

The Ports led twice on the night but, for the second time four days, were undone by a deflected goal when Tiernan's Kelly's shot struck Lewis MacKinnon and beat Aaron McCarey for Loughgall's second equaliser.

Ukek, who scored his first goal for the club in the second half after a summer move from Bala Town, admitted Kelly's fortuitous effort was akin to a "sucker punch" but was able to take solace from his side's first point back in the top flight.

"It's a bit tough to take but at the end of the day we needed points on the board," he said.

"I think if we lost, we'd have been down in the dumps. We got a point, second half was a lot better from us, so we'll get confidence and we can gain momentum now with this draw.

"We dug in deep and we move onto the next game."

With Saturday's scheduled fixture postponed due to Larne's involvement in the Uefa Conference League, that next game now sees Portadown host Linfield on 30 August.

"Playing against these top six sides, full-time sides, it's always tough," added Ukek.

"I back all the lads, we've a good dressing room, good team, good players.

"We can have a good game against them and hopefully we can get something."

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Coleraine head coach Dean Shiels was "delighted" with his side's clean sheet in their 0-0 draw with Glentoran on Tuesday night but admitted they will need to be more clinical on their travels as the season wears on.

The Bannsiders drew 1-1 away to Dungannon to open their campaign and, although they did hit Ballymena for four on their own patch last week, Tuesday night's goalless stalemate at the Oval saw a number of good chances wasted.

Matthew Shevlin was twice through on goal in the first half but was denied by Glens keeper Daniel Gyollai.

"We created really good chances in the first half and coming away from home you've got to take those," said Shiels.

"[Shevlin has] been clinical for us, we know he'll get goals for us, but obviously it's big moments. When we went away from home in our first game, we missed two or three really big chances.

"It's tough away from home, there's times you're up against it, there's times you have to dig in and wait for those moments. If we can be a bit more ruthless and clinical, then that would be great."

While Glentoran dictated things in the second half, and Shiels thought his side "lacked composure" in possession, he was encouraged by their work off the ball.

"Out of possession we were superb," he added. "There was so much hard work.

"Glentoran have so many good players, really, really good players. We had to get the press right, to be compact. There are loads of positives in that regard.

"It's game three, we're delighted with the clean sheet, and we move onto the next one."

Coleraine are next in action at home to Glenavon on Saturday.

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Glenavon manager Stephen McDonnell admitted "decisions will be made" around team selection after his side's 3-0 defeat against Linfield at Mourneview Park.

It was the worst possible start to the game for Glenavon, with Linfield's Joel Cooper breaking the deadlock in the opening two minutes before Kirk Millar doubled their advantage and Cooper netted his second of the evening before the break.

"I’m not a ranter or a raver but I turned the place upside down in there to be honest," said McDonnell.

"Players were told it is not acceptable, how can we accept not making tackles while 3-0 down?

"We controlled the whole second half, the opposition know the game is up, but we moved the ball very well and we were bright and didn’t give up anything.

"Any second half substitutes that came in were really good and gave us a proper decision to be made going into Saturday.

"Ultimately decisions will be made around team selection now moving forward and anything I am saying here has been said to the players.

"It needs to be better and performance wasn’t acceptable first half but the second half we can absolutely stomach, tackles, passed the ball well and [were] really aggressive."

McDonnell was also displeased by the refereeing performance, believing there should have been a free-kick in the build-up to Cooper's first and that his team should have had a penalty when still just 1-0 down.

"There were individual errors, however, you need help from the referee team," he added.

"There should have been a free-kick in the lead up to the first goal before the mistake happens.

"They take the lead, and we bounce back well, and then blatant penalty, same here on Saturday, not given [referencing a foul on Peter Campbell] how do you wave advantage there, where is the advantage in that? Brutal decision."

The result means that Glenavon still await their first point of the season after three games.

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Linfield manager says he is 'pleased with the outcome' after his side continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 3-0 victory over Glenavon.

Two goals from Joel Cooper and a close-range strike from Kirk Millar gave the away side a 3-0 lead at the break before a much quieter second half.

"I thought we had a 10-minute spell when we got the goals and then in the second half it was probably a game for the neutral.

"We ticked off what we wanted; we wanted a clean sheet in the second half.

"I think Glenavon probably were slightly better in the second half, they changed their shape a little bit, but I am pleased with the outcome."

Linfield have strengthened their squad by adding Cammy Ballantyne, Charlie Chapman, Sam Roscoe and Scot Whiteside with Healy admitting that it was unlikely there would be more new arrivals to Windsor Park.

"The likelihood is no and that’s me being honest," he conceded.

"I think the business that we have done has been concluded. The squad we have, there are one or two travelling with the squad tonight who hopefully shouldn’t be too far away.

"Squad-wise I feel as though we are ok. Supporters always want new signings, new players, different sorts of players and that’s fine, but I’m more than understanding that the likelihood is that business has been concluded."

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Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton has admitted Dungannon Swifts 'made it very difficult' for his side during their 1-0 victory at Solitude.

The only goal of the game came in the 64th minute after goalkeeper Declan Dunne had parried Shea Gordon's low cross away, but Joe Gormley was able to convert the rebound.

"Firstly, you have to praise how Dungannon went about their business, they made it very difficult for us and they passed the ball very well," Magilton told BBC Sport NI.

"We stuttered for large parts of the first half and the conditions were the same for both teams, but I thought they coped better than we did.

"We weren’t anywhere near our best, that’s quite apparent, but we managed to get it over the line and secure the three points."

Gormley has had an impressive season so far and netted his second goal in two games to secure the three points for the north Belfast side.

"Joe Gormley can be quite in games for so long, but if you put balls in the box or if there is half a chance, it is not a fluke it is just something that he has and something that has happened to Joe over the fantastic, long career he has had.

"One thing about him is he is clinical in those areas and we needed that tonight."

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Dungannon manager Rodney McAree says he is 'really disappointed' after his side's 1-0 defeat against Cliftonville at Solitude.

After a goalless first half, Joe Gormley netted the only goal of the game in the 64th minute to continue Cliftonville's unbeaten run so far this season.

"Really disappointed for the boys as they put a great shift in," McAree told BBC Sport NI.

"We came here and we expressed ourselves and we played. We had quite a few opportunities and we hit the crossbar twice. You probably feel you haven’t got your just rewards.

"Joe Gormley has scored goals all his career and unfortunately tonight we have been on the end of one and it feels a bit like a sucker punch."

The result means that Dungannon are still looking for their first victory of the season after picking up one point in their opening three games.

"I think we have done really well; we have been competitive in all three games," McAree added.

"If we continue going about our business in the manner we did tonight, we’ll pick up points.

"We have just got to believe in what we are doing and stay focused and deliver the performance we did tonight."

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Forward Benji Magee has joined Irish Premiership champions Larne from Loughgall for an undisclosed fee.

The much sought-after 22-year-old netted 16 league goals in Loughgall's first season back in the top division following their promotion from the Championship, forming a prolific partnership with strike partner Nathaniel Ferris.

The pair's goals helped the Villagers to a ninth place finish in the Premiership.

Magee was named NI Football Writers Young Player of the Season and also earned a call-up to Tommy Wright's Under-21 international squad.

He scored one of the goals in Loughgall's 3-0 win over Carrick Rangers at the weekend.

Confirmation of Magee's addition to Larne's squad comes the day after the east Antrim club revealed that they had signed midfielder Jordan McEneff from Derry City.

'Delighted he has chosen Larne'

“Benji is a player we have been tracking for some time," explained Larne manager Tiernan Lynch.

“We know there was a lot of interest in him, but we’re delighted that he has chosen to join us and we’re really looking forward to working with him.

“He is another player who will make the transition into full-time football and we feel that will benefit both him and us. We’re delighted he is here.”

Magee is looking forward to pulling on a Larne shirt for the first time.

“It’s been a bit of hectic 24 hours, but I’m so happy to be here,” he said.

“I was delighted with how last season went, but I’ve come to Larne with the aim of winning trophies and more team awards.

“It’ll take a bit of time getting to adjusted to the full-time environment but I’m just eager to get started and get involved with everything.”

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Portadown boss Niall Currie says his side will have a "great chance" of securing their first win of the new Irish Premiership season against Loughgall on Tuesday if they replicate their "fantastic" performance in Saturday's loss to Glentoran.

While Niall McGinn's injury-time goal robbed the newly-promoted Ports of a point, Currie was buoyed by his players' efforts at Shamrock Park.

Loughgall opened their campaign with a 3-0 win over Carrick Rangers on Saturday, but Currie insists his side are capable of taking three points away from Lakeview Park if they continue on their current trajectory.

"We're on the back of a really good performance, we'll shrug ourselves down but the performance was fantastic," said Currie.

"I don't think anyone would say otherwise. If we perform like that against Loughgall, we have a great chance. I know that for a fact.

"We know how difficult it's going to be. They're a fantastic team at home, but we made it difficult for Glentoran."

He added: "We'll look forward to Tuesday. There's not much time to turn things around but we feel like we're on the back of two positive performances, against Cliftonville and Glentoran."

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As they prepare to go head to head at Solitude on Tuesday evening, neither Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton nor his Dungannon Swifts counterpart Rodney McAree have ruled out making additions to their squads before the transfer window closes next week.

Magilton gave a debut to new striker Destiny Ojo in the closing minutes of Saturday's 2-1 win over Glenavon as he looks to replace the goals lost through the summer departures of Ben Wilson, Rory Hale and Sam Ashford.

The Irish Cup winners are two from two so far this season, with that Dungannon victory coupled with an opening weekend triumph at home to Portadown, but are still on the look out for further reinforcements.

"If a quality player becomes available we should be in the market and will be in the market right up until the window," said Magilton.

McAree, whose side have taken one point from games against Coleraine and Linfield so far, will "hopefully" add to his panel at Stangmore Park but admits it can be difficult to compete with the wages on offer elsewhere.

"It's a difficult market, sometimes we feel as if we're priced out of it a little bit," said the former Glentoran boss.

"It probably comes from players on a full-time model, and fair play to them, but it has a knock-on effect down through the league and sometimes when it gets down to us, the player is priced out of our market.

"We're always looking, we're always looking to improve, and we'll continue to do so until the window shuts."

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Coleraine midfielder Rhyss Campbell believes the club are already seeing the benefit of their switch to full-time football.

The Bannsiders travel to the Oval to face Glentoran on Tuesday buoyed by last week's derby victory over Ballymena that came despite playing for more than half an hour with 10-men after Jamie Glackin's red card.

"It shows the character of the team and we'll be looking to do the same on Tuesday night," said Campbell who scored his side's third in the 4-2 win.

Dean Shiels' side certainly looked the fresher outfit on Friday night, with Matthew Shevlin's goal for the undermanned victors coming deep in injury time, and Campbell credited the side's head of performance Junior Mendes for the increased fitness levels achieved since switching to a full-time model this summer.

"Junior, he's putting us through our paces. He gets us for a while every day in the gym, makes sure we're looked after, and I'd put that down to him.

"Dungannon we finished strong, Ballymena we finished strong, there's hard work going on behind the scenes."

Coleraine, who could have Jamie McGonigle back for the trip to east Belfast, impressed Declan Devine with their work-rate against Ballymena but the Glens boss wants to see his side build on their own late victory over Portadown.

"We know we're in for a really tough scrap on Tuesday," he said.

"I was very impressed by them and their willingness to dig in down to 10 men.

"I can't influence what Dean and his new squad are going to do. We've got to concentrate on what we do and that's being together, working hard, giving everything for the shirt and trying to play on the front foot."