Irish League Football

Image source, Inpho

Larne's bid for Uefa Conference League qualification begins on Thursday night as they travel to Kosovo to face FC Ballkani in a third qualifying round first leg.

The Irish Premiership champions received a bye to the third round after their first-round exit from Champions League qualifying last month, where they fell to a disappointing 7-0 aggregate defeat by RFS.

Tiernan Lynch's side will be eager to bounce back from a poor showing against the Latvian champions and exact revenge on the Kosovo outfit after last year's 7-1 aggregate defeat in the Conference League second qualifying round.

The first leg will be played at the home of the Kosovo Superleague champions, Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri in Pristina before the second leg at Inver Park on 15 August.

Larne's defence of the Gibson Cup was set to commence on 10 August against Loughgall but the fixture has since been postponed to accommodate the club's European commitments, with a new rearranged date yet to be confirmed.

There will be live text commentary of Thursday's first leg on the BBC Sport website and app from 18:45 BST.

Image source, BBC Sport

Ballymena United

Ballymena United preserved their Premiership status by the skin of their teeth when they scored twice in the closing 15 minutes of the second leg of their relegation/promotion play-off to beat Championship side Institute 2-1 on aggregate.

Obviously determined to avoid another battle to beat the drop, the Sky Blues have recruited impressively in terms of experience, quality and quantity during the summer.

Eye-catching additions to the squad include ex-Crusaders attacking midfielder Ben Kennedy, former Larne and Glentoran player John Herron and a quartet of arrivals from derby rivals Coleraine in the form of Aaron Jarvis, Jack O'Mahony, Stephen O'Donnell and Josh Carson.

Transfers In: Aaron Jarvis, Ben Kennedy, Caolan Loughran, Daniel Lafferty, Jack O'Mahony, Joe Moore, John Herron, Josh Carson, Stephen O'Donnell.

Transfers Out: Dylan Boyle, Fraser Taylor [end of loan], Scot Whiteside, Evan Tweed, Steven McCullough, Daithi McCallion [end of loan].

Joel Taggart's Take: A disastrous start and a lack of goals meant a close call for United last season. They lost 10 of their opening 12 league games and managed just one home win in the league before Christmas.

An inability to score was the obvious Achilles heel but the arrival of Ben Kennedy should help. He scored almost half as many league goals last season as the whole Ballymena United squad combined.

Opening fixtures: 10/8 - Linfield (h); 16/8 - Coleraine (a) - live on BBC Sport NI; 21/8 - Crusaders (h); 24/8 - Dungannon Swifts (a)

Image source, BBC Sport

Carrick Rangers

Carrick Rangers will be keen to build on their best ever finish in the top flight last term as they finished 'top of the bottom six' come the end of the campaign.

The backing of American business executive Michael Smith, who acquired a majority shareholding in the club, has come as a boost to the east Antrim club's ambitions.

Manager Stuart King was quick to add experience to his ranks in the close season in the form of two former Glentoran players - experienced ex-Northern Ireland international defender Luke McCullough and midfielder Seanan Clucas, who also counts Linfield, Derry City and Dungannon Swifts among his former clubs. Ex-Crusaders winger Paul Heatley followed at the start of August.

Last season: 7th

Manager: Stuart King

Transfers In: Luke McCullough, Seanan Clucas, Paul Heatley

Transfers Out: Lewis MacKinnon.

Joel Taggart's take: Stuart King has strengthened after securing not only Carrick's best ever top flight finish last season but also their highest ever top flight points total and their highest top flight goals tally.

They’ll feel a top six finish is a realistic target despite the fact that the same six clubs have occupied those places for the last five seasons in a row but tempting Paul Heatley out of retirement might just make the difference.

Opening fixtures: 10/8 - Glenavon (h); 17/8 - Loughgall (a); 23/8 - Glentoran (h) - Live on BBC Sport NI; 27/8 - Larne (h)

Image source, BBC Sport

Cliftonville

Cliftonville ultimately fell short in their bid to sustain a challenge for the league title last term but a third place finish was a creditable outcome in Jim Magilton's first season in charge at Solitude.

The north Belfast outfit will hope a first Irish Cup success since 1979 can inspire them to even greater things in 2024-25.

The loss of forward trio Ben Wilson, Ronan Hale and Sam Ashford is a major blow to the Reds' prospects but the expectation would be that Magilton will further bolster his attacking options.

Transfers In: Luke Conlan, Michael Newberry, Rory Donnelly, Sean Stewart, Shaun Leppard.

Transfers Out: Ben Wilson, Chris Curran [retired], Eric Yoro [end of loan], Gerard Storey, Jamie McDonagh, Jamie Robinson, Micheal Morgan, Nathan Gartside, Ronan Hale, Sam Ashford, Seanan Foster, Stephen Mallon.

Joel Taggart's Take: The departed forward trio of Hale, Ashford and Wilson accounted for nearly half of Cliftonville's 80 league goals last season.

How do they fill that void?

Ryan Curran’s return from injury is a boost - he's scored nearly 50 league goals in his last three full seasons.

Jim Magilton's side struggled defensively after losing Luke Turner last January. They conceded twice as many league goals from January to April as they did from August to December so Magilton will hope new recruit Shaun Leppard will help address that issue.

Opening fixtures: 11/8 - Portadown (h) - live on BBC Sport NI; 17/8 - Glenavon (a); 20/8 - Dungannon Swifts (h); 24/8 - Crusaders (a)

Image source, BBC Sport

Coleraine

It's been a summer of massive change at Coleraine as the Ballycastle Road club adopt a full-time model for the first time.

Rearrangement on the management side has seen long-time boss Oran Kearney move 'upstairs' to take on the role of Sporting Director and former Dungannon Swifts manager Dean Shiels assume the position of head coach.

Developments off the pitch have led to a major overhaul of the playing squad with the departure of swathes of previously key personnel and the arrival of several new faces as the club bid to improve on their sixth place finish last time out.

Transfers In: Cameron Stewart, Dylan Boyle, Kirk McLaughlin, Kyle McClelland [loan], Max Little, Rhyss Campbell, Ciaron Harkin [on loan until Christmas], Kyle Spence, Mackenzie Carse.

Transfers Out: Adam Mullan, Aaron Jarvis, Conor McKendry, Darren Cole, David McDaid, Eamon Fyfe, Jack O'Mahony, Jake Wallace, Josh Carson, Kieran Farren, Luca Doherty [loan], Lee Harkin, Lee Lynch, Lewis Tosh [loan], Martin Gallagher, Rodney Brown, Stephen Lowry, Stephen O'Donnell.

Joel Taggart's Take: This will be fascinating to watch with lots of new faces and a new full time model.

Vast experience has been allowed to leave the club with the departing Lowry, O’Donnell and Carson alone having played over 700 league games for the Bannsiders.

Matthew Shevlin and Jamie McGonigle on top form will trouble any defence in the league but the problem for Coleraine post Christmas last season was very few others were weighing in with goals.

Opening fixtures: 10/8 - Dungannon Swifts (a); 16/8 - Ballymena Utd (h) - live on BBC Sport NI; 20/8 - Glentoran (a); 24/8 - Glenavon (h)

Image source, BBC Sport

Crusaders

For the first time since 2005, Crusaders begin the Northern Ireland domestic season without their former manager Stephen Baxter at the helm.

Long-serving midfielder and more latterly coach Declan Caddell takes over the reins as the Crues aim to sustain a challenge in the upper echelons of the Premiership table.

The departure of Paul Heatley and Ben Kennedy will leave major gaps to fill for the north Belfast side who count former Linfield forward Jordan Stewart among their close season acquisitions.

Transfers In: Billy Vance, Jacob Blaney, Jordan Stewart, Kieran Offord [loan], Harry Franklin.

Transfers Out: Brandon Doyle, Corrie Burns, Joshua Robinson, Kevin Joshua, Paul Heatley, Ben Kennedy

Joel Taggart's take: I’m not sure where Crusaders will get their goals from this season.

Paul Heatley and Ben Kennedy are no longer at Seaview while Adam Lecky has a long term injury. Between them they scored half of their league goals last season.

Billy Joe Burns is also injured but the return of Jimmy Callacher will feel like a new signing as life after Baxter begins at Seaview.

Opening fixtures: 9/8 - Glentoran (a) - live on BBC Sport NI; 18/8 - Larne (h) - live on BBC Sport NI ; 21/8 - Ballymena United (a); 24/8 - Cliftonville (h)

Image source, BBC Sport

Dungannon Swifts

Dungannon achieved a much improved league position of eighth last season after their former boss Rodney McAree took charge at the club for a second spell.

A number of players have left the club in the summer, while among the arrivals are experienced defender Dylan King and John McGovern from relegated Newry City, while former Glentoran player Gael Bigirimana has signed for the club on a permanent basis.

Another mid-table finish would represent satisfactory consolidation for the Stangmore Park club, who now have ex-Institute boss John Gregg as part of McAree's backroom team following his switch from Glentoran.

Transfers In: Bobby Jack McAleese, Dylan King, Gael Bigirimana, John McGovern, Patrick Solis Grogan.

Transfers Out: Chris Hegarty [retired], James Convie, Joe Moore, Kenny Ximenes [loan], Lewis Francis, Matthew Lusty [end of loan], Rhyss Campbell, Ryan Harpur [retired], Padraig Lynch [loan].

Joel Taggart's take: McAree has led a transformation at Stangmore Park with the Swifts moving from a relegation play off two seasons ago to being on the verge of the European play-off last season.

They took 15 points from games against the top six last season compared to just three points the previous campaign, and finished the season 17 points better off than they had done a year earlier.

That will be hard to replicate.

Opening fixtures: 10/8 - Coleraine (h); 17/8 - Linfield (a); 20/8 - Cliftonville (a); 24/8 - Dungannon Swifts (a)

Image source, BBC Sport

Glentoran

It's been a close season of great change at Glentoran as manager Declan Devine has set out to put his stamp on the club after being appointed to the position on a permanent basis after a spell in interim charge during the latter stages of the last campaign.

A tame Irish Cup semi-final defeat and a disappointing league finish, exacerbated by a timid exit to Coleraine at the semi-final stages of the European play-off semi-finals, precipitated major changes in playing personnel at the Oval.

A host of experienced players have left the east Belfast outfit as Devine seeks to rebuild a squad capable of challenging for honours and most specifically the league title. The ex-Derry City boss has also brought in former Northern Ireland international Pat McCourt as his assistant while Tim McCann returns as first team coach.

Transfers In: Andrew Mills, Charlie Lindsay, Daniel Gyollai, Dylan Connolly, Frankie Hvid, Wassim Aouachria.

Transfers Out: Aaron McCarey, Aidan Wilson, Bobby Burns, Daire O'Connor, George Feeney, Junior, Luke McCullough, Ollie Webber, Rhys Marshall, Rory Donnelly, Seanan Clucas, Shay McCartan, Sean Murray.

Joel Taggart's take: Where do you start?!

As far away from winning the league as ever despite recent financial investment. Given the massive turnover of players again this summer it’s easy to see why fans at the Oval are scratching their heads and asking serious questions about player recruitment and how the money has been spent.

Last season they dropped 45 points in games against the top seven so they need to start beating the teams around them in the table if they’re to make any significant progress.

Opening fixtures: 9/8 - Crusaders (h) - live on BBC Sport NI; 17/8 - Portadown (a); 20/8 - Coleraine (h); 23/8 - Carrick Rangers (a)

Image source, BBC Sport

Glenavon

Glenavon will hope for an improved league placing in 2024-25 after what at one stage looked a promising campaign last season ultimately petered out somewhat in the latter stages.

Summer departures have included the retired Sean Ward and experienced midfielders Robert Garrett and Conor McCloskey.

Among manager Stephen McDonnell's new recruits are much travelled strikers David McDaid and Michael O'Connor and Rhys Marshall, who begins a second stint at the club after re-joining the Lurgan Blues from Glentoran.

Transfers In: Barney McKeown, David McDaid, James Carroll, Michael O'Connor, Rhys Marshall, Keith Ward.

Transfers Out: Bobby Deane [loan], Cohan Henderson [loan], Conor Kerr, Conor McCloskey, Darren Clarke, Gavin Hodgins [end of loan], Lido Lotefa, Odhran Smyth, Robert Garrett, Sean Ward [retired].

Joel Taggart's take: A poor start and a poor finish last term with a brief positive spell mid season.

The harsh reality was that Glenavon finished in their worst league position since 2012. They lost six of their last seven league games and managed just 11 points after beating Newry City on Boxing Day until the end of the season.

Stephen McDonnell will hope to see an improvement after having a first pre-season with the players.

Opening fixtures: 10/8 - Carrick Rangers (a); 17/8 - Cliftonville (h); 20/8 - Linfield (h) - live on BBC Sport NI; 24/8 - Coleraine (a)

Image source, BBC Sport

Larne

Larne will set out to make it three Gibson Cup successes in a row as they begin the defence of the title they have won in each of the last two seasons - their first league championships in their history.

Manager Tiernan Lynch's forays into the transfer market have seen the champions acquire the services of defender Baris Altintop after his release from Braintree Town and goalkeeper Dylan Graham following his departure from Everton.

Livewire winger Conor McKendry begins a second spell at the club after making the move from Coleraine.

Transfers In: Baris Altintop, Conor McKendry, Dylan Graham.

Transfers Out: Aidan McAdams, Caolan Donnelly [loan], Daniel Kearns, Isaac Westendorf, Jaziel Orozco, Odhran McCart, Ro-Shaun Williams, Scott Allan.

Joel Taggart's take: Larne have the chance to become just the third Irish League club to win three top flight titles in a row, joining Linfield and Belfast Celtic.

However it seems they’ll have to do that without talisman Lee Bonis who appears to be on the verge of completing a switch to the Netherlands.

If and how they replace him could determine if they make it a treble of league titles. They had the best defensive stats in the league by far last season and a repeat of that will make them hard to catch.

Opening fixtures: 18/8 - Crusaders (a) - live on BBC Sport NI; 24/8 - Portadown (h); 27/8- Carrick Rangers (a); 30 August - Coleraine (a)

Image source, BBC Sport

Linfield

Linfield will again begin the season with their focus set on regaining the Irish League title which has eluded them in both of the last two seasons, the Blues having to give second best to Larne in the two most recent campaigns.

With that target in mind, manager David Healy has signed Scottish attacking midfielder Cammy Ballantyne from St Johnstone and defender Scot Whiteside from Ballymena United, while 17-year-old Charlie Chapman has signed his first professional contract with the club.

Another defender, Sam Roscoe, returns to the club for a second spell while Euan East's availability after injury will have the feel of a new signing after his lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Transfers In: Cammy Ballantyne, Charlie Chapman, Sam Roscoe, Scot Whiteside.

Transfers Out: Aodhan Doherty, Braiden Graham, Daniel Finlayson, Jordan Stewart, Matthew Clarke, Michael Newberry.

Joel Taggart's take: Linfield conceded almost twice as many league goals as Larne last season so it's no surprise to see them bringing Roscoe back.

Joel Cooper was the only Linfield player to hit double figures for league goals last season (11) so that also has to change. David Healy will also hope that Robbie McDaid and Stephen Fallon can stay injury free and make a difference this campaign.

Opening fixtures: 10/8 - Ballymena United (a); 17/8 - Dungannon Swifts (h); 20/8 - Glenavon (a) - Live on BBC Sport NI; 24/8 - Loughgall (h)

Image source, BBC Sport

Loughgall

Loughgall secured a creditable ninth position in their first season back in the leading division.

Under boss Dean Smith, who was named Manager of the Year at the NI Football Awards, the Villagers will be looking to secure their place as a top flight side once again with at least a similar finish this time out.

For now, they've managed to keep hold of Young Player of the Year Benji Magee, who scored 16 league goals in an impressive season, whilst signing experienced Irish League players in the form of Conor McDermott and Conor McCloskey, plus ex-Derry City goalkeeper Nathan Gartside from Cliftonville.

Transfers In: Conor Kerr, Conor McCloskey, Conor McDermott, Lewis Francis, Nathan Gartside.

Transfers Out: Ally Teggart [retired], Caolan Loughran, Daniel Devine, James Carroll, Mark Carson.

Joel Taggart's take: Last season Loughgall had banked 20 points by November so manager Smith will be looking for a repeat of that flying start once again.

If Benji Magee is still at Lakeview Park when the transfer window closes then their chances of survival for another season are pretty good with him and Nathaniel Ferris scoring over 30 goals between them last season.

Opening fixtures: 17/8 - Carrick Rangers (h); 20/8 - Portadown (h); 24/8 - Linfield (a); 31/8 - Dungannon Swifts (h)

Image source, BBC Sport

Portadown

Portadown have been very active in the transfer market since their elevation to the Premiership was confirmed when they were crowned Championship winners in April.

An impressive array of signings include former Glentoran players Aaron McCarey and Shay McCartan, Steven McCullough and Jamie McDonagh.

The Ports' ambition will be to re-establish themselves as a major Irish League force, although retaining their top division status will be the most immediate priority for the forthcoming season.

Transfers In: Aaron McCarey, Cathair Friel, Eamon Fyfe, Jamie McDonagh, Jamie Ray, Lewis MacKinnon, Shay McCartan, Steven McCullough, Jack Duncan, Liam Mullan, Abu Obhakhan.

Transfers Out: Aaron Hogg, Caolin Coyle, Dale Montgomery, Gareth Buchanan, Igor Rutkowski, Joe Williamson, Kenny Kane, Mark Russell, Patrick McNally, Zach Barr.

Joel Taggart's take: In the past Niall Currie has maybe let his heart rule his head after promotions and given chances to players that helped get his sides up.

But players that get you up are often not good enough to keep you up and this time he’s been pretty ruthless.

Departures and arrivals are both in double figures and Ports fans will be hoping their Premiership adventure will be much more enjoyable than last time when they had just one point after their opening 18 league games.

Opening fixtures: 11/8 - Cliftonville (a) - Live on BBC Sport NI; 17/8 - Glentoran (h); 20/8 - Loughgall (a); 24/8 - Larne (a)

Image source, Damien Toolan

The three-way battle at the top of the NIFL Women's Premiership continued as Glentoran Women, Cliftonville Ladies and Lisburn Rangers all clinched big wins.

Two goals apiece from Rachel Rogan and Demi Vance helped champions Glentoran hammer Crusaders Strikers 6-0 at Seaview, with Jenna McKearney and debutant Kelly Crompton also on target.

Carla Devine's hat-trick contributed to Cliftonville's 5-0 home win over Mid Ulster Ladies. Caitlin McGuinness and Toni-Leigh Finnegan notched the Reds' other goals.

Lisburn Rangers, meanwhile, secured a 6-1 home win over Derry City Women as all the goals came in the second half at Crewe Park.

Substitute Amy Burden scored two of Rangers' goals with Molly Loughran, Sophie Kelly-Bradley, Gracie Conway and Caoimhe Gelston Mulholland, from a penalty, also on target, before Tara O'Connor-Farren bagged a late goal for the Candystripes.

Glentoran's victory keeps them ahead of Cliftonville on goal difference but the Reds have a game in hand, having won all their nine fixtures.

Lisburn Rangers remain three points off the pace but also have played a game less than the Glens.

In Friday's other game, Stacey Murdough's 84th-minute goal earned Lisburn Ladies a 2-1 home win over Larne Women.

Abbie Burnett's 13th-minute goal put Lisburn ahead with Larne's Kirsty Cameron chipping an equaliser over keeper Jessica Poots midway through the second half.

Image source, Carrick Rangers FC

Former Crusaders winger Paul Heatley has signed for Irish Premiership club Carrick Rangers.

The 37-year-old picked up three Irish League winners' medals and was part of the Crusaders squad which won three Irish Cups during a 12-year spell with the north Belfast club which ended at the end of last season.

He made 486 appearances for the Seaview side, scoring 214 goals.

Having initially decided to retire at the end of the last campaign, Heatley returns to the club for whom he played for two years, before making the move to the Crues.

"I am delighted to come back to where it all started and hopefully see out my career here, which would be really special for me personally," said Heatley.

"The club were perseverant but respectful in their approach and they were very keen from the start for me to comer on board and return to where it all started - it's fantastic for me to be able to do that full loop."

Carrick manager Stuart King commented: "“Paul is a massive signing that I’m sure will excite everyone at the Club. We were in the market for a winger and Paul has been the best winger in the Irish League for the last ten years.

“I know a lot of clubs were chasing him after the news broke that he was reconsidering his retirement, so those from our club who worked really hard behind the scenes to make this happen deserve massive credit.

“He has trained with us already and really enjoyed it. He will add goals and excitement to our team and I know the squad will thrive off his arrival and raise their standards.”

Meanwhile Glenavon have confirmed the signing of 33-year-old midfielder Keith Ward.

Ward has spent 16 years in senior football around the League of Ireland, most recently at Shelbourne.