Irish League Football

Image source, Presseye

The Irish Premiership game between Ballymena United and Larne has been postponed after the pitch at Ballymena Showgrounds failed a Saturday morning pitch inspection.

The playing surface on Warden Street fell victim of the heavy overnight rain.

The pitch at Shamrock Park was reviewed at 11:00 GMT before the scheduled mid Ulster derby between Portadown and Glenavon at 15:00 and was deemed playable.

There was also an inspection of the pitch at Taylors Avenue at 10:30 GMT on Saturday morning ahead of Carrick Rangers' meeting with Dungannon Swifts, when the playing surface was also found to be playable, so that match goes ahead.

Saturday's other 15:00 game sees Cliftonville face Loughgall at Solitude.

The weekend's top flight action began on Friday night as Glentoran defeated Linfield 1-0 at the Oval, while Coleraine host Crusaders on Sunday at 12:30 GMT.

Image source, Inpho

Linfield manager David Healy felt his side lacked the necessary "composure" in front of goal during their 1-0 defeat to Glentoran at the Oval on Friday night.

The hosts' captain Marcus Kane had smashed in the opener just before half-time but Declan Devine's side were reduced to 10 men with more than half an hour to play when James Douglas was shown a second yellow card.

The Blues piled on the pressure but could not make the most of their dominance in the second half.

"We didn't show enough composure, enough understanding of what type of finish was needed in the final third," Healy said.

"That's the frustration. There were more than enough opportunities to at least get level.

"The players, I feel as if there's enough quality in the final third of the pitch. 

"But when it gets to moments like tonight, it's about that split-second decision - do you go hard? Low? High? Whatever type of finish was needed, we didn't get it right tonight."

Healy said his side "lacked the intensity" and gave up a "really soft goal" in the first half.

After his side's second below-par derby showing of the season - the Glens were 3-1 victors at Windsor Park last month - Healy refused to make any excuses for the result despite a number of penalty claims waved away in the second half.

"Ifs and buts. I don't want to make excuses, I won't," he said of the potential spot-kicks.

"We had enough ball and we had enough time in the final third [to equalise] and we didn't do that."

Image source, Press Eye

Glentoran boss Declan Devine praised the character of his team as they held on for 1-0 win over leaders Linfield despite playing for much of the second half with 10 men.

Marcus Kane put the Oval hosts in front late in the first half before teenager James Douglas was dismissed on 58 minutes for two yellow cards.

Linfield pressed for an equaliser but the Glens held firm to earn three points and move up to third.

"It's massively pleasing - we showed great character and a great willingness to dig in," said Devine.

"A really good Linfield team threw everything at us so to keep that clean sheet was massive."

It completed a double over their Big Two rivals after the Glens won at Windsor Park last month.

Friday night's victory was also a major boost after last weekend's 2-0 home defeat by Portadown.

"I said before the game that we needed to give the fans something to shout about on the back of the disappointing result last week.

"When the players are giving everything the fans will get behind us and when the fans get behind us in difficult moments it's a very difficult place to play.

"I think it was a massive effort from the club, not just the team, to get across the line with 10 men and that was the most pleasing thing about it."

Image source, Inpho

Irish Premiership side Coleraine are at risk of having their stadium closed, although the club has said the Showgrounds will be open "as normal" for Sunday's game against Crusaders.

Causeway Coast and Glens Council is preparing to issue legal proceedings and shut down the stands and social club facilities at the club's home ground on Ballycastle Road.

In a letter seen by BBC Sport NI, the council say that the club have failed to provide a structural integrity report since June 2022, which is a requirement under the terms of their safety certificate issued by the council.

BBC Sport NI has also been told that the council has written to the club, and engaged in person, but every deadline to achieve compliance has not been met.

Without a structural appraisal the council say they cannot be satisfied the stadium is structurally safe, and are considering instigating legal proceedings.

In response Coleraine FC said in a statement that they take such matters "very seriously".

"We acknowledge the recent article published by the BBC regarding the structural appraisal involving our organisation.

"Coleraine takes matters of structural integrity and public safety very seriously. We can confirm that we remain in dialogue with Causeway Coast & Glens Council to ensure compliance with all relevant safety standards and the Showgrounds remains open as usual.

"The club looks forward to welcoming fans to The Showgrounds this Sunday as normal."

Image source, Presseye

Glentoran v Linfield (Friday, 19:45 GMT, live on BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport NI website & app)

We know it's always a tight game between the 'Big Two'. There's never an inch given by either team really. We go out to win every game and given how difficult this is, we want to rectify the result earlier in the season [Glentoran won 3-1 when the sides met at Windsor Park in October].

Prediction: N/A (We'll let him off this one!)

Ballymena United v Larne (Saturday, 15:00 GMT, coverage on Sportsound on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster)

There's a feelgood factor about Ballymena at the moment, and with the signing of Patrick McEleney announced, Jim Ervin will look to build on a good result from last week.

Prediction: 1-1

Carrick Rangers v Dungannon Swifts (Saturday, 15:00 GMT, coverage on Sportsound)

Taylors Avenue is one of the most difficult places to go in the league, and with Stephen Baxter coming in and turning them right around, Carrick seem to have found their feet. Dungannon are certainly worthy of their league place but the conditions and pitch might suit Carrick's experienced players on the day.

Prediction: 2-1

Cliftonville v Loughgall (Saturday, 15:00 GMT, coverage on Sportsound)

Jim Magilton's team have been very good at home this season, backed by Joe Gormley in free-scoring form. You've got to wonder when the tide might turn for Loughgall. This is the last place they want to be going.

Prediction: 3-0

Portadown v Glenavon (Saturday, 15:00 GMT, coverage on Sportsound)

Paddy McLaughlin hasn't had enough time with players on the pitch to have an overall turnaround at Glenavon. With it being a derby, just like ours on the Friday, it's very hard to call.

Prediction: 2-2

Coleraine v Crusaders (Sunday, 12:30 GMT, live text commentary and report on the BBC Sport website)

Fair to say both sides have struggled for consistency in the league. Both teams would be happy with a draw.

Prediction: 1-1

Join Chris with Michael McNamee on Sportsound this Saturday from 14:00 GMT on BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website.

Image source, Inpho

Linfield manager David Healy is aiming for a more rounded performance from his side when they face Glentoran at the Oval on Friday.

In their last meeting in October, Declan Devine's side came from behind to beat the Blues 3-1 at Windsor Park.

"We let ourselves down against Glentoran at Windsor," Healy told BBC Sport NI.

"I thought we were so good and so dominant in the first half, and then disappeared out of it in the second half after the Glentoran equaliser.

"They lost against Portadown [at the weekend] so it'll be an easy one for Deccy [Devine] and their supporters to pick themselves up for."

Healy's side beat reigning champions Larne 1-0 on Saturday and currently sit top of the Irish Premiership with an eight-point lead over nearest rivals Cliftonville.

In a condensed league table though a victory for seventh-placed Glentoran on Friday would take them up to second in the table.

"We're coming off the back of our biggest result so far this season so we'll look forward to the game," Healy continued.

"When you play Glentoran - or any derby game - form goes out the window. I think it went out the window last time because we were in really good form and we underperformed.

"We know the rivalry, I know the history so it's important that the players get themselves ready this week - and we will."

Image source, Pacemaker

Marty McCann and Colin Coates have joined Glenavon as part of new manager Paddy McLaughlin's backroom team.

The former Cliftonville manager was appointed Lurgan Blues manager on Sunday after the departure of Stephen McDonnell 24 hours earlier.

Both appointments have previous working history with McLaughlin from his time at Solitude with McCann working as a first-team coach in north Belfast and Coates part of the playing squad.

All three were at Stangmore Park on Tuesday as McLaughlin took charge for the first time in Glenavon's 2-1 defeat to Dungannon Swifts in the Mid Ulster Cup semi-finals.

Image source, Inpho

Linfield manager David Healy says his club is "rebuilding the siege mentality" they previously had as they attempt to wrench the league title from the hands of Larne, who have been crowned champions for the past two seasons.

A Joel Cooper goal gave the Blues a rare win over their rivals on their home patch at Inver Park and put more daylight between themselves and the chasing pack at the summit of the table.

The 1-0 victory gives Linfield an eight-point cushion over their nearest pursuers and opens up a 14-point gap over Tiernan Lynch's side.

"We’re still in the process of trying to build a siege mentality. We had that a number of years ago when we were winning title after title and you sort of have that in and around the dressing room," Healy told BBC Sport NI.

“You can’t build that overnight but the process is underway."

Healy said "hard work" was the key to his team's success on Saturday evening.

"It’s a really tough place to come so to leave here with a win and three points is pleasing.

"Credit to the players, to a man I thought they went about their work very well.

"I could go through one to 11 individually and praise the roles that they all played and the collective outcome."