Irish League Football

Image source, Inpho

Linfield v Glentoran - Friday 19:45 BST (Live on BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website)

It all depends on who Linfield have available for this one tonight. If David Healy's side are missing some key players, then it could be tighter than everyone is expecting.

Prediction: 1-1

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

Jim Ervin has Ballymena in a good place, they are on good run of form and I think that will continue this weekend.

Prediction: 3-1

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

Cliftonville are a good side and I think they’ll prove to be a little too strong for Carrick on Saturday.

Predcition: 1-2

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

I think this will be an exciting game between two good sides. I'm expecting some goals but the honours to be shared.

Prediction: 2-2

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

This one will be a strong and feisty affair. A proper derby.

Prediction: 1-1

Larne v Dungannon Swifts - Sunday 14:00 BST (live text commentary with in-game clips on BBC Sport website & app)

All I can say on this one is that I'm hoping for a positive result!

Prediction: n/a

(We'll let Rodney off this one seeing as he's the Dungannon Swifts manager!)

Don't forget to join Rodney with Joel Taggart on Sportsound this week from 14:00 BST on Saturday for all the latest from the Irish Premiership. Available on BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Sounds and on the BBC Sport website.

Image source, Inpho

Holders Linfield have been drawn against their Belfast big two rivals Glentoran in the second round of BetMcLean Cup.

The Blues opened their defence of the competition by beating Dundela 2-0 on Tuesday night as the Glens saw off Dergview by the same scoreline.

Queen's University's reward for the surprise 1-0 win over Premiership strugglers Carrick Rangers is a home tie against Annagh United.

Carrick's defeat proved to be Stuart King's final match in charge as he parted company with the club after the game.

The only all-Premiership tie will be Crusaders' meeting with Coleraine while Cliftonville have been drawn away against Bangor.

2017-18 winners Dungannon Swifts will be at home to Dollingstown with Armagh City's reward for their 3-2 win over Premiership Loughgall another derby clash against Glenavon, where the Championship side will have home advantage.

Because of the club's Uefa Conference League campaign, Larne paraded an understrength team in Tuesday's 2-1 win over H&W Welders and the Inver Park club will face Institute in round two.

The other tie will see Ballymena United welcoming Ards.

Ties will take place on 5 and 6 November.

BetMcLean Cup Second Round

Crusaders v Coleraine

Linfield v Glentoran

Dungannon Swifts v Dollingstown

Bangor v Cliftonville

Ballymena United v Ards

Armagh City v Glenavon

Queen's University v Annagh United

Institute v Larne

Image source, Inpho

Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree has signed a three-year extension to his deal at Stangmore Park.

McAree is in his second stint as Dungannon manager and he helped the Swifts to the League Cup in 2018.

The 50-year-old left for Coleraine later that year and had a stint at Glentoran before returning to Dungannon in June 2023.

The Swifts have made a superb start to the Irish Premiership season and sit in third place in the table, just three points behind pace setters Linfield.

Former Bristol City and Fulham midfielder McAree also spent seven years at Stangmore Park as a player.

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Leaders Cliftonville continued their impressive winning run in the Women's Premiership with a hard-fought 3-2 victory against Lisburn Rangers at Solitude.

Caitlin McGuinness scored an 89th minute winner to seal Cliftonville's 14th win from 14 league games.

The win sees the Reds re-establish their six-point advantage over rivals Glentoran, having played a game more.

They face the Glens next Sunday evening at Solitude.

The hosts took an early lead with Northern Ireland international Danielle Maxwell firing low into the far corner from outside the box on six minutes.

Caitlin McGuinness doubled their advantage with a close-range finish before the half hour mark after latching onto a fine pass from Hannah Doherty.

Lisburn Rangers pulled a goal back from the spot on 33 minutes with Caoimhe Gelston Mulholland beating Erin McAllister with a powerful penalty.

McAllister then had a moment to forget on 39 minutes as her attempted clearance was charged down by Gracie Conway, with the ball bouncing into the net.

In a cagey second half, substitute Vicky Carleton hit the crossbar before Caitlin McGuinness hooked home from a narrow angle late in the game to seal the victory.

Image source, Inpho

Loughgall defender Conor Kerr believes that "results will come" for the Irish Premiership strugglers after their latest defeat by Crusaders.

After a positive first half performance, second half goals from Jarlath O'Rourke, Ross Clarke, Jordan Forsythe and Stewart Nixon gave the Crues a ruthless 4-0 victory at Lakeview Park.

The Villagers are now winless since their opening day win against Carrick Rangers, but Kerr is confident that the tide will turn soon for his side.

"We need to stick together, keep grinding and the result will come, we are a good team," he told BBC Sport NI.

"It is early days, and it only takes one result, we get our next points on the board and go from there. It is a good changing room, and we drive each other on so the results will come."

Kerr admits that his side are disappointed to fall to another heavy defeat after a positive first half display.

He also conceded that they failed to respond to O'Rourke's opener for Crusaders.

"First half we were the better team, we maybe didn't take the chances, second half Crusaders took their chances, and we didn't play as well as we did in the first half," Kerr explained.

"It is on us players to respond [to the first goal] and we maybe didn't respond well enough.

"That has to change when we go a goal down because we are still in the game."