Irish League Football

Image source, Presseye

Former Glentoran striker Ruaidhri Donnelly has returned to Cliftonville for a third stint at Solitude.

The 32-year-old spent three and a half seasons at the Oval but ended the past campaign in the Championship after a loan move to Newington in January.

The experienced forward will be a boost to Jim Magilton's striking options with Ronan Hale, Ben Wilson and Sam Ashford all having left the Irish Cup winners this summer.

Donnelly made 70 appearances during his first spell with the Reds before impressive form earned a move to Swansea City in January 2012.

Also representing Tranmere Rovers and Gillingham while playing in England, he returned to the north Belfast club in the summer of 2017.

Glentoran struck a deadline day deal to bring him across the city in January of 2021, but he fell out of favour last season and has now returned to Solitude.

Image source, Inpho

After Larne's defeat in Riga on Wednesday in the Champions League qualifiers, now Crusaders and Linfield start their 2024-25 seasons with away Conference League qualifiers.

For the Crues, it's a short hop across the Irish Sea to the Welsh town of Caernarfon. Despite standing down last season as manager, Stephen Baxter will be in charge on Thursday as new boss Declan Caddell does not have his UEFA Pro Licence yet.

David Healy is embarking on his tenth season in charge of Linfield and takes them to Iceland to face Stjarnan.

Healy says his side have "unfinished business" in Europe after coming agonisingly to making the group stages of the Conference League in 2022.

You can follow live text commentary of both of those games tonight from 1630 BST - as well as updates from Derry City's clash with Gibraltar's Magpies.

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Glentoran teenager George Feeney has formally completed his move to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

The 16-year-old striker, son of former Northern Ireland forward Warren Feeney, will link up with Spurs' under-18 side in north London.

BBC Sport NI reported in November that Brighton, Tottenham, Crystal Palace and West Ham were believed to be interested in Feeney.

He became the youngest ever goalscorer in the Glens' history in October last year when, as a 15-year-old, he netted in a BetMcLean Cup first round victory against Dollingstown.

Feeney has played underage international football for both Northern Ireland and Wales, where he was born.

Glentoran's 16-year-old defender Darragh McCann has also completed a Premier League move, joining newly promoted Ipswich Town after signing a three-year deal with the club.

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Glentoran have been drawn to play ZNK Mura in the first qualifying round of the Women's Champions League.

The Women's Premiership champions will face Slovenian side on Wednesday 4 September.

ZNK Mura have won the Slovenian league in each of the past four years and twice reached the round of 32 in the old format of the Women's Champions League.

Should the Glens progress past Mura in their mini tournament semi-final they will play the winners of the other semi-final between Cypriot side Apollon or Armenian outfit Pyunik.

The Group 6 final to determine which side will reach the second qualifying round as well as the third place play-off for the two losing teams in the semi-finals will take place on 7 September.

The venue for the mini-tournament is still to be decided.

Image source, Press Eye

Linfield teenager Braiden Graham has formally completed his move to Premier League side Everton.

The 16-year-old forward will initially join up with the under-18s at Goodison Park, a squad coached by former England and Everton full-back Leighton Baines.

In March 2023, Graham became Linfield's youngest ever player when he came off the bench against Dungannon Swifts at 15 years and 137 days old.

He was a regular at Windsor Park last season, scoring a crucial equaliser against Larne in the quarter-finals of the League Cup as Linfield went on to retain the trophy.

Graham has represented Northern Ireland Under-19s, scoring for Gareth McAuley's side in a 2-2 friendly draw against Slovakia last month.

Last month another Linfield teenager, Aodhan Doherty, made the move to England, signing with Blackburn Rovers.

Image source, BBC

Larne have signed English defender Baris Altintop after he was released by National League side Braintree Town.

The 23-year old made 47 appearances for Braintree last season, captaining the side to promotion from the National League South.

He was a trialist in Larne's 2-1 friendly win against Bala Town at Inver Park at the weekend.

Altintop becomes the Inver outfit's second summer signing after the arrival of Conor McKendry.

"He is a lad we brought in to have a look at," Larne manager Tiernan Lynch told BBC Sport NI.

"We didn't know a huge amount lot about him, obviously we have been quite thin on centre backs, and we were looking to bring someone in with a profile which he has now filled."

Lynch added: "He played on Saturday and did very well, he has a real winning mentality and works very hard. He had two or three offers back in England but decided to make Larne his destination."

The Irish Premiership 2024-25 fixtures were released earlier this week with a few intriguing games taking place during the opening weekend.

Larne will start their title defence against Loughgall while runners-up Linfield travel to Ballymena United.

Irish Cup winners Cliftonville will face newly-promoted Portadown at Solitude while Dean Shiels begins his reign as Coleraine boss against Dungannon Swifts, the side he managed for two years.

How do you fancy your team's chances in week one? Let us know on social media using #bbcirishprem.

Irish Premiership opening weekend fixtures

Glentoran v Crusaders

Larne v Loughgall

Ballymena Utd v Linfield

Carrick Rangers v Glenavon

Dungannon Swifts v Coleraine

Cliftonville v Portadown

Matches scheduled for 10 August but are subject to change

Find out more about the 2024-25 Irish Premiership fixtures here