Irish League Football

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

Image source, Press Eye

Ben Wilson will join Scottish Championship side Airdrieonians when his Cliftonville contract expires at the end of this month.

The 22-year-old former Brighton and Coleraine striker signed for the Reds last summer and scored 18 goals in 34 appearances.

“I’m happy to be here, I had a good first training session and met all the boys, and it’s been good," Wilson told airdriefc.com.

“I had a good season last season so I just want to build on that again. I want to play as many games as I can and hopefully the goals will come along as well."

Diamonds boss Rhys McCabe believes Wilson will be a success at the Excelsior Stadium.

“He’s a natural finisher - he has really clever movement and that predatory instinct in the box.

“He should thrive in our system with the creativity that we’re looking to play with.”