Irish League Football

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Jim Magilton admitted his side were 'a bit nervy' during their 2-1 victory over Glenavon at Mourneview Park.

"It’s a fantastic result, our performance at times was very good and at times, it was a bit nervy, especially towards the end.

"We hit the panic button a little bit and that’s two games in a row we have done that. I thought in the first half we managed the game very well, but when you go in 1-0 up it’s always precarious, we were sloppy at times and that encourages the opposition," Magilton explained.

"When we scored the second goal, it’s a fantastic ball from Ronan Doherty, a great run from Shea Gordon and a great finish and you’re thinking at 2-0 let’s put the accelerator on and we didn’t, again we encouraged them."

Even though the result means that it is back-to-back victories for the Irish Cup holders, both games have resulted in a tense final ten minutes for Cliftonville fans, something that Magilton addressed.

"People are getting a little bit overanxious about getting a result rather than focusing on the game itself.

"There is lots to come, I have great belief in the players and we can play a little bit more than we did."

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Dungannon Swifts boss Rodney McAree was left to rue a calamitous eight minutes in defeat to Linfield that saw his side concede three times in quick succession.

After a relatively even opening in a contest that ultimately finished 3-1 to the hosts at Windsor Park, Joel Cooper put the Blues ahead with his strike soon followed by efforts from Kyle McClean and Chris Shields.

While Dungannon improved in the second half, and reduced the deficit through Adam Glenny, McAree knew there was no way back from 3-0 down against David Healy's men.

"We were well in the game," said the former Glentoran boss.

"Within the space of eight minutes we found ourselves 3-0 down which was massively frustrating and hurts a lot.

"We have to identify that quicker on the pitch in terms of leadership, getting higher up the pitch, defending better, reacting to second balls, all the basic things and it hasn't happened.

"In the space of those eight minutes the game is dead and buried."

Things get no easier for Swifts with a trip to Solitude on Tuesday night to face Cliftonville.

"Obviously going to Cliftonville is a tough place to go," McAree added.

"We pick ourselves up, take the positives from the second 45 minutes, and we'll look forward to it."

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Glentoran manager Declan Devine thinks his side played 'a good brand of football' but admitted they have to learn and need to convert their chances more.

Niall McGinn's stoppage time goal secured the three points for the away side after Jordan Jenkins first half shot had been cancelled out by Ryan Mayse's close-range strike.

“Full credit to the players, the focus levels are good for this stage of the year, they’re putting a lot in behind the scenes and the crowd were magnificent and stayed behind the team," Devine said.

“Portadown would have got a lot of confidence with the chances we missed, we literally missed four or five chances which could have put the game to bed.

"That is something we need to get better at, but I can’t fault the application of the players and honestly I felt we played a really good brand of football."

Glentoran are rebuilding their side after 13 players left the club over the summer, but Devine praised some of his new recruits.

“Dylan Connolly was exceptional, delighted for Jordan Jenkins who was in the Championship last year, I wanted him back at the football club because I think he belongs here, and I’m delighted to see him take his opportunity.

“We have to be aware that we let 16 or 17 players out this year, we are very much a work in progress and there are going to be highs and lows.

"We want to win every game we are involved in. We are only together as a group seven or eight weeks, we are completely trying to change the style of play, we want to entertain our fans and we want to fight for our fans."

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Linfield boss David Healy shrugged off rumours linking him to the vacant Preston North End job after watching the Blues beat Dungannon Swifts 3-1 at Windsor Park.

“I think the rumours were just put out there. I have a job to do at Linfield and I have been here eight and a half, coming up to nine years in October," said the former Preston striker.

"I know the challenge that I have ahead of me and Linfield have been good to me and I think I have been good to Linfield.

"My job is to go home and rewatch the game tonight, watch a bit of Glenavon and be prepared as I can be for a tough game on Tuesday at Mourneview."

Healy added that he was ‘pleased with the outcome’ after Linfield made it back-to-back victories.

"I'm pleased with the outcome, I thought we were good in the first half, even though for twenty minutes it was pretty even in terms of two teams wanting to play in the correct manor," he said.

"Dungannon I would describe as an awkward team to play against because they do things differently to a few other teams in the league and they cause you problems. We have had problems against them previously."

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Niall Currie praised his side's performance and said he is "very proud" despite Portadown losing 2-1 against Glentoran after an injury-time winner by Niall McGinn.

“We limited Glentoran to very little over the whole game. I’m very proud of the players, they were magnificent,” Currie told BBC Sport NI.

“As I have said to the players, small margins make a big difference, and I don’t think anyone could say we didn’t deserve a point from today, but that’s football.

“The biggest word we’ll use this season is resilience and we are going to have to be resilient."

Glentoran netted a last-gasp winner when McGinn's looping deflected strike sailed past ex-Glens stopper Aaron McCarey to take the three points back to east Belfast.

The result means that newly promoted Portadown still await their first point after two games.

“You get individual mistakes all over the pitch at all times. I think we have the ball and it gets turned over very easily and then in the 94th minute they have a throw-in 30 yards out and we switched off for a second, it’s as simple as that," he explained.

"Niall is able to make a run from a bog-standard throw-in and get a shot off and we have to learn from that. Maybe a bit of naivety, but I can’t praise the team highly enough.

"This is a cruel league and a very difficult one and we understand that sometimes you don’t get your breaks."

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Carrick manager Stuart King said his side 'weren't good enough' during their defeat against Loughgall.

Two goals in the first half from Jordan Gibson and Benji Magee's late strike meant that the home side were the comfortable victors.

"We weren’t good enough, Loughgall deserved it," King told BBC Sport NI.

"We were poor. I didn’t think there was much between the two teams in the first half, but we didn’t switch on for two set-plays. After that, they dominated the game and we created very little and they fully deserved the three points."

Carrick Rangers came into the game after a convincing 2-0 victory over Glenavon last weekend with King labelling the squad "the best it has ever been" after the opening fixture.

"Last week they got lots of praise, they were phenomenal and they were really good. This week was the complete opposite," King admitted.

"There are enough senior players in that changing room that they know and don’t need to be told.

"We can’t have levels so inconsistent as that’s what killed us last year. We had a really good season last year, but our consistency levels have to be at a high level and if we are at the levels we were at last week, we won’t have a problem, but today was not acceptable."

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Loughgall manager Dean Smith said he was ‘delighted’ with his side’s performance in their opening fixture of the new season.

Goals from Jordan Gibson and Benji Magee secured the three points for Smith's men, who didn't play last week due to Larne's European run.

“I’m delighted, it was a very good team performance today and I thought we deserved the win," Smith told BBC Sport NI.

"We kept a clean sheet, and we scored three goals so what’s not to be happy about?"

Two headers from Gibson gave the dominant home side a comfortable lead at the break.

“We have a go at him [Gibson] at times about not scoring enough, especially in midfield and he plays as a 10 sometimes for us, but today he has come up with two special goals for us.”

One worry for the home side going into the game was that last year’s Young Player of the Year Benji Magee, who scored 16 league goals and was a stalwart of Loughgall’s team last season during their first year back in the Premiership, was on the bench today.

"Benji Magee has had a really poor time in terms of injury and niggles,” Smith explained.

“We knew he wasn’t maybe ready for 90 minutes, but you can see what he brings to us when he comes onto the pitch.”

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Ballymena United boss Jim Ervin wants to see a response from his players after derby disappointment at the hands of Coleraine on Friday night.

The Sky Blues twice responded to going a goal down, efforts from Johnny McMurray and Ben Kennedy cancelling out strikes from Jack Scott and Jamie Glackin.

But after the latter was sent off, for an off-the-ball incident that preceded Kennedy's successful spot kick, Ervin's side struggled against ten men with goals from Rhyss Campbell and Matthew Shevlin giving the Bannsiders the 4-2 victory.

"I'll self-evaluate my performance. We've lost a game so my performance hasn't been up to scratch," Ervin said.

"I'm first to admit that and big enough to take that. I'll go back and look through every decision I made, whether it was right or whether it was wrong. I hope the players will go back and do that themselves.

"We'll be showing them where we could have improved, what we could have done better.

"I'd like to think the players will be hurting, I would like to think that."

Ervin, who said Coleraine's desire to "run more" despite their numerical disadvantage was the most disappointing aspect of the defeat, was especially displeased by the impact of his bench against the ten men.

"Subs are disappointed not to play, I get that, but there's only one way you can change that and it's by giving me a reaction when you come on the pitch," he added.

"Our substitutes didn't do that. Substitutes come on and we're asking them to make an impact, to get on the ball and go and create something.

"To be honest, the substitutions that we made tonight, they made very little impact."

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After picking up his first three points as Coleraine manager against Ballymena United on Friday night, Dean Shiels praised the character of his side when reduced to 10 men.

The Bannsiders edged an exciting derby game 4-2, despite Jamie Glacken being shown a red card before the hour mark.

With the off-the-ball incident also seeing the midfielder concede a penalty that allowed Ballymena to equalise for a second time in the game, Shiels was thrilled by his side's approach when playing more than a third of the game a man down.

The hosts were the better side after Ben Kennedy's spot kick had made it 2-2, with Rhyss Campbell and Matthew Shevlin scoring to give them a deserved victory.

"What I was really proud of, with ten men we showed really good desire to get on the ball, we didn't just kick it back to Ballymena," said Shiels, who did not see the incident that saw Glackin dismissed.

"We tried to put passes together and keep it away from Ballymena.

"We got up the pitch and we scored two goals with ten men which was really pleasing."

The victory, along with a point away to Dungannon on the opening weekend, represents a solid start to life at the Showgrounds for Shiels, who took over in the summer when the long-serving Oran Kearney moved into a director of football role.

"I'm still learning about this team," he added.

"We were challenged and we stood up to it. That was encouraging. There's loads of positives to work on, definitely improvements there too.

"It's only three points but it's a really good three points."

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Larne's Irish Premiership game against Crusaders on Sunday has been postponed as part of fixture amendments to their next four Irish Premiership matches because of their Uefa Conference League play-off.

The Inver Park outfit will travel to Faro in Portugal for next Thursday's Conference League play-off first leg against the Lincoln Red Imps with the home leg taking place a week later.

Larne's dramatic penalty shootout victory over Ballkani of Kosovo at Inver Park on Thursday night has already guaranteed the club around £850,000, which could be tripled by accounting for the Gibraltar club.

A statement from the Northern Ireland Football League said Crusaders had agreed to Larne's request for Sunday's game at Seaview to be postponed. No new date for that game has been confirmed.

Larne's home Northern Ireland Football League contest with Portadown scheduled for 24 August has also been deferred - following agreement with the Shamrock Park club - with a re-fixture date also still to be finalised.

The same applies to Larne's derby game at Carrick Rangers which had been scheduled for Tuesday, 27 August.

Larne's contest at Coleraine set for Friday 30 August will instead be played at the Showgrounds on Sunday, 1 September.

A further fixture revision sees Ballymena United's game against Crusaders brought forward 24 hours to Tuesday, 20 August.

No Irish League side has previously reached the group stages of a European club competition and NIFL has opted to lighten what would otherwise have been a busy period of fixtures for Tiernan Lynch's side in and around the play-off tie.

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Larne manager Tiernan Lynch hailed his players in "flying the flag" for the entire Irish League as they moved to the brink of a historic qualification for the group stages of the Uefa Conference League.

On a dramatic night at Inver Park, Larne beat Kosovan champions Ballkani in a penalty shootout to set up a play-off tie with Gibraltar club Lincoln Red Imps, with the first leg taking place in Faro next week.

Thursday's triumph means Larne are already guaranteed in the region of £850,000 but they would most likely triple that if they become the first Irish League club to reach the group stage of a European club competition.

"This league is better than some people give it credit for," said Lynch following his side's shootout win, after Ballkani's 1-0 win on the night had ensured extra-time and then penalties.

"To go into extra-time and then penalties in such a high tempo game was an incredible feat for them."

Goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson was Larne's shootout hero as he saved two penalties - including an effort from Walid Hamidi, who had beaten him from the spot seconds before half-time in normal time.

Ferguson paid tribute to Lynch and his backroom staff for having the information on the Ballkani penalty takers which enable him to make the tie-winning saves.

"Our guy who does all the analysis basically picked three of the four penalties that were right. That’s a big help for me," said the Scot.

After Ferguson's heroics, Chris Gallagher held his nerve to slot the penalty which secured victory.

Asked what in his mind as he stood up to take the kick in what may have been the biggest moment in the club's history, Gallagher replied: "Nothing really. Full focus was on where I wanted to put my penalty. Lucky enough I put it away and then the celebrations happened.

"We’ve obviously made it clear a few times that we want to be the first [Irish League] side to get through to the group stages of European football. We’re a step closer. It’s going to be a big task but it’s one we’ll prepare for."

Before that, Larne will face Crusaders in the Irish Premiership on Sunday.

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Week two of the season brings another incomplete slate of Irish Premiership fixtures with Larne's continued involvement in Europe meaning their defence of the Gibson Cup remains on hold. Still, there are five games to get our teeth into and the Inver Park outfit's first team coach Gary Haveron gives us his predictions for another big weekend of football.

Coleraine v Ballymena United - Friday 19:45 BST (live on BBC iPlayer)

This is a huge derby game with two much-changed sides from last season both looking to register their first win of the campaign after an opening day draw and defeat respectively.

They may have to wait a little longer for a victory as I believe it’ll be honours even.

Prediction: 1-1 (result 4-2)

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

A Glenavon side in transition will find it tough against Jim Magilton’s Reds.

They’re a strong outfit who will again see themselves as title challengers. Victory for Cliftonville at Mourneview.

Prediction: 1-2 (result 1-2)

Linfield v Dungannon Swifts - Saturday 15:00 BST (live on Sportsound on Radio Ulster/BBC Sounds)

Rodney McAree’s Dungannon Swifts will travel to Windsor Park with no fear after causing the Blues problems last season.

However, with an opening day win under their belt and home advantage, Linfield will be expected to pick up the three points.

Prediction: 2-0 (result 3-1)

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

After a strong showing in their first season back in the top flight, Loughgall may find this campaign a little more difficult.

As for Carrick, additional investment and good recruitment will make them a tough nut to crack. Back-to-back wins for Stuart King’s side.

Prediction: 1-2 (result 3-0)

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

Strong recruitment in the summer for Portadown, but they’re a team still gelling together.

As for Glentoran, they’ll be hoping to bounce back quickly after a disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to Crusaders last week. The return to first team duties for Fuad Sule will be a major boost for Declan Devine’s side. An away win for me.

Prediction: 0-2 (result 1-2)

Crusaders v Larne - Postponed

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• If Ballymena win on Friday night, it will be the first time they have recorded three successive league victories over Coleraine since April 2006.

• In their last five league visits to the Coleraine Showgrounds, Ballymena have lost four and drawn one.

• Ballymena have not won away at Coleraine in the Premiership since a 1-0 success in October 2020, with Kofi Balmer getting the only goal of the game.

• The last scoreless Premiership draw between the teams at the Coleraine Showgrounds was back in March 1998.

• In the three Premiership contests between the clubs last term a total of 25 players were booked, 16 from Ballymena and nine from Coleraine.

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Ballymena United midfielder Josh Carson insists there is "no bad blood" between him and his former club Coleraine ahead of Friday night's meeting between the sides.

Carson left the Bannsiders earlier this summer after seven years with the club, joining fellow former Coleraine players Stephen O'Donnell and Aaron Jarvis in making the move to the Sky Blues.

And the midfielder is looking forward to his swift return to the Showgrounds on Friday evening.

"There’s no bad blood between me and Coleraine and I got on with the fans well," he told BBC Sport NI

"I’m a Ballymena player now so I’ll give 110% for the shirt and I’ll do all I can for Ballymena to win the game.

"I have a lot of friends up in Coleraine, but you put that aside when it comes to Friday night."

Sky Blues boss Jim Ervin is also relishing the first derby meeting of the season, which will be live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.

Ervin said: "It's a derby game, live on TV, Friday night, so it makes for a really exciting game."

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Coleraine boss Dean Shiels says that his first home game in charge of the Bannsiders will be an "emotional day".

Shiels' side welcome derby rivals Ballymena United to the Showgrounds on Friday night, a game that will be live on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website.

"We’re really looking forward to playing at home and there is no better time to do that than a derby," Shiels told BBC Sport NI.

"It will be an emotional day for me and my family due to the strong connection I have to the club."

Coleraine began their season with a 1-1 draw against Shiels' former side Dungannon Swifts, whilst the Sky Blues were beaten 2-0 by Linfield.

Shiels acknowledged that Ballymena will provide a stern test for his side given their summer recruitment, which included the signings of former Coleraine players Josh Carson, Stephen O'Donnell and Aaron Jarvis.

"They’re proven Irish League players and Ballymena have gone out and signed them [the former Coleraine trio] and they have such good quality with Ben Kennedy and Carson," he explained.

"They’ve strengthened in a lot of areas, but we’ve got a lot of good players too and we’ll be ready for that game."

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Portadown have signed midfielder Ben Wylie from fellow Irish Premiership side Cliftonville.

The 22-year-old joined the Reds in January and made five appearances during his brief stint at the club.

He was not included in the squad as Cliftonville began their league campaign with a 1-0 victory against the Ports at Solitude on Sunday.

Wylie, a Northern Ireland U21 international, previously had spells at Celtic, Ballymena United and Swedish side Ytterhogdals.

In what was a busy day at Solitude, Jim Magilton's side brought in former Portsmouth striker Destiny Ojo.

Subject to international clearance, he will be available for Saturday's league fixture against Glenavon at Mourneview Park.

Meanwhile, Loughgall have resigned striker Jay Boyd on a season long loan from Crusaders.

Boyd spent the first half of last season on loan at the Villagers, registering seven goals in 22 games before he was recalled by the Crues.

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Larne boss Tiernan Lynch says he and his players will concentrate on the job in hand as they take a 1-0 lead into Thursday's Uefa Conference League third qualifying round home leg against Ballkani and not be distracted by the potential rewards for victory.

The Inver Park outfit produced a heroic defensive display in Kovoso as Matty Lusty's late goal earned a dramatic victory.

To put that result in context, Ballkani hammered Larne 7-1 on aggregate in Europe last season which included a 4-1 victory at Solitude.

If Larne can complete victory in the tie at Inver Park, it will put them one round away from clinching a prized place in the group stages of the competition which last year guaranteed clubs a minimum £3.5m.

And Larne's opposition in the fourth qualifying would be the losers of Thursday's tie between Lincoln Red Imps and Dinamo Minsk, with the Belarus club taking a 2-0 lead over the Gibraltar side going into their second leg.

However, Larne manager Lynch told BBC Sport Northern Ireland: "If you start looking that far ahead, you’ll forget what’s in front of you.

"The only thing we’re concentrating on now is Ballkani."

Lynch will be without Lee Bonis who played his final Larne game in the first leg before moving to Dutch club Ado Den Haag earlier this week.

"We wish Lee the very best and hope he goes on to have a fantastic career at the next level but it now opens the door for Matty [Lusty] and for Matty to go in and prove that he can be that replacement."

Lynch admits his side "rode our luck" over in Kosovo in a rearguard action but was thrilled by the defensive effort.

The Larne boss will now hope that infuses belief into his players for the second leg.

"It’s a hugely difficult game but we have to take confidence from last week.

"The biggest thing for all our Irish League clubs, us included, is believing we can play at this level and that we should belong at this level."