Irish League Football

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Linfield striker Matthew Fitzpatrick said that their 3-0 win against Bangor "probably flattered" his side.

The Blues moved up to third in the Irish Premiership table after goals from Fitzpatrick, Kieran Offord and Chris McKee secured the three points at Clandeboye Park.

And whilst Fitzpatrick was delighted with their ruthlessness, he also praised his side's defensive effort.

"The 3-0 probably flatters us a bit, we had three good goals, but there was a stage in the second half for 20-25 minutes that Bangor were in our box, but defensively we did really well," he told BBC Sport NI.

"The timings of the goals settled us a lot and second half we were able to defend. We got a lot of first and second contacts on the ball and we saw those periods out and scored a great goal from Chris McKee to seal it at the end."

Fitzpatrick also said he was "happy" with his goal as he lifted the ball over Gareth Deane to open the scoring on 14 minutes after getting on the end of Jamie Mulgrew's pass.

"Jamie had peeled off in midfield and I had peeled wide, he played a great ball through to me, I had time, took a touch, the keeper rushed out, and I just lifted it over him at his near post, so it was a good finish," he added.

Mulgrew returned to Linfield's starting side in place of the injured Chris Shields, who will be out for an extended period of time after suffering a serious knee injury against Glenavon.

Fitzpatrick said his teammates were devastated to learn that the midfield will be out for a while.

"We're gutted for Shieldsy, he's such a big player for us and for him to get an injury like that, it is hard to take for us," he said.

"There's two ways to look at it. We've got a big squad and lots of great players that will cover for him, but at the same time knowing Shieldsy, the character he is and how important he is to us, he'll get his head down and work really hard to come back sooner rather than later."

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Cliftonville moved one point above Glentoran into top spot in the Women's Premiership thanks to a 2-1 win over Linfield on Friday night.

Teegan Lynch had Cliftonville in front after five minutes at Solitude but Rhianna Breen equalised for Linfield with 27 minutes gone.

Marissa Callaghan scored to edge the hosts ahead one minute before half-time and that proved to be the winning goal.

The two sides will meet again in the Challenge Cup final next month.

Glentoran have one game in hand over their title rivals who can respond when they host Lisburn Rangers at the Blanchflower Stadium on Sunday afternoon (16:00 BST).

In Friday's bottom section posts-split fixtures Crusaders Strikers defeated Larne 3-2 at Seaview and Lisburn Ladies were 3-1 victors at Derry City.

Michelle McDaid, Caitlyn Hamilton and Rachel McLaren were the scorers for the Crues, with Aimee-Lee Peachey and Eimear Ward on target for Larne.

Jessica Hall with a penalty, Ella Parker and Sidra Younes found the net for Lisburn Rangers and Tara O'Connor-Farren for Derry City.

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Bangor assistant manager John Douglas said the prospect of taking on Linfield is "why we're in the game" as the sides meet at Clandeboye Park on Friday evening (19:45 BST, live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website).

Both sides head into the game in form, with Bangor enjoying a 4-1 win at Portadown to move up to eighth in the Premiership table.

Facing the defending champions may be a daunting prospect, but Douglas says there is an "excited" mood around the club.

"Linfield coming to Clandeboye Park - it's years since that happened," he told BBC Sport NI.

"We're really looking forward to it and I'm sure the players are too.

"We will give it our best and the boys are really excited about Linfield coming to town. (They're) the best team in the country, so we'll give it our best shot."

Linfield recovered from defeat away to Ballymena United to claim a 2-0 win against Glenavon at Windsor Park last weekend which moved them up into fourth, seven points behind leaders Glentoran with two games in hand.

Kyle McClean scored both goals against the Lurgan club and although the Blues are back in the winning column, the midfielder is expecting another test on the road.

"Bangor have made a good start to the seas," he said.

"We know they are strong at home, so it will be a hard place to go. We'll expect a really tough game down there, but it's something we look forward to."

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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Former Larne manager Nathan Rooney says he is proud of the part he played in laying the foundations for the club to prosper in the future and wished everyone at the club "a successful onward journey".

Rooney parted ways with the Inver Park club in August after guiding them through two rounds of qualifying in the Uefa Conference League, before losing on aggregate to Portuguese side Santa Clara.

His shock departure came just one game into the Irish League domestic season and after he had been reinstalled to the job in the summer.

The Englishman had been chosen as Tiernan Lynch's successor after the former Larne boss took up a new position as Derry City boss last November but the ex-Bruno's Magpies manager had to hand over the reins to assistant Gary Haveron after it was revealed that he did not hold the appropriate coaching licence to lead the club in European competition.

He temporarily became Larne's head of football but returned to take over the manager's post after enrolling on a Uefa Pro Licence course.

Haveron has occupied the position of interim manager since Rooney left by mutual consent and his team sit second in the Irish Premiership table after a run of six consecutive wins with six clean sheets.

"I leave my role as Head coach of Larne FC with a warm heart, proud of the recent successes and the introduction of a new brand of football that has already delivered excellent results," said Rooney in a personal statement.

"Over the past eleven months the players and technical staff have shown nothing but grit and determination, highlighted by some unforgettable results in Europe this summer against top opposition.

"Their spirit carried us through some difficult moments, including a challenging start last season, before finishing strongly to secure second place."

Rooney says the groundwork done in the summer paved the way for the club's positive start to the season.

"We went into the summer full of ambition, with a clear vision to bring the club back to where it belongs, and optimism remained high thanks to two key signings, a run of excellent performances and positive financial and commercial progress.

"Although I will not be at the club to see all of that work fully come to fruition, I am deeply proud to have set the foundations. I believe this season's targets will be met as the team now has the structure, style and mindset to succeed.

"To the players, staff and supporters, I wish you every success on the next stage of your journey under new leadership. Keep playing the right way - with humility, hard work, and joy - and never take a single day in this game for granted."

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Barry Gray says his health is "good" and "everything's looking positive" after undergoing treatment for throat cancer last year.

The 45-year-old stepped away from his role as Newry City manager in April 2024 to focus on his recovery.

Given the all-clear in August last year, Gray is relieved the ordeal is behind him after a difficult period in his life.

"It spiralled everything in life out of control or everything we knew as normal disappeared for a period of time, but thankfully we're on the other side of it now and we're very fortunate to put it in the past," he told Sportsound.

"[My] health is good and everything's looking positive and that's all that matters."

Gray, who has also managed Cliftonville and had two spells as Warrenpoint boss, believes the diagnosis offered him a different perspective on life and the importance of family as football paled into insignificance.

"It shows you and everyone around you that nobody's untouchable. This situation and that illness is one of the good things about being stubborn at times. It gives you that 'won't be beat' attitude that we have in football, and it becomes an asset in real life," he explained.

"I always would have said when I went back through the door [after football], my kids would meet me at the door and they wouldn't care if I've won, lost or drawn. You're the same to them regardless.

"When you've something like this, it's with you all the time. There are no ups and downs and even today when it's gone, it's still there in my house and will be for a long time to come.

"I hope nobody ever has to feel what I've gone through in the past couple of years to see that reality.

"Take football for what it is. It's brilliant, it's there for the highs and lows but the most important is yourself and your nearest and dearest. They're the priority all the time, football is just a piece of your life."

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Carrick Rangers manager Stephen Baxter said he was disappointed not to take a point from his team's 2-0 defeat by Larne as he believes they played "superbly well".

Matt Lusty netted the opener after the Carrick defence switched off at the back post and then Dan Bent took advantage of a goalkeeping error to add the second in the dying minutes.

"We made one mistake in the first half which allowed them one goal and then we missed a sitter ourselves on the edge of the six-yard line to make it 1-1 at half-time," reflected Baxter in an interview with BBC Sport NI.

"We had a really good shape about us. We were excellent in our performance, some outstanding performances and the manner of the second goal we conceded, I thought the goalkeeper was being fouled before the cross came in.

"He's very disappointed in himself because he's dropped the ball under the crossbar and they score a very soft goal.

"But take nothing away from how well we played, I thought our team were brilliant.

"We were playing against a full-time team and we stood up to that and did it very well."

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Larne interim manager Gary Haveron says his side "managed the game really well" as they clinched a 2-0 home win over east Antrim rivals Carrick Rangers at Inver Park to make it six straight league victories with six clean sheets.

Matt Lusty and Dan Bent were their scorers as they reduced their deficit to leaders Glentoran at the summit of the Premiership table to one point.

"Stephen always sets up his teams so that they are hard to break down and they are really gritty so it was important that we got the goal early," Haveron told BBC Sport NI.

"I thought we managed the game really well. I don't think Rohan Ferguson had a save to make the whole game so that was really pleasing.

"It got a wee bit scrappy in the second half but I was pleased to see the second goal go in to seal the three points."

Lusty was on target in the opening period while Bent clinched the win with his side's second late on.

"The first goal was really well worked. We got in behind them and we punished them and Matty was on hand to apply the finish.

"The second goal was maybe more a goalkeeper's mistake but we worked really hard to ask questions of opposition at set-pieces and when it dropped to Dan Bent he wasn't going to miss from there.

"Job done - goal in the first half, goal in the second half, we move on to the next one next week.

"That's away to Glentoran and it's a challenge that we're really looking forward to."

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Ballymena United manager Jim Ervin described his side's performance in their 1-1 draw with Crusaders at Seaview on Saturday as "really poor".

Calvin McCurry's goal early in the second half gave the Sky Blues the lead but a late Fraser Bryden penalty restored parity and earned Declan Caddell's side a deserved point.

"We scored a really good goal early on in the second half.

"We had to soak up a lot of pressure but if we did the basic things we would be ok but we made it really hard for ourselves. That was the most frustrating thing today," reflected the Ballymena boss.

"Credit to Crusaders, they were good but we were below the levels and the standards we know we can reach."

Ervin's disappointment with his side's display followed a hard-fought 1-0 win over champions Linfield on Tuesday.

"The players were warned all week that you can't pick and choose when you do the basics well and we were punished for that today.

"When you come to Seaview you know what to expect - a hard-working team who are lively on the ball and you've got to match that first and foremost.

"If you're not willing to match that you're not going to get anything from the game.

"If we're being honest it wouldn't have been fair on Crusaders if they hadn't got anything from today."

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Glenavon manager Paddy McLaughlin said that their run of eight straight league to start the season is "frustrating" but that he believes they will start to pick up points soon.

The Lurgan Blues, who are rooted to the foot of the table, suffered their latest defeat on Saturday as they lost 2-0 against Linfield at Windsor Park.

Despite their worrying run of form which has also led to them scoring just twice and conceding 15 goals, McLaughlin is adamant that his squad can turn their difficult start around.

"It's frustrating, no doubt about that when you see how hard the players are working and the chances we are giving up," he told BBC Sport NI.

"We know there is quality in the changing room, that the heart and desire is there and if we can clean up at both ends of the park, we will get points soon enough."

McLaughlin was left to rue more defensive mistakes as a Kyle McClean double helped the Blues to a routine home win.

"I think we matched them for large parts, a few errors for the two goals which is disappointing when you're putting in so much effort to get behind the ball but going the other way we didn't carry enough of a threat," he added.

"It's something we have had a while; it is something we are working on as a team, going forward we have to do more."

Linfield goal scorer McClean was delighted with his side's solid showing as they got back to winning ways following Tuesday's defeat against Ballymena United.

"We were hugely disappointed with the way the game went on Tuesday, it is something we have to do here and something we have been good at recently, bouncing back, so we're happy to do that today," he said.

"I'm pleased with it [the performance] a lot can be made of it, but looking at the stats, Glenavon had no shots on target, and we had plenty of opportunities, on another day you score two or three so any game you win with a clean sheet you're over the moon."

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Dungannon Swifts boss Rodney McAree said his side's 2-1 win against nine-man Cliftonville represented a "vital three points".

The Swifts picked up only their second league victory of the season courtesy of first-half goals from Junior Uzokwe and Caolan Marron.

Joe Gormley had pulled a goal back for the Reds, who had Rory Hale sent off for a handball on the goal line and then saw Jonny Addis dismissed for two yellow card offences to set up a nervy finish for the Swifts.

Despite their numerical advantage, McAree's side had to defend deep with Cliftonville spurning chances to equalise late on.

"It's a vital three points. It's not pretty in the end, and it's not the way we want to win games," he told BBC Sport NI.

"I thought we started well and did okay until half-time after Rory Hale was sent off, but in the second half, we lacked control and composure. We played like a team with only three points from the first seven games, and there was a nervousness about us.

"It was a tough watch from our point of view, but I'd asked the players to give us hard work and an honest performance, and I think we got that. Yes, we lacked quality, but once the whistle went, I was relieved and happy to get the win."

McAree praised Junior Uzokwe's performance and his ability to settle quickly at the club after arriving late in the summer window.

"I thought Junior was very good. He was our best player in the second half too, probably the only one who showed composure and got us higher up the pitch," he added.

"I've worked with him before, and he brings energy, strength and aerial ability.

"He was exceptional today and took his penalty very well. He could easily have had another one with the pull at the back post, but overall, he did really well."

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Cliftonville boss Jim Magilton said his side conceded "two really poor goals" in their 2-1 defeat against Dungannon Swifts at Stangmore Park.

Junior Uzokwe scored a 19th minute penalty after Reds captain Rory Hale was sent off for a handball on the goal line.

Caolan Marron doubled the Swifts' advantage with a header from a free-kick before the break, with Joe Gormley pulling a goal back for Cliftonville, who then had Jonny Addis sent off for two yellow card offences.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Magilton believes his side had ample opportunities to salvage a draw from the game.

"First 45 minutes, we weren't at the races. Two really poor goals added to the sending off, so you're up against it. At half-time, you ask for courage, and you ask for do-or-die in the shirt, and we got that," he told BBC Sport NI.

"We played with more intensity. We knew we were giving up space, but still felt we could hurt them on the counter-attack, which we did.

"We had unbelievable opportunities to draw level, and on another day, those would have gone in. Today they didn't, and we lost the game."

Magilton referenced chances that fell the way of strikers Eric McWoods and Conor Falls that his side failed to capitalise on as they suffered a third defeat of the season.

"It became a basketball match and, in the end, they hung on," he added.

"[For McWoods' chance] It was a fantastic move, a fantastic bit of play. Eric's in the box, does everything right, but hits it straight at the keeper. On another day, it goes in.

"Conor Falls had an even better chance. It was a free header in the six-yard box. I don't think he was expecting it, but that was the big moment.

"Eric's chance was massive, but Conor's header from Jonny Addis's cross was just as good an opportunity."

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Crusaders boss Declan Caddell said his side produced a "real complete performance" in their 1-1 draw with Ballymena United at Seaview.

Despite dominating, Crusaders fell behind to Calvin McCurry's goal early in the second half, but fought back admirably to salvage a point late on through Fraser Bryden's penalty.

And Caddell believes it was a good response to Tuesday's heavy defeat against Larne, albeit he was frustrated his side could not take all three points.

"We dominated the game for 85 minutes, their only attack was their goal. We switched off for a set play and it was really disappointing," he told BBC Sport NI.

"Ballymena had a spell after they scored but then we grew into the game, thoroughly deserved the equaliser and pushed for the winner.

"I'm really happy with the performance, it was a real complete performance bar that one lapse of concentration.

"It's disappointing we didn't get the three points but if we play like that each week, we will be fine."

Goal scorer Bryden, who is the current Irish Premiership top scorer with six goals, was relieved to contribute from the spot after spurning an earlier opportunity in the game.

He is also content with the start to life he has made in north Belfast following a summer switch from Ayr United.

"Frustrating afternoon and a feeling of disappointment, we should have come away with all three points after that first half performance," he explained.

"I missed a sitter at 1-0 down so when the penalty came, I grabbed the chance with both hands. I was confident stepping up to it and was glad it went in the back of the net.

"I'm really pleased with my performances, as a striker, scoring goals is the most important thing and I just want to help the team."

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Portadown boss Niall Currie said that their 4-1 defeat against Bangor at Shamrock Park on Friday night was the "lowest performance" of his second spell in charge of the club.

Ben Cushnie's strike put the hosts ahead before Eamon Fyfe levelled for the Ports.

It went downhill from there however, as Reece Neale's free-kick restored Bangor's with Liam Hassin and Mark Haughey giving the away side a comfortable victory.

Currie lamented the nature of the goals they conceded, the second successive game in which Ports have shipped four goals following a 4-1 defeat against Coleraine last weekend.

"You're not going to win football matches when you're conceding the kind of goals we conceded. We are conceding far too many soft goals," he told BBC Sport NI.

"That is as bad as it gets, that is the lowest performance since I returned to the club three years ago, but that is on me, so the only way to get through this is to stay together."

Portadown are 10th in the table and have picked up just two wins from their first eight league games, but Currie believes they will make it through their current predicament of three straight defeats.

"We know if we get our act together, we can be a decent side. We carried seven or eight players against Bangor, and you can't do that," he added.

"We were nowhere near it; they were first and second to every ball and clinical with their chances. When you're off it in this league you get punished."

Bangor assistant manager John Douglas said some of their play was "sensational" and some of the goals they scored were "really good" as they picked up their first away win since returning to the top flight.

"Delighted with the performance and hopefully it is the first away win of many. We are getting better week on week with experience."

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Glentoran's Jordan Stewart insists he is not listening to his "critics" and is playing with "a lot of confidence" after his match-winning performance against Coleraine on Friday night.

Stewart, who rejoined the Glens in the summer after a single season at Crusaders, struck twice in the second half to help Declan Devine's undefeated pacesetters extend their lead at the top of the Irish Premiership table to four points.

The 30-year-old, who won an Irish Cup in his first spell at the Oval, doubled his tally for the season after being restored to the starting line-up at the Showgrounds.

"I've a lot to thank the manager for and his coaching staff for bringing me here," said Stewart, who also won four Irish Premiership titles during a seven-year spell at Linfield.

"I had a lot of critics when I came here and I knew I was going to get them, but it was an opportunity to play for a massive club and I've relished that.

"You need luck along the way but I've worked hard. It's been a good start but I'm not getting carried away, football can turn very quickly but I'll enjoy the good moments while they last."

When asked about silencing his critics, Stewart added: "Everyone's entitled to an opinion. It was a selfish decision for me, when Glentoran came knocking, you could say you're getting on in your career and I've had a few injuries.

"I wanted to come here and challenge myself, there were opportunities to go elsewhere but I saw this as a massive challenge and an opportunity for me to do well in the backend of my career."

Having brought Stewart back in for Friday's game, Devine said Stewart has "nothing to prove".

"I knew he would bring that and more," added the Glens boss.

"Jordan would be the first to tell you it's a team game but he was fantastic tonight.

"You look at his goals but what Jordan Stewart did without the ball tonight, what Liam Burt did without the ball, they're flair players but their discipline and willingness to do the ugly stuff was important to us."