Summary

  • Ards 1-0 Carrick Rangers

  • Ballinamallard Utd 0-1 Dungannon Sw

  • Coleraine 1-1 Ballymena United

  • Crusaders 2-0 Cliftonville

  • Glenavon 1-0 Warrenpoint Town

  • Glentoran 2-1 Linfield

Live Reporting

Richard Petrie and Lyle Jackson

  1. The final whistle

    Well, that's it from a dramatic afternoon of Boxing Day Premiership action as Crusaders closed to within four points of leaders Coleraine, with a match in hand, thanks to a 2-0 triumph over Cliftonville, who remain fifth.

    The Bannsiders were held to a 1-1 draw by derby rivals Ballymena, while Glenavon stayed right in touch at the top courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Warrenpoint.

    Champions Linfield are now 15 points adrift of top spot in fourth position, as Glentoran ended their long wait for a Boxing Day win over the Blues at the Oval, 2-1 the scoreline.

    The win for Gary Haveron's outfit moved them back above Ballymena into sixth place in the league standings.

    Ards got the better of Carrick Rangers 1-0 and Dungannon piled more misery on Ballinamallard with a 1-0 victory at Ferney Park.

    Keep an eye out for all the goals from all the matches appearing tonight on the BBC Sport NI website and join us again on Saturday for another helping of festive Premiership action as Linfield host Crusaders, Cliftonville entertain Coleraine and Ballymena are at home to Glenavon.

  2. I think Curtis Allen enjoyed that one...

    Glentoran 2-1 Linfield

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  3. What they said

    Glentoran 2-1 Linfield

    I'm hugely, hugely disappointed. We felt we were on top for most of the game and we created the better chances but if you don't take your chances you don't win games. We weren't good enough on the day - the facts don't lie, we lost the game."

    David Healy, Linfield manager

  4. What they said

    Glenavon 1-0 Warrenpoint Town

    It was tough - Warrenpoint matched us for fight and effort but we just had that wee bit of extra quality I think. If you had asked us if we would have taken a 1-0 win at home before the game we would have taken it.

    Paul Millar, Glenavon assistant manager

  5. What they said

    Coleraine 1-1 Ballymena Utd

    On the balance of play, if we had won it, I don't think anyone could have said we didn't deserve it. We were the better side in the first half but Coleraine took their opportunity. We played fantastically well and there was plenty of goalmouth action. We had a few chances at the end, with Kevin Braniff going agonisingly close. At the other end, Jim Ervin was immense. He marshalled the back four really well.

    David Jeffrey, Ballymena United manager

  6. Irish Premiership - top six

    Irish Premiership tableBBC Sport

    Top half of the Irish Premiership table

  7. Irish Premiership - bottom six

    Irish Premiership tableBBC Sport

    Irish Premiership table

  8. What they said

    Glentoran 2-1 Linfield

    This means everything. Our results have been poor lately and it is far, far too long since we beat Linfield at the Oval on Boxing Day. To come from behind to beat Linfield with the fans right behind us is fantastic. It's the best feeling I've had since I was a manager.

    Gary Haveron, Glentoran manager

  9. What they said

    Crusaders 2-0 Cliftonville

    This was a massive win for us to stay involved in the title race. It's important that we got the three points and I thought we deserved to win even though Cliftonville made it tough for us. We were happy to keep a clean sheet too. Gavin (Whyte) has been superb this season and is probably the best player in the league at the moment.

    Sean Ward, Crusaders player

  10. What they said

    Coleraine 1-1 Ballymena Utd

    It was a typical Boxing Day derby - a great game and a monster crowd, which was good to see. It was a real end-to-end match and a good finish by Jamie. Ballymena got back into it and that gave them a lift.

    Oran Kearney, Coleraine manager

  11. Full-time scores

    Irish Prem FTBBC Sport NI

  12. FULL-TIME

    Ballinamallard Utd 0-1 Dungannon Swifts

    Dungannon take the win over basement side Ballinamallard.

  13. FULL-TIME

    Coleraine 1-1 Ballymena Utd

    Leaders Coleraine see their lead at the top cut to four points after they are held to a 1-1 draw in a thrilling end-to-end derby encounter at Ballycastle Road.

    A breathless pulsating Christmas cracker ends in a share of the spoils.

  14. FULL-TIME

    Glentoran 2-1 Linfield

    Late drama at the Oval as Glentoran snatch a stoppage-time winner against champions Linfield.

    It's the first time the Blues have lost in 14 away matches against the Glens.

    Linfield thought they had salvaged a point right at the end but Mark Haughey's effort was ruled out.

    Glentoran had taken just one point from their previous four matches and looked in trouble when Cameron Stewart shot Linfield into the lead.

    But two goals from Allen has the Glens fans celebrating as if they'd won the league!

  15. FULL-TIME

    Crusaders 2-0 Cliftonville

    Gavin Whyte's double gives Crusaders the Boxing Day derby bragging rights.

    A second defeat in a row for Cliftonville while Crusaders extend their unbeaten run to 16 games in all competitions, 15 of those wins.

  16. RED CARD

    Glentoran 2-1 Linfield

    Glentoran will have to see out the remaining seconds with 10 men as Dylan Davidson is sent off for a second yellow card.

  17. FULL-TIME

    Glenavon 1-0 Warrenpoint Town

    Rhys Marshall's first-half goal proves enough to keep Glenavon right in touch with the two teams above them,

  18. goal

    GOAL

    Glentoran 2-1 Linfield

    Linfield are stunned as Glentoran take the lead in stoppage-time at the Oval.

    It looks like a second goal for former Linfield man Curtis Allen as he steered Robbie McDaid's effort into the net.

    Curtis Allen scores a late winner for Glentoran

  19. FULL-TIME

    Ards 1-0 Carrick Rangers

    Scott Davidson's 30th-minute goal decides matters on the Clandeboye Road.

  20. goal

    GOAL

    Crusaders 2-0 Cliftonville

    Gavin Whyte bags his second in the first minute of added time to surely seal the three points for Crusaders!

    The goal comes from a counter-attack as Whyte bursts clear and gets the better of Brian Neeson in a one-on-one situation.

    As it stands, the Crues will move to within four points of leaders Coleraine with a match in hand.

    Crusaders Gavin Whyte makes it 2-0 at Seaview