Irish Premiership - As it happened

Summary

Crusaders 2-0 Linfield (res)
Coleraine 1-0 Ballymena (res)
Cliftonville 1-3 Glenavon (res)
Warrenpoint 1-0 Glentoran (res)
Ballinamallard 2-2 Dungannon (res)
Carrick 0-1 Ards (res)

Live Reporting

Alvin McCaig and Richard Petrie

That's all folkspublished at 17:55 British Summer Time 14 April 2018
That's all from us on a day when the top two in the Premiership both won to keep the nail-biting title race firmly on track.
On Grand National day, both Crusaders and Coleraine overcame the hurdles of Linfield and Ballymena United respectively, to remain deadlocked on points with just two rounds of fixtures to play.
Glenavon ended their lengthy winless streak with a 3-1 win at Cliftonville to move into third spot in the league.
At the other end of the table, Ballinamallard closed to within a point of Carrick - who lost at home to Ards - with a 2-2 draw against Dungannon, ahead of a crunch meeting of the bottom two on Tuesday night.
No such relegation worries, however, for Warrenpoint Town, whose 1-0 win over Glentoran ensures they will be playing top flight football next season.
The thrilling race for the league title moves on to next Saturday when, as always, we'll have live coverage of all the action.
Bye for now.
What they saidpublished at 17:47 British Summer Time 14 April 2018
Warrenpoint Town 1-0 Glentoran
Quote Message
It was a really good game - we were dominant in the first half but we were not ruthless enough. Our wee wizard Lorcan Forde produced a bit of magic to win it for us. I'm delighted we've secured our Premiership status with two games left. I've completed the job now and I would love to be in the post on a full-time basis. I suppose it's decision time now for me and the club.
Stephen McDonnell, Warrenpoint Town interim manager
What they saidpublished at 17:37 British Summer Time 14 April 2018
Coleraine 1-0 Ballymena United
Quote Message
To be brutally honest, I think we deserved at least a draw. It took something special to win it - it was a great strike by big McCauley. When it's a 'derby' day you come to give of your best and while I'm disappointed with the result, I can't be disappointed with the performance.
David Jeffrey, Ballymena United manager
What they saidpublished at 17:34 British Summer Time 14 April 2018
Crusaders 2-0 Linfield
Quote Message
It was very important we got the three points with just two games left. The boys showed character and we were brilliant from the first minute. We limited Linfield's chances and once we got the first the confidence flowed through the team. If we play like that in our last two games we should be okay and we look forward to a big derby against Cliftonville next Saturday.
Jordan Owens, Crusaders scorer
What they saidpublished at 17:30 British Summer Time 14 April 2018
Cliftonville 1-3 Glenavon
Quote Message
We didn't perform - we were poor all over the park. We conceded sloppy goals and never recovered from it. The sending off didn't help things but we got what we deserved. Third place is completely gone - there are no ifs, buts or maybes about it.
Barry Gray, Cliftonville manager
What they saidpublished at 17:24 British Summer Time 14 April 2018
Carrick Rangers 0-1 Ards
Quote Message
It a good result for us - we weathered the storm for the first 20 minutes but came through to win. I'm delighted to have extended my stay at Ards. I'm pleased I'm going to work with the many youngsters coming through and they can help us build on what we've done at Ards for the last two years.
Colin Nixon, Ards manager
What they saidpublished at 17:22 British Summer Time 14 April 2018
Ballinamallard United 2-2 Dungannon Swifts
Quote Message
I'll take the draw. When you're 2-1 down and have tired bodies after a hard shift, it's a welcome point. We have the belief but the job's not done. The players have put the effort in, the fans have responded and we look forward to welcoming Carrick to Ferney Park on Tuesday"
Harry McConkey, Ballinamallard United manager
What they saidpublished at 17:18 British Summer Time 14 April 2018
Cliftonville 1-3 Glenavon
Quote Message
It was a big game for us and we knew we had to win. The boys' last couple of performances haven't got the results they deserved but we got it today. All we can do is keep battling. If we can win our last two games we are guaranteed third place and then we have to hope for the cup final result to go our way.
Gary Hamilton, Glenavon manager
What they saidpublished at 17:15 British Summer Time 14 April 2018
Coleraine 1-0 Ballymena United
Quote Message
It probably wasn't a classic but we're delighted to get the three points in what could have been a very, very tricky game. Credit to our lads - the one negative was that we were a wee bit wasteful - but sometimes you have to win a game 1-0 and we're delighted to do that.
Oran Kearney, Coleraine manager
Mallards close in on Carrickpublished at 17:13 British Summer Time 14 April 2018
Image source, BBC Sport NI
Fortress Showgroundspublished at 17:12 British Summer Time 14 April 2018
Coleraine 1-0 Ballymena Utd
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What they saidpublished at 17:12 British Summer Time 14 April 2018
Crusaders 2-0 Linfield
Quote Message
It's all about the three points - with the champions coming to our home ground that was our sole objective. All we can do now is focus on our next game and that will be a tough task against our derby rivals Cliftonville. Next Saturday could be a deciding day in the title race.
Michael Carvill, Crusaders midfielder
The title race rolls on!published at 17:01 British Summer Time 14 April 2018
Image source, BBC Sport NI
Town in top-flight for another seasonpublished at 17:00 British Summer Time 14 April 2018
Warrenpoint Town 1-0 Glentoran
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Saturday scoreboardpublished at 16:56 British Summer Time 14 April 2018
Image source, BBC Sport
Image caption,
Irish Premiership Results
FULL-TIMEpublished at 16:56 British Summer Time 14 April 2018
Warrenpoint Town 1-0 Glentoran
Forde's composed late finish gives Warrenpoint all three points against Glentoran.
FULL-TIMEpublished at 16:55 British Summer Time 14 April 2018
Carrick Rangers 0-1 Ards
Rangers now just one point ahead of basement boys Ballinamallard after this home defeat.
FULL-TIMEpublished at 16:54 British Summer Time 14 April 2018
Coleraine 1-0 Ballymena Utd
It's all over at Ballycastle Road and Coleraine's title bid remains very much on track thanks to Darren McCauley's second-half goal.
It remains tied on points at the top with two sets of games to go. The dramatic end to the season continues.
FULL-TIMEpublished at 16:54 British Summer Time 14 April 2018
Ballinamallard United 2-2 Dungannon Swifts
Another vital point for Ballinamallard in their battle against relegation - they now trail Carrick by just a point ahead of the sides' crunch meeting on Tuesday night.
FULL-TIMEpublished at 16:53 British Summer Time 14 April 2018
Cliftonville 1-3 Glenavon
Glenavon return to winning ways with their first success since February to move back into third position.