Aaron McEneff gets us underway at a noisy Coleraine Showgrounds.

New Glentoran manager Duncan Ferguson receives a rousing reception from the away fans.

It's up to his players now.

Referee Louise Thompson blows her whistle to start the action at a dry, calm Inver Park.

Rodney McAree
Dungannon Swifts manager on BBC iPlayer

Duncan Ferguson seems very approachable. He's very upbeat and he'll be excited to get started, especially after missing last weekend. His two previous spells in management didn't go as well as he wanted, so he'll want to make sure he gets it right. He'll do everything in his power to bring success to Glentoran.

Watch highlights from Linfield's 2-1 victory over Portadown at Shamrock Park a week ago.

Watch highlights from the 1-1 draw between Larne and Limavady United at Inver Park.

Larne failed to make significant inroads into the gap between themselves and Irish Premiership leaders Coleraine after being held to a 1-1 draw by Limavady United at Inver Park.

It's now three home games without a win for the champions who had to come from behind after Ronan Wilson has put the visitors in front.

Defender Aaron Donnelly fired home an equaliser with nine minutes left but Larne couldn't find a winner and now trail Coleraine by 11 points with two less games played.

Newly-promoted Limavady remain in 10th position on goal difference after drawing level on points with Dungannon Swifts.

Read the full report here.

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Rodney McAree
Dungannon Swifts manager on BBC iPlayer

It's going to be a fantastic game and it will be interesting to see how Duncan will set his team up. It will be interesting to see how it goes.

Defender Charles Dunne has re-joined Coleraine on a deal until the end of the 2027-28 season.

Dunne initially joined the Bannsiders in January 2025 and went on to play 55 times for the club.

He helped them win the Irish Cup last season before departing in the summer to "pursue other opportunities abroad".

The former Motherwell and St Mirren is now back at the Showgrounds and said that he "snapped their hand off to return" when the opportunity to do so materialised.

"The boys have been flying recently and doing so well, so long may it continue," he added.

Bannsiders boss Ruaidhri Higgins expressed his delight at being reunited with the experienced centre-back.

"Charles was very open, honest and transparent throughout the summer about his ambition to go abroad and you can't knock him for that.

"We always wanted to get him to re-sign and when you look at our group now, we only have two fit centre-backs in Rob Slevin and Cameron Stewart, with Aidan Wilson having an injury.

"One of those is also a loan, so we needed to protect ourselves and make sure we don't leave ourselves short in a key period of the season.

"To be able to add someone of Charles' quality is great. We know him, we know what he's about and what he brings to us on a daily basis."

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Catch-up on what new Glentoran manager Duncan Ferguson told BBC Sport NI's Thomas Kane after the announcement of his appointment.

Duncan Ferguson was all smiles when he met with local media after being appointed Glentoran manager.

Duncan Ferguson's appointment as Glentoran manager is one of the biggest arrivals in the history of the Irish League.

The Everton and Rangers legend has signed a multi-year deal at the Oval, and while he has been honest about his lack of local football knowledge, there is optimism at the club that he can guide them back into title contention.

But Ferguson, 54, is not the first well-known name to come to the Irish Premiership in recent years, either on the pitch or in the dugout.

There's been mixed success, from trophy-laden spells to forgettable cameos over since the Premiership was rebranded in 2008.

With Ferguson set to take charge against Ballymena United on Saturday in his first test as manager, how did the previous big names get on in the league over the past 18 years?

Image source, Press Eye

Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins says Duncan Ferguson's arrival in the Irish Premiership as Glentoran manager will boost the profile of the league significantly.

The league leaders will host the Glens for Ferguson's first match in charge of the east Belfast outfit at Ballycastle Road on Friday night (19:45 GMT), with the game being shown live on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website.

Following confirmation of the former Everton assistant's appointment to succeed Declan Devine as Glentoran boss last week, the Oval outfit had been scheduled to host Ballymena United on Saturday.

However, the match fell victim of Storm Boelo and was postponed.

"A huge character. I know people who know him personally and say he is a fantastic fellow," said Higgins of Ferguson when speaking to BBC Sport NI after Saturday's 5-0 win over Crusaders at Seaview.

"He'll add a lot to the league I'm sure, a big personality.

"He's a household name so in terms of profile for the league it will be huge and I'm looking forward to meeting him.

"But hopefully we can take three points off him next week. I wish him luck after next Friday!".

Read more here.

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins on BBC iPlayer: "We want to attack the game. We know it's going to be a tough night but we're in good form.

On Duncan Ferguson's first match: "We can't control it. All we can do, and all we've done all week, is prepare for this game. We don't know exactly what they are going to in terms of set up or tactically. But we know their players and we've focused on ourselves to make sure we are prepared as best as we can. We know there is a bit of extra attention on it, which is great, but it's not me they are wanting to see, that's for sure. We wish him luck - after 10 o'clock tonight.

Duncan Ferguson's eagerly anticipated bow as Glentoran manager begins at the Showgrounds and a meeting with league leaders Coleraine.

Bannsiders boss Ruaidhri Higgins is keen for his players to ignore the hype around the arrival of the big Scot as they seek to stretch their lead at the top of the table.

He makes just one change from the side which started last Saturday's 5-0 thumping of Crusaders as Will Patching returns from injury and takes the place of Rob Slevin, who drops to the bench.

Ferguson's first team selection shows three changes to that which defeated Limavady United in their last game a fortnight ago.

Ross Clarke, Daniel Larmour and Jack Malone all drop to the bench, their spots taken by Zeno Rosa, Jordan Stewart and James Douglas.

Coleraine: Webb, Stewart, Patching, Shevlin, Cooper (c), Ives, Devine, McDonald, Wylie, Doherty, Tonks.

Subs: Schofield, Kane, Boyle, Henderson, Brooks, Slevin, Thomson.

Glentoran: Mills, Cooney, Kane (c), Rossi, McEneff, Stewart, Sloggett, Brown, McMenamin, Jenkins, Douglas.

Subs: Crellin, Clarke, Hoban, O'Rourke, Larmour, Malone, Weatherup.

Referee: Christopher Morrison.

Image source, BBC Sport

Larne boss Gary Haveron makes two changes from the side which drew with Limavady in midweek.

Conor McKendry and James Simpson start in place of Jordan McEneff and Dylan Sloan, who drop to the bench where they are joined by Matty Lusty, who has recovered from a hamstring injury he sustained before the international break.

Portadown make one change from the side which lost to Linfield seven days ago as Lewis Mackinnon, who returned as a sub in that game after completing a suspension, starts in the centre of defence at the expense of Divin Isamala, who isn't named in the matchday squad.

Larne: Ferguson, Cosgrove, Bent, Ridley, Donnelly, Graham, Simpson, Gallagher, Doherty, McKendry, O'Neill.

Subs: Carney, Randall, O'Hara, Millar, McEneff, Sloan, Lusty.

Portadown: McCarey, Chapman, Altintop, Mackinnon, Carson, Hewitt, Thompson, Scott, Teelan, Kennedy, Fyfe.

Subs: Barry, Minzamba, Towe, Falls, Wells, Flanagan, Dos Santos Martins.

Image source, BBC Sport

Glentoran manager Duncan Ferguson on BBC iPlayer: "I'm delighted to be here. It's a great opportunity and I'm really looking forward to tonight.

"I get nervous all the time. It's exciting for me. It's a tough match against the top team in the league, so there's a wee bit of nerves to see how we are going to perform. This will give us a gauge to see where we are compared to the top teams in he the league.

On watching Coleraine last week: "I was very impressed and they've only made one change. They were the better team and scored a lot of goals, so we'll have to be wary and make sure we're closing them down.

On his viral Wifi clip on Thursday: "It was just one of those moments. We didn't know they were filming, to be honest. I'm absolutely rubbish on the phone, I didn't know the WiFi and I'm glad that everyone got a good laugh out of it."

Duncan Ferguson's highly anticipated first game as Glentoran boss will come six days later than first expected, but it will be a real baptism of fire for the former Everton striker as his side face leaders Coleraine.

As first games go there are few tougher than taking on the Bannsiders at their Showgrounds home in a game under the Friday night lights that will be live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website.

While Coleraine did suffer their sole defeat of the season at home to a resurgent Linfield last month, they have since bounced back in style to win their next four and open up a two-point gap over the Blues, which can be extended with a win on Friday.

With the Glens' game against Ballymena United on Saturday postponed because of a waterlogged pitch, Ferguson opted to make the trip to Seaview to see Ruaidhri Higgins' side dispatch 10-man Crusaders 5-0 for himself.

That will have given him plenty of food for thought as to how to combat the in-form table toppers as he embarks on the latest chapter of his young managerial career.

Read the rest of Lauren McCann's article here.

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Duncan Ferguson is plotting a return to the glory days at the Oval after his appointment as the new Glentoran manager.

Glentoran have not won a league title since 2009 and sit 11 points behind leaders Coleraine in the Irish Premiership.

"I'll give the club everything and I expect the players to give everything as well," Ferguson said during a news conference on Monday.

"Hopefully we can compete with the teams at the top of the league and get a bit closer to them. At the minute we're bit adrift of the top two or three.

"I'll bring a football team that will really run, run and run. I'll push them as hard as I can and set them up tactically well.

"Defensively we have been very good but we've lacked in creating chances so hopefully we can play attacking football."

Read more here.

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Hello and welcome to our live text commentary of tonight's two Irish Premiership fixtures.

At the Coleraine Showgrounds, new Glentoran boss Duncan Ferguson will take charge of his first game as the side face league leaders Coleraine.

You can watch the game live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website.

Elsewhere, Larne will be hoping to end their tough run when they host Portadown at Inver Park.

We will have text updates and in-play clips from both games with reports and highlights to follow.

Thanks for joining us. Enjoy!