Irish League Football

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Carrick Rangers boss Stephen Baxter will now try and build on last campaign when the club registered a record points tally and secured silverware.

Winger Paul Heatley was a stand-out player last season and has signed a new one-year deal with the club as they aim to continue their positive run.

After 12 players left the club last off season, it may have been predicted that this transfer window would be quieter.

However, nine players have moved on this year with the experienced Jordan Forsythe joining from Crusaders and Daire O'Connor from Ballymena United.

As well as defending the County Antrim Shield this campaign, securing another go in the European play-offs will be an aim for the side after being knocked out by Dungannon Swifts last season.

Last season: 7th

Manager: Stephen Baxter

New signings: Jordan Forsythe, Jack Hastings, Daire O'Connor

First five fixtures: Portadown (H), Limavady United (A), Coleraine (H), Bangor (A), Linfield (A).

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After last season proved to be one to forget, Ballymena United's off season has been one of the most notable.

A total of 10 new signings have joined the Sky Blues and, due to the calibre of the new faces, the side will certainly be hoping for an improvement on last year's ninth placed finish.

Their opening home match against Linfield will catch the eye of many Irish League fans due to five players making the switch from the Blues to the Showgrounds.

Manager Oran Kearney has opted for Irish League experience with all 10 of his new signings coming from within the Irish Premiership.

The Sky Blues fans will be hoping that their new signings will make a similar level of impact than what Igor Rutkowski has since he joined from Armagh City in January.

The striker netted 11 goals in 16 appearances and will be aiming to play a similar role throughout this campaign.

Last year: 9th

Manager: Oran Kearney

Opening five fixtures: Linfield (H), Crusaders (A), Glentoran (H), Larne (H), Bangor (A)

New signings: Chris McKee, Micheal Glynn, Scot Whiteside, Josh Archer, Stephen Fallon, Charlie Allen, David Walsh, Jonny Addis, Owen Mahoney, Caoimhin McConnell

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Bangor have officially dusted off the title of the 'Premiership newbies' and will now look to consolidate their status as a top flight side.

The Seasiders' first season back in Irish Premiership in 15 years was a successful one with the club finishing 10th, behind Ballymena United on goal difference.

It will be a challenging campaign for the side with the teams who finished around them last year and newly promoted Limavady United having a busy summer with plenty of new signings compared to the Seasiders.

Lee Feeney has also had to balance seven players leaving during the off season but has brought in Ayr United's Lucas McRoberts and Steven McCullough from Portadown.

For Bangor to secure their Premiership status in a comfortable fashion once again, Feeney will know the importance of striker Ben Arthurs.

This season will be Arthurs eighth with Bangor, who sits second in the all-time scoring charts for the club.

Last season: 10th

Manager: Lee Feeney

New signings: Lucas McRoberts, Steven McCullough, Jeremi Rodriguez

First five fixtures: Cliftonville (H), Dungannon Swifts (A), Carrick Rangers (H), Ballymena United (H), Glentoran (A)

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Title challengers Cliftonville, Linfield and Glentoran all secured wins in the Women's Premiership on Friday.

Top-of-the-table Cliftonville maintain their two-point advantage over Linfield and Glentoran after a full programme of four matches.

The Reds were the evening's high scorers as they ran out convincing 9-0 victors over north Belfast rivals Crusaders at Solitude.

Toni-Leigh Finnegan, Teegan Lynch and Lucy Kelly all scored twice, with Caitlin McGuinness, Kirsty McGuinness and Charlotte Havern also on target.

Faye Loughran grabbed the winner five minutes after half-time as champions Glentoran edged out Derry City 1-0 at the Brandywell.

Eve Reilly and Megan Bell were the goalscorers as Linfield overcame Larne 2-0 at Midgley Park.

Meanwhile Ellie-Mae Dickson grabbed a hat-trick in Lisburn Rangers' comprehensive 6-0 win over Lisburn Ladies.

Abbie Smyth, Anastasija Stanyte and Natalia Keenan also found the net for the hosts at Crewe Park.

Leaders Cliftonville are at home to Glentoran on Monday night (20:00 BST).

Jana McCabe
BBC Sport NI journalist

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Chesterfield have announced the signing of striker Fraser Bryden from Crusaders on a three-year deal.

The 22-year-old netted 23 goals in 36 appearances in the Irish Premiership for the Crues last season, who avoided relegation after beating Annagh United on penalties in the promotion/relegation play-off.

League Two side Chesterfield finished sixth last campaign before being defeated in the play-off semi-final by Notts County.

"I am delighted for Fraser," Caddell said.

"Listen, I knew it would happen. When you have the breakthrough season last year, you always see it coming. We had it with Kieran Offord last year, he was in the same boat.

"Taking Fraser from where he was, not playing a lot or doing a lot and now it has kickstarted his career."

Bryden is the second player to make the move from the north Belfast side across the water this window after Scottish Championship side Dunfermline Athletic signed goalkeeper Musa Dibaga.

Caddell added that losing both players gives him the chance "to add more depth and quality in areas we do not have it" as he aims to avoid another relegation battle this campaign.

"As a club, this is what we are going to have to do. We do not have the finances to maintain these players and keep them and buy whatever players we want," he continued.

"We have to find these rough diamonds and polish them up and help them on to bigger and better things."

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Coleraine have suffered a major setback with the news that club captain Mark Coyle faces a significant spell on the sidelines after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in his side's 5-0 Uefa Conference League second qualifying round first leg defeat by HJK Helsinki last week.

The results of a scan confirmed the serious knee injury for the 29-year-old defensive midfielder, who joined the Bannsiders from Shelbourne in the January transfer window.

A statement from Coleraine read: "Our medical and performanmce staff will work closely with Mark throughout his rehabilitation, ensuring he receives the highest level of care and support during his recovery.

"Everyone at the club is naturally disappointed for Mark who is expected to face an unconfirmed period on the sidelines."

Coyle had two spells at League of Ireland side Finn Harps, before signing for Shelbourne in 2021.

The Letterkenny man won the 2024 League of Ireland Premier Division title with Shels and was an ever present in the club's 2025–26 Uefa Conference League campaign in which they reached the league phase for the first time in their history.

After joining Coleraine, he helped secure the Irish Cup with Ruaidhri Higgins' team in May.

On a more positive note, defender Aidan Wilson, who was carried off in the first leg in Helsinki, was not seriously injured, and is expected to be available for Thursday's second leg at Inver Park.

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Glentoran ended their Women's Champions League campaign with a 4-1 victory over Pyunik at the Cae Ras.

Kim Turner's side lost 4-1 to Dinamo Riga on Wednesday to miss out on the chance to progress beyond the first qualifying round.

But Gracie Conway scored twice in a comfortable win over the Armenian side on Saturday to ensure the Women's Premiership champions finished third in the group.

Susanna Badalyan opened the scoring for Pyunik, who lost their opener to group hosts Wrexham on Wednesday, but Nadene Caldwell equalised in first half injury time.

Conway netted twice after the restart to put Turner's side in control and Northern Ireland international Aimee Kerr added a fourth with 20 minutes remaining.

Karine Yeghyan netted an injury-time consolation for Pyunik, who Glentoran also defeated in their previous win in Europe at the same stage two years ago.

Dinamo Rigo face Wrexham at 18:00 BST on Saturday to determine who will win the mini-tournament and progress to the next round of the Champions League.

New episodes of Women's Football Weekly podcast drop every Tuesday on BBC Sounds, plus find interviews and extra content from the Women's Super League and beyond on the Women's Football Weekly feed

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Cliftonville Ladies inflicted a heavy 7-0 defeat on Lisburn Ladies at the Bluebell Stadium in Friday night's Women's Premiership game.

Derry City defeated Larne by the same scoreline at the Brandywell and Crusaders drew 2-2 with Lisburn Rangers at Seaview.

Louise McDaniel grabbed a hat-trick for Cliftonville, with Caitlin McGuinness on target twice and Danielle Maxwell and Kirsty McGuinness netting a goal apiece in an emphatic win for the Reds.

McDaniel opened the scoring inside eight minutes before Maxwell doubled the lead by racing onto Lucy Kelly's ball over the top and finishing confidently.

McDaniel struck again before the break and completed her treble with a fine individual effort after the restart.

Caitlin McGuinness added her two goals before Kirsty McGuinness rounded off the scoring in stoppage time.

Derry City secured an equally comprehensive victory thanks to doubles from Caoirse Doherty, Rachel McIntyre and Cache Crumlish-Hawes, plus a solitary goal from Rihanna Ferris.

Doherty gave the hosts the lead with an excellent first touch before finishing from close range after McIntyre's delivery, and the pair combined again as McIntyre's surging run from deep set up Doherty's second.

McIntyre then netted two of her own, first finishing calmly after racing onto a perfectly weighted through ball before converting at the back post from a well-worked corner.

Ferris added a fifth early in the second half before turning provider twice for Crumlish-Hawes to finish at the far post and complete the rout.

All the goals at Seaview came in the final quarter of the game as Alison Nelson put the home side in front on 70 minutes, only for Molly Loughran to restore parity seven minutes later.

An unfortunate Abbie Smyth own goal was then cancelled out by a late leveller for Rangers from Anastasija Stanyte in the 90th minute.

Image source, Presseye

Larne will face either FC Iberia 1999 Tbilisi or Slovan Bratislava should they lose to Red Star Belgrade in Champions League qualifying.

The Irish Premiership champions face the 1990-91 European Cup winners in the second round of qualifying with the first leg of their tie at Inver Park on Tuesday, 21 July (20:00 BST), with the second leg away from home on Wednesday, 29 July (19:00 BST).

Should Gary Haveron's side fail to progress to the next round of the the premier competition, they will face the losers of FC Iberia 1999's tie against Slovan Bratislava in the third qualifying round of the Europa League.

In the Conference League, Irish Cup winners Coleraine would face either Motherwell or Faroese side HB in the third qualifying round should they progress past HJK Helsinki.

The Bannsiders are in Finland for the first leg on Thursday (17:00 BST) before hosting the return fixture on 30 July (19:45 BST).

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Celtic have signed Northern Ireland defender Fi Morgan from Cliftonville.

The 22-year-old came through the Reds academy and made her senior debut in 2019.

Morgan, who made over 100 appearances for Cliftonville, won two Women's Premiership titles, two Irish Cups, four League Cups and a County Antrim Cup during her time with the north Belfast club.

She has also won three caps for Northern Ireland and the centre-back will link up with international teammate Casey Howe at the Hoops after she joined Grant Scott's side from Nottingham Forest earlier in the transfer window.

Image source, Press Eye

Linfield midfielder Megan Bell has been named June's player of the month by the Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association.

Bell rejoined the Blues last season after spells at Durham, Hearts, Rangers and Nottingham Forest and has played a vital role in Ryan McConville's side sitting top of the table this campaign.

The 25-year-old scored a hat-trick when Linfield beat Crusaders Strikers 9-1 and also netted during their 8-1 win over Lisburn Ladies.

"It means a lot. We had a good month as a team and I was happy to contribute," Bell said.

"We've had a good start, but it is still very early on in the season.

"We don't want to get too carried away. We go into every game wanting to win and we'll see where it takes us at the end of the season."

It was also a successful month for Bell on the international stage after she scored her fourth international goal for Northern Ireland during their World Cup qualifying defeat against Turkey.

Bell added that she is "more like myself" as she aims to help the Blues continue their title chase.

"It took me a while to find my feet but I'm feeling more like myself every week," Bell continued.

"I'm very happy and I think playing every week helps with that."