Irish League Football

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Limavady United manager Paul Owens says Friday night's Irish Cup sixth round tie against Linfield at the Coleraine Showgrounds represents "a welcome distraction" for his side.

The game between the Championship pacesetters and the Premiership champions will be broadcast live on BBC iPlayer and on the BBC Sport website and app.

Owens' side sit five points clear at the top of the second tier of Northern Ireland domestic football as they chase promotion to the top division.

The Roesiders claimed a major scalp in last year's competition by defeating Larne in the fifth round.

"We can go into the game with no pressure and just enjoy the occasion," the Limavady boss told BBC Sport NI.

"I've watched them [Linfield] a couple of games and I've told the players that it's a welcome distraction. We can forget about the league for a week, park it."

Blues manager David Healy is wary of being on the wrong end of an upset at the last-16 stage and says there will be no complacency from his team.

"Paul has an experienced team and they are going well in the league," he reflected.

"They'll make it difficult for us but we've had them watched and will prepare as best we can and hopefully try and progress to the next round of the Irish Cup."

The most recent of Linfield's record 44 Irish Cup successes came in 2021 when they defeated Larne 2-1 in the final.

Joel Bell
BBC Sport NI

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Glentoran assistant manager Tim McCann said his players were "playing for the jersey" in Tuesday's 2-1 BetMcLean Cup semi-final win.

Pat Hoban opened the scoring for the Glens but his goal was cancelled out by Joel Cooper's second-half equaliser.

Jordan Jenkins then scored the winner during extra time to help his side progress to the final, where they will face Linfield on Sunday, 15 March.

''It was two fantastic teams battling it out. Coleraine are a top top team, we knew it was going to be very difficult. It was a heavy pitch and the crowd got really behind us,'' McCann told BBC Sport NI.

''If you're looking for grit and determination and players playing for the jersey, our players gave everything they had in their body and I thought we deserved to win.''

Hoban has found the back of the net 20 times in all competitions this season for the Glens and McCann was pleased that he and fellow forward Jenkins could make such telling contributions as the east Belfast side reached a second successive BetMcLean Cup final.

''Pat's [Hoban] been doing that every week. He's very dangerous, fox in the box. It's great to see JJ [Jordan Jenkins] on the scoresheet," McCann added.

''JJ always pops up with important goals and has done for this club for many years. I hope he keeps a couple for the final.''

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Women's Premiership quartet Cliftonville, Glentoran, Linfield and Lisburn Rangers have discovered their All-Island Cup group stage opponents.

The annual cross-border competition, which is in it's fourth year, brings together 12 teams from the Women's Premier Division and four teams from the Women's Premiership.

The draw for the group stage, where the 16 teams are split into four groups, was made at the Northern Ireland Football League headquarters on Wednesday.

Linfield have been drawn in Group One alongside Shamrock Rovers, Sligo Rovers and holders Wexford.

Lisburn Rangers are in Group Two with two-time winners Galway United, DLR Waves and Peamount United.

Cliftonville, who won the Challenge Cup and League Cup last season, will take on Athlone Town, Cork City and Treaty United in Group Three.

Women's Premiership champions Glentoran are in Group Four with Bohemians, Shelbourne and Waterford.

Fixtures are still to be confirmed, but the first round of group games will take place on Saturday, 4 April.

The four group winners and four second place sides will progress to the quarter-finals which will be held on the weekend of 13-14 June.

The semi-finals will take place on the weekend of 27-28 June with the final scheduled for Saturday, 18 July.

All-Island Cup groups:

Group One: Linfield, Shamrock Rovers, Sligo Rovers, Wexford

Group Two: Lisburn Rangers, Galway United, DLR Waves, Peamount United

Group Three: Cliftonville, Athlone Town, Cork City, Treaty United

Group Four: Glentoran, Bohemians, Shelbourne, Waterford

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Larne boss Gary Haveron says his team showed "class and quality" in defeating Ballymena United 2-1 in the Irish Cup.

Paul O'Neill fired home a Larne opener and Success Edogun's stunning strike brought United level before Leroy Millar hit the winner at the Showgrounds.

"Our boys showed real resilience, especially when they pegged us back at 1-1," said Haveron.

"Ballymena came out of the traps quickly at the start of the second half and got their goal.

"But we showed our class and quality with the second goal that we scored.

"The breakaway, a great ball in from Tomas [Cosgrove] and Leroy does what he's been doing for the last three to four years.

"It was a great finish from him and I'm delighted to see him get on the end of it."

Larne's reward is an away tie against Warrenpoint Town in the sixth round.

Watch highlights as Carrick Rangers come from behind to beat Bangor 3-2 in the Irish Premiership at Taylors Avenue.

You can read the report from the game here

Don't forget to follow all of our Irish Premiership coverage on our dedicated Irish League Football page

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Ballymena United have completed the deadline day signing of former Glentoran and Larne midfielder Fuad Sule from Indonesian club Peris Solo.

The 29-year-old won an Irish Premiership title during his time with Larne, where he spent five seasons before joining Glentoran in 2023.

The Dublin native then won the County Antrim Shield in 2025 with the east Belfast side before departing as a free agent last summer.

He has also had spells with St Patrick's Athletic, Bohemians and Barnet.

Glentoran were also busy on deadline day as they added winger Josh Daniels to their squad on a long-term deal.

The 29-year-old previously featured for hometown club Derry City and Glenavon before earning a move to Shrewsbury Town in 2020.

He then joined Welsh side The New Saints in 2022 where he won three league titles, two Welsh Cups and two Welsh League Cups.

Daniels had his contract mutually terminated by the club to allow him to return to Northern Ireland for family reasons.

"Coming home was really important for me and my family and when the opportunity to join Glentoran came up it felt like the right time and the right club," he told Glentoran's website.

"This is one of the biggest clubs on the island of Ireland and one I've played against many times over the years. They'd shown an interest in me before I moved to Shrewbury Town and again during my time away, so I'm delighted everything has finally come together."

Elsewhere, Cliftonville made three deadline day signings as they brought in striker Adam Carroll from Warrenpoint Town, goalkeeper Zach Balfour from Annan Athletic and midfielder Josh Kelly on loan from Glentoran.

Bangor completed the permanent signing of Oisin Devlin, who was on loan at the Seasiders from Larne, while Crusaders signed defender Scot Rough from Scottish League Two side Stranraer.

Image source, Inpho

Details of the next two Irish Premiership streams that will be shown live on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website have been revealed.

The BBC cameras will travel to Inver Park for top of the table Larne's home match against Dungannon Swifts on Friday, 13 March (19:45 GMT).

Earlier in the season, Larne were defeated by the Swifts at Stangmore Park before responding with a win in the following fixture between the sides.

Coleraine's trip to the Oval to play Glentoran on Friday, 20 March (19:45 GMT) will also be livestreamed.

The Glens have had a good record against Coleraine this season and have won both Premiership games between the sides.

These fixtures are the final two planned streams before the Irish Premiership split.

Irish Premiership games to be streamed on BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website (times GMT):

Friday 13 March: Larne v Dungannon, 19:45

Friday 20 March: Glentoran v Coleraine, 19:45

Image source, Pacemaker

Crusaders boss Declan Caddell said that Fraser Bryden's injury "did not look good" after the striker was stretchered off in their 4-2 defeat against Larne at Seaview.

Bryden, who drew the Crues level with a stunning volley, required 10 minutes of medical attention after colliding with the post when attempting to meet a cross.

He was then taken off the pitch on a stretcher and Caddell confirmed he has since been transferred to hospital.

"No update as of yet, he is away to the hospital and it didn't look good," Caddell told BBC Sport NI.

"Just thinking of Fraser, he's been exceptional for us this season and let's hope it's not as bad as we think. He's knocked his leg off the post and signs after it are that it's not good, so I will go see him straight after this."

Caddell was disappointed that his side succumbed to defeat as, after Bryden was taken off, late goals from Matty Lusty and Paul O'Neill secured a hard-fought win for Larne.

"Up until Fraser got injured I thought we were the better side. Two poor goals we conceded first half, got ourselves back into the game as Fraser scores an absolute worldie and we had Larne completely rocked," he added.

"The injury deflated us, we didn't really recover and Larne made changes, the quality they brought on changed the game for them."

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Glenavon boss Michael O'Connor said that the impending investment in the club from Football International Limited [FIL] is a "really good thing".

The Lurgan Blues announced on Wednesday that FIL will acquire a majority shareholding of the club.

The deal will require a final sign off from shareholders, but FIL's investment is set to be staggered over a five-year span and O'Connor is pleased it is nearly over the line.

"I know there's investment coming in. I haven't met the investors yet, but I think it's a really good thing for the club," he told BBC Sport NI.

"From what I understand, they're football people who have been involved in clubs before and know their stuff.

"They're coming in to try and make Glenavon competitive again. It's not going to happen in a year; it's more of a four or five-year plan where we can build and try to push the club forward. It's a positive thing."

O'Connor hopes the investment can improve "behind the scenes and on the pitch" at the club.

"Football evolves every year, and you see full-time teams spending big money and bringing in top players. It's important we don't get left behind," he added.

"We have to compete on the pitch, but off it as well. It's about creating an environment where fans enjoy coming to football and building that atmosphere around the club."

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Cliftonville boss Jim Magilton said his side's display in their 2-1 loss against Glenavon was "unacceptable".

Ryan Curran fired the Reds in front at Mourneview, but their lead lasted just six minutes as Paul McGovern levelled for the Lurgan Blues.

Lewis Ridd saved Nathaniel Ferris' penalty before Harry Murphy scored what proved to be the winner as the Reds fell to a second successive league defeat.

"Unacceptable. Substandard. Awful from start to finish, even though we gave ourselves a head start. I thought we were really poor man for man. The opposition deserved to win," he told BBC Sport NI.

"They showed more appetite in the game. Albeit we created some really good opportunities, I still thought we were awful."

Cliftonville are without a league win since 13 December and Magilton was critical of his side's inability to fight back in the second half after going behind.

"Showing appetite and desire is non-negotiable. Glenavon are fighting for their lives. Some of those lads are fighting for their very legs at their football club. I'm not going to accept that. Not from us," he added.

"We didn't play well at all. In fact, we were awful, and that encourages the opposition. They stay in the game."

"We talk about attitude and character. That was nowhere near the levels. Nowhere near."

Magilton has called on the Reds to respond in the Irish Cup sixth round next week when they face Glenavon again, this time at Solitude.

"What we produced today was pitiful. Next week, we have to show what that shirt means. It's as simple as that.

"Glenavon will come here ready to stand up and be counted. It's a big game for them, and it's a massive game for us too. We'll see how we go."

Image source, Inpho

Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree has signed a contract extension to keep him at the club until 2030.

The 51-year-old took over at the helm of the Swifts in 2023 for his second spell in charge with the club winning the Irish Cup for the first time in their history since.

McAree's side sit fifth in the Irish Premiership this year and have lost just two of their last nine games.

"I've really enjoyed it since I've come back. We've had some success, we've tasted success and we want to try and taste some more," McAree said after the announcement.

"It's nice to show commitment as well to the club. It is something that I wanted to show.

"I'm happy and content where I am, I'm very ambitious where I am as well, and this is something I am glad to do."