Irish League Football

Image source, Inpho

Limavady United manager Paul Owens said his newly promoted side need "a bit of belief" as their search for their first points of the Irish Premiership season continue.

Owens' side were beaten by Glentoran in the opening match of the season before being beaten 2-1 at home by Carrick Rangers.

Despite the tough start, Owens said there are plenty of positives for his side who are competing in the top flight for the first time in 18 years.

"We have five forward players in the squad and they're all under 23. I have full belief that they'll be fine and they will score goals at this level," Owens told BBC Sport NI.

"It's just a wee bit of belief that they need. We probably went through similar last year at times then all came good towards the end of the season.

"I have no doubt they'll come good here again. That's what we're all learning on the job. Myself as a manager as well. We just have to take the belief from the positive parts."

There was an impressive crowd for the side's first Premiership match at the Limavady Showgrounds since 2008 and they nearly produced an impressive comeback in front of their fans against Carrick when Alfie Gaston pulled a goal back.

However, despite growing in confidence and having multiple chances, they could not find a leveller.

"It's just a really ruthless league," he continued.

"They were flat at half-time, there is no doubt about that. We picked ourselves up and it just says one goal could change us and it proved to be the case.

"I'm just trying to beat the drum after the match as you can see the difference whenever we start believing but it took that goal to just energise us."

Image source, Inpho

Crusaders manager Declan Caddell said that new signing Owen Wardell was "outstanding" during Saturday's 2-1 victory over Ballymena United at Seaview.

The winger joined the Crues from BE1 National Football Academy in Lithuania and has made an instant impact.

Wardell netted the winning goal against the Sky Blues to complete Crusaders' comeback and secure their first points of the 2026-27 season.

"I thought he was outstanding, man of the match and well deserved," Caddell told BBC Sport NI after the Ballymena victory.

"Our front three were excellent but Owen has stood out. He has no fear, is a bag of tricks and he can go right and left.

"The first goal came from his cross and I think he put 20 of them in against Ballymena and tested them. I am delighted for him."

The Crues were involved in a tense relegation battle last year and only secured their Premiership status after beating Annagh United in the promotion/relegation play-off.

Caddell said the side must aim to make their home ground, Seaview, "a fortress" as they aim for a much more comfortable season.

"Results last year were no near enough good enough," Caddell continued.

"We talked a lot in preseason and before the game about making Seaview a fortress again and not giving up.

"It is nice, especially for the home fans after the disappointment of last year to get the three points on the board."

Image source, Inpho

Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton said that "nobody is getting carried away" despite the side's positive start to the Irish Premiership season.

The north Belfast outfit were the victors against rivals Crusaders in the opening game of the campaign before beating Bangor 3-1 at Clandeboye Park.

The Reds have scored the most goals so far with new signings such as Ben Quinn impressing in their first fixtures.

"We have set out to be hard to beat," Magilton told BBC Sport NI.

"The game is the greatest teacher, and we will take great positives but there are certain things we have to work on and nobody is getting carried away.

"It is delightful, it's two wins but there is such a long way to go and we have to keep our feet firmly on the ground."

Now, Magilton's side's attentions will turn to their match against Linfield at Windsor Park.

The Blues lost against Ballymena United in their first game, but responded with a comfortable 2-1 win against Glentoran.

"I always look forward to going head-to-head with David Healy and playing Linfield, they are a fantastic side," he continued.

"No surprise, to me, that they bounced back against Glentoran. They have wonderful players, manager and staff. They bounced back in the style I thought they would.

"I am looking forward to the game and we go in with a bit of momentum."

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Cliftonville remain eight points clear at the top of the Women's Premiership after a 3-0 win over Lisburn Rangers at Crewe Park.

Teegan Lynch broke the deadlock after just seven minutes before Caitlin McGuinness netted twice to secure the comfortable win.

Linfield were the 2-1 victors against Derry City to stay in second spot.

Goals from Rachel McLaren and Grace McKimm put the away side in control before Chelsea Scott pulled one back for the Candystripes to set up a tense ending.

Glentoran thrashed Larne 7-1 thanks to goals from Aimee Kerr, Mia Moore, Emily Wilson and doubles from Demi Vance and Naomi McLaughlin.

Elsewhere, Crusaders drew 1-1 with Lisburn Ladies after Stacey Murdough's goal was cancelled out by Rebecca Mann's strike.

Image source, Portadown FC

Portadown have announced the signing of midfielder Ben Kennedy from Ballymena United.

The 29-year-old scored 17 goals in 42 appearances during his time at the Sky Blues after joining from Crusaders in 2024.

This is the Ports eighth signing since new manager David Jeffrey took over at Shamrock Park.

"Ben Kennedy is a unique player who will add to experience, creativity, guile and goalscoring threat to our team. He is a confident player who brings personality to any team," Portadown's head of recruitment David Douglas said after the announcement.

"Obviously I know Ben from my time at Ballymena and know how positive an influence he is around a changing room and the leadership he shows on the pitch.

"We are delighted to have Ben on board to add to the new recruits we have brought in this window and would like to thank Ballymena United for their professionalism and cooperation."

Image source, Inpho

Two of Larne's Irish Premiership fixtures have been postponed due to the European commitments of the Inver Park side.

Larne's home game with Limavady United on 22 August has been postponed, as has a trip to Ballymena United the following Saturday.

Gary Haveron's side are the last Irish Premiership club standing in Europe this season and are in the final qualifying round for the Uefa Conference League.

They will face either Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar or Omonia Nicosia of Cyprus in the play-off round, as they look to reach the league phase of the third tier of European competition for the second time, after their historic success in 2024.

The away leg of the play-off round will take place on Thursday, 20 August before the return leg at Inver Park on 27 August.

Saturday's game at Coleraine is set to go ahead as scheduled and it will be Larne's first of the new league campaign.

The club's season opener last Saturday against Bangor was also postponed.

The Northern Ireland Football League says that new dates for the postponed games will be issued in due course.