Just 20 seconds in and Dungannon have the first corner of the game.

Leo Alves is heading over to take it.

Cricky Gallagher begins proceedings for the visitors as struggling Crusaders welcome Irish Premiership pacesetters Larne to Seaview.

We are under way at Stangmore Park.

The Swifts have won their last three home games against the Glens. Can they better this record this afternoon?

Referee Steven Gregg starts the action at a soggy Windsor Park, a venue at which it has been some 22 years since Ballymena last claimed three points when a Dominic Melly goal gave them a 1-0 win.

Current boss Oran Kearney was an unused sub for Ballymena that day – how he would love to lead his side to three much-needed points today.

Since that success, Ballymena’s next 30 league visits to the national stadium have yielded a miserable total of three points from a possible 90, while the Sky Blues have lost their previous 19 league trips here.

Referee Michael McKenna whistles us into action at Mourneview Park.

Michael O’Connor’s side won 3-1 the last time these two met here in February, but since then it has been one-way traffic, with Cliftonville putting together three straight wins over the Lurgan Blues.

Bangor's Michael Morgan gets us under way amid the drizzle at Clandeboye Park.

Bangor shocked Coleraine the last time they met here.

Can they repeat the trick this afternoon or will the visitors win to keep the heat on leaders Larne?

Michael O’Connor makes two alterations to the side beaten 2-0 by Coleraine last time out.

Barney McKeown and Gavin Gilmore drop to the bench, with Stephen Mallon and Charlie Lindsay drafted in as the hosts look to narrow the gap on 11th-placed Crusaders.

Jim Magilton reshuffles more heavily after defeat in the County Antrim Shield final, making four changes.

Lewis Ridd replaces PJ Morrison in goal, while Joe Gormley, Joseph Toole and Adebayo Fapetu make way. Sean Robertson, Brian Healy and Joe Sheridan come into the starting XI.

Glenavon: Carney, McMullan, Burns, Murphy, Campbell (C), Mallon, Ferris, Carlin, McGovern, Lindsay, Quinn.

Subs: Byrne, Cartwright, McKeown, Kee, Gilmore, Mountney, McGerrigan.

Cliftonville: Ridd, Addis, Wilson, Hale (C), Curran, Leppard, Jordan, Robertson, Kelly, Healy, Sheridan.

Subs: Pepper, Glynn, McStravick, Gormley, Murray, Fapetu, McGarry.

Image source, BBC Sport

It's a third meeting of the teams this season with the score standing at one win apiece.

Bangor had a 2-1 home win back in October before the Bannsiders gained revenge with a 2-0 victory at the Showgrounds in December.

The hosts' starting XI shows four changes to that which started last week's 2-1 defeat at Larne.

Club captain Lewis Harrison, sent off at Inver Park, Tiarnan Mulvenna and Stephen McGuinness are all suspended, while on-loan midfielder Stephen Fallon is ineligible to play against his parent club.

In their place come Liam Hassin, Ben Cushnie, Alfie Mitchell and experienced campaigner Robert Garrett.

Bannsiders' boss Ruaidhri Higgins makes three changes to the team which started last Friday night's 2-0 win over Glenavon.

Zane Okoro and Senan Devine drop to the bench while Will Patching, an ever-present this season, misses out through injury.

Dylan Boyle, Ben Wylie and James Akintunde are the men to come in.

Bangor: Deane, Neale, Hassin, Arthurs, Cushnie, Lynch, Francis, Garrett, Morgan, Hughes, Mitchell.

Subs: Grogan, Owens, Walker, Ferguson, Halliday, Burns, Matier.

Coleraine: Schofield, Jarvis, Boyle, Shevlin, Cooper, Dunne (c), McDonald, Wylie, Coyle, Akintunde, Connolly.

Subs: Webb, Kane, Ives, McGonigle, Stewart, Okoro, Devine.

Referee: Shane Andrews.

Image source, BBC Sport

Both managers shuffle their pack following their midweek meeting in the semi-final of the League Cup.

Adam Frizzell makes his first start for Linfield following his switch from Derry City earlier this month, while Sean Brown is also restored to the starting line-up. Charlie Allen and Dane McCullough are the players who make way.

Ballymena boss Oran Kearney makes five changes to the side which lost that semi-final.

Shane McEleney makes his debut after his transfer from Glentoran, while Aaron Jarvis, Daire O'Connor and Sean Murray are all handed starting spots and Igor Rutkowski leads the attack after being cup-tied in midweek.

Linfield: Johns, McKee, Hall, Leahy, Brown, Baird, Archer, McClean, Frizzell, Yates, Fitzpatrick.

Subs: Walsh, Whiteside, Millar, Allen, Ballantyne, Taylor, Graham.

Ballymena United: Wade, Toure, S McEleney, McCallion, Clarke, Jarvis, Murray, Corbally, O'Connor, Edogun, Rutkowski.

Subs: Breen, Lafferty, P McEleney, O'Donnell, Ebbe, Thompson, Hood.

Image source, BBC Sport

There are three changes to the Dungannon side that was thrashed by Carrick Rangers last weekend.

Adam Glenny returns from suspension and comes back into the starting XI alongside Leo Alves and Corey Smith.

Shea Gordon drops to the bench with Peter Maguire not in the squad and Junior departing the club since the defeat at Taylors Avenue.

Due to postponements, it has been a week and four days since Glentoran played and Declan Devine makes five alterations to the side that beat Strabane Athletic to advance in the Irish Cup.

Andrew Mills returns between the posts with Jarlath O'Rourke and Ross Clarke handed debuts, while Joe Thomson and James Singelton are also in the starting line-up.

Billy Crellin, Dylan Connolly, Liam Burt and Daniel Larmour are among the substitutes with Jack Malone not involved this afternoon.

Dungannon Swifts: Dunne, Glenny, Marron, Wallace, C Smith, Bigirimana, Kelly, Dillon, Alves, M Smith, Mitchell.

Subs: Henderson, McBrien, Gordon, McGinty, Doyle, Moore, McAllister.

Glentoran: Mills, Douglas, Kamson-Kamara, O'Rourke, Amos, Singleton, Palmer, Thomson, Stewart, Clarke, Hoban.

Subs: Crellin, Kelly, Connolly, Burt, Larmour, Jenkins, McEneff.

Image source, BBC Sport

Irish Premiership pacesetters Larne face a trip to Seaview this afternoon, looking to extend their unbeaten run to 10 games.

They face a struggling Crusaders side, who sit 11th in the table having lost three games on the spin.

Crues boss Declan Caddell aims to turn their fortunes around today, and makes five changes to his starting XI.

Jordan Forsythe, Finley Thorndike, Leon Barr and Thomas Maguire come in for Evan Easton, Adam Brooks, Stewart Nixon and Lewis Barr, with a late change in goal as Jonny Tuffey replaces Musa Dibaga who sustained an injury in the warm up.

Gary Haveron, on the other hand, makes just one change with Paul O'Neill replacing Andy Ryan in the starting line-up.

Crusaders: Tuffey, Jewitt-White, Thorndike, Dunlop, Forsythe (c), Williamson, Bryden, Bruce, Leon Barr, Maguire, Anderson.

Subs: Beattie, Hamilton, McKechnie, Brooks, Nixon, McCart, James.

Larne: Ferguson, Ridley, Donnelly, Gallagher, O'Neill, O'Connor, Graham, Doherty, Millar, McEneff, Cosgrove (c).

Subs: Graham, McKendry, Magee, Sloan, Lusty, Wallace, Simpson.

Image source, BBC Sport

Coleraine boss Ruaidhri Higgins says his squad is "in a much better place now than six months ago" following another busy transfer window.

The Bannsiders have brought in further reinforcements in January after a busy summer with Mark Coyle (Shelbourne), Mark Connolly (Derry City), Ben Wylie (Portadown), Will Patching (Carlisle United) and James Akintunde (FC Haka) all arriving this month.

And Higgins believes his squad is really taking shape now as they push to get into Europe and close the gap to league leaders Larne.

"We're coming towards the end of our second transfer window. People always say after two or three windows you build your own team so we're very close to where we want it to be," said Higgins.

Higgins knows his squad depth will be tested as they play three away games in three different competitions in the next week, starting with Saturday's Irish Premiership fixture against Bangor at Clandeboye Park.

They then travel to the Oval to take on Glentoran in the rescheduled BetMcLean Cup semi-final on Tuesday before an Irish Cup sixth-round tie against Carrick Rangers on 7 February.

The former Derry City boss acknowledges the quick turnaround between games will be "a tough task" but one they must "look forward to".

"You want to be involved in as many competitions as possible. It's to be embraced and not complained about," he added.

"We have a good group, we'll be ready to go and I'm sure the squad will be utilised over the next week.

"You can't complain about it then when the schedule gets busy so we won't do that. We've a good group of players who area ready for the week ahead, starting with Bangor."

Image source, Inpho

Glenavon have announced a plan for a "strategic partnership" with Football International Limited [FIL], who will acquire a majority shareholding in the Irish Premiership 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.

Glenavon are currently bottom of the Irish Premiership and have four league wins in 25 matches.

A statement from the Mourneview Park club said the investment will ensure "stability, continuity, and responsible long-term planning".

Glenavon said it would strengthen the club's financial position, improve commercial performance, generate revenue and reinforce the club's role "at the heart of its community".

A spokesperson for FIL said that Glenavon is a club with "real history, identity, and potential", and it was "excited to begin this journey".

"Our commitment is long-term. By investing over a five-year period, we aim to provide stability, strengthen the club's foundations, and support sustainable growth."

A Glenavon spokesperson said it was a "positive step" for the Lurgan Blues.

"The staged investment model gives the Club stability and clarity, while allowing us to plan responsibly and ambitiously," they said.

"Most importantly, this partnership is built on respect for Glenavon's heritage and a shared desire to see the club thrive again."

Image source, Press Eye

Watch highlights as Joel Cooper and Jamie McGonigle were on target as Coleraine defeated bottom side Glenavon 2-0 at the Showgrounds last week.

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."

Image source, Inpho

The Toronto Investment Group (TIG) have issued a statement saying that they have withdrawn their investment proposal to complete a takeover at Irish League club Cliftonville.

Cliftonville members had voted overwhelmingly at an extraordinary general meeting in April in favour of accepting a takeover proposal from the Canadian consortium but the move has been hit by a series of delays, with negotiations seemingly having stalled and friction arising within the north Belfast club.

It was hoped the TIG takeover could see the Irish Premiership side move to a full-time model in the future and make improvements to their Solitude ground.

The statement released by the TIG on Monday said they were withdrawing their proposal "with heavy hearts" and "with immediate effect".

"This is a very difficult decision we feel compelled to have to take directly resulting from circumstances beyond our control," the statement read.

"We would like to wish Cliftonville Football Club every success in the future. We continue to believe, that with the right approach, trust and people in place, a welcomed investment opportunity would permit limitless potential for Cliftonville over the coming years," it added.

In a statement, Cliftonville said the club's management committee became "increasingly concerned in recent months about the protracted nature of the takeover approach and the tensions that emerged as a result, both within the club and among the wider membership".

An extraordinary general meeting was adjourned earlier in January due to "frustrations" in the membership about details surrounding the takeover, and the statement added that the club's board "regrets that the process has not concluded in a more constructive manner".

"The Management Committee are delighted that our scrutiny, and that of the Member-appointed sub-committee, have brought a conclusion to this long-running affair with an outcome that protects the long-term interest of the Club," the statement read.

"The Management Committee will now take time to reflect on the position, stabalise matters, and consider next steps for the Club, including how best to pursue sustainable investment and development opportunities aligned with Cliftonville's values, heritage and long-term interests.

"Finally, we would like to thank Members for their patience, engagement and commitment to the Club during what has been a challenging and, at times, uncertain period."

Image source, Inpho

Watch highlights as Linfield claim the first spot in next month's BetMcLean Cup final with a 1-0 win over Ballymena United at Windsor Park on Wednesday.

Image source, Inpho

Linfield boss David Healy said the playing surface at Windsor Park was "borderline unplayable at times" in his side's BetMcLean Cup semi-final win over Ballymena United.

Isaac Baird scored the only goal of the game in the first half to help the Blues reach the decider on Sunday, 15 March, where they will face either Glentoran or Coleraine as they look to win the competition for a record 13th time.

The game at Windsor Park was initially set to take place on Tuesday but was postponed by 24 hours due to storm Chandra and Healy was critical of the state of the pitch.

"The pitch is tough, it is borderline unplayable at times and that's no disrespect to Matt, the groundsman who has been left on his own with no afterthought given, so that's disappointing," he told BBC Sport NI.

"I'm disappointed for Matt because it's not his fault, he needs a little bit of help and my question would be if there are international games in and around this period there's no way the pitch would be the standard it is at the minute.

"Gary Haveron was heavily critical of it as was Oran [Kearney] and Lee Feeney in recent weeks and that's frustrating because everyone is talking about improving everything, the infrastructure and pitches and if we can't as the national football stadium no one else can."

Despite his frustrations with the pitch, Healy was pleased with his side's professional display as they kept a clean sheet on their way to the final.

"I thought we were deserved winners. We should have created better opportunities in the game. I thought in some moments our play was good and we linked the ball well.

"Straight away the overriding emotion is really pleased to be in a cup final and I thought the performance levels and clean sheet were good."

Watch highlights as Adam Lecky scores a hat-trick as Carrick Rangers beat Dungannon Swifts 5-1 last week.

In January alone, 15 fixtures in the Irish Premiership, Irish Cup and BetMcLean Cup have been impacted by the weather.

It is an annual concern as fixtures are called off because of rain or frost, and the total number of league fixtures this season that have been postponed due to weather, European exploits or international call-ups stands at 17.

From the calendar squeeze to pitch maintenance and the summer football debate, how has football in Northern Ireland been impacted by the weather?

Read more from Andy Gray on the impact and potential solutions to bad weather here.

Image source, Inpho