Irish League Football

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.

Image source, Pacemaker

Cliftonville Ladies extended their lead at the top of the NIFL Women's Premiership with a come-from-behind 3-1 win over Linfield Women at Midgley Park.

Heading into the game, the Reds held a five-point advantage over the south Belfast side in second, but that is now out to eight following this win, although they have played a game more.

The result keeps Linfield level with Glentoran Women who have a game in hand on their cross-town rivals.

It looked like Linfield were on course for a good night when Eve Reilly gave them a second-minute lead, but this would be as it got for the hosts.

Teegan Lynch would level the game in the 39th minutes to ensure it was level at half-time.

It would get even better for the Solitude side after the break as Toni-Leigh Finnegan gave them the lead just before the hour mark.

The issue was settled 15 minutes from time when Lynch grabbed her second of the game to ensure her side has put further daylight on their nearest challengers.

All three are all away from home this Friday with the Reds visiting Lisburn Rangers, while Linfield Women travel to the Ryan McBride Brandywell to face Derry City Women and Glentoran Women are at Larne Women. All games are 19:45 BST.

In Friday's other game, Crusaders Strikers host Lisbun Ladies at 20:00 BST.