Irish League Football

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Midfielder Will Patching has signed a permanent two-and-a-half-year contract with Coleraine.

The 27-year-old was on loan at the Showgrounds from Carlisle United and has now made the switch permanent.

Patching, who previously played for Notts County, Derry City and Dundalk, has scored six goals in 25 appearances for the Bannsiders.

Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins said Patching was an "exceptional" and "very elegant" player.

"What people maybe wouldn't see is his desire to win and how much not winning upsets him," Higgins said.

"I think when we took the job here, he was very quickly a player that we identified that we would like to build a team around."

Higgins added that plans to make the switch permanent had "been in the pipeline for quite a while".

"It's been in the pipeline for quite a while and it's clear how much we rate him and how much we value him as a footballer.

"I think now that this is done permanently, we'll see him kick on again and we're delighted that he's going to be a major part of our future."

Elsewhere, Cliftonville have announced the loan signing of versatile defender Joseph Toole from Fleetwood Town.

The Reds also confirmed that Thomas Lavery has been recalled from his loan by Sunderland after scoring twice in his 19 appearances for the north Belfast club.

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Ballymena United have announced the signing former Glentoran midfielder Sean Murray.

The 32-year-old had spells with Watford, Colchester United and Dundalk before joining the Glens in January 2022.

He made just 48 appearances during an injury-hit spell at the club and joined Cork City on loan in January 2024.

That summer the Englishman made the move to Cork permanent and he played 60 games for the Rebels before having his contract cancelled in December 2025.

He becomes Oran Kearney's third signing of the winter window after the arrivals of Igor Rutkowski and Dean Ebbe.

"What drew me most to Ballymena was the staff and the people around the club," he told Ballymena United's website.

"The project is a positive one and I'm happy to be a part of it. Hopefully as I get up to scratch in the next couple of weeks and we get a few people back, we can go on a bit of a charge up the table. Ballymena is a sleeping giant with great facilities and a great fan base."

Manager Kearney added that he was delighted to bring in someone as experienced as Murray.

"You don't play the number of games that he played for Watford in the Championship without undoubted star quality," he explained.

"He had a few injury issues, but he got those sorted a couple of years ago.

"He's absolutely flying and ready to go and we're looking forward to working with him."

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Carrick Rangers manager Stephen Baxter said his side have to "move forward" after their 7-0 loss against Glentoran at Taylors Avenue.

Pat Hoban netted six goals in 52 minutes to give the away side a sizeable lead before Liam Burt added a seventh.

It was an afternoon to forget for Carrick with defender Reece Glendinning dismissed for a high challenge on Jordan Jenkins after 30 minutes.

"Glentoran were better than us by some difference and we were well below par," Baxter told BBC Sport NI.

"Credit to Glentoran for some very good play and some very good finishes from Hoban and it was one of those days that got away from us.

"It is not something that I am going to lose any sleep over. Whether it was 4-0, 6-0 or 10-0, it is what it is, and we have lost the game. Players have to get over it quickly and move forward."

Baxter's side are now without a win in nine league games and sit 11th in the Premiership table.

As well as now being without the suspended Glendinning, Ryan Waide looks set to join Carrick's lengthy injury list after he had to be replaced 10 minutes into the game.

"In terms of where we are personal wise, we need to see fit bodies coming back and we need to bring one or two more in for what is ahead of us over the next 16 weeks," Baxter continued.

"We have one goalkeeper at the minute. Nathan Gartside looks like he will be out for quite a number of weeks with this thigh injury he picked up against Crusaders.

"Lots of things go on around you and the sending off doesn't help you and, for me, it was never a sending off."

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Crusaders boss Declan Caddell said his side "thoroughly deserved" their 2-0 win over Dungannon Swifts at Seaview.

Goals from Finley Thorndike and Fraser Bryden helped the hosts extend their unbeaten run to three games in the league.

The dogged victory also brought just a third clean sheet of the campaign, which Caddell was hugely satisfied with.

"It's a welcome three points, it's nice to start the new year off with a win at home as our home form hasn't been great," he told BBC Sport NI.

"The most pleasing thing for me was a clean sheet, something we have struggled with all season, but the boys were a credit to the fans today and I thought they were exceptional."

Caddell reserved praise for goalkeeper Musa Dibaga, who has put in a string of impressive displays since being reinstated to the starting side last month.

"Musa is growing in confidence week on week. He started at the start of the season and lacked that bit of confidence, we took him out and eased him back in and the last three weeks I think he's been exceptional," Caddell added.

"He made two good saves from free-kicks and some reaction saves and he showed today how good a goalkeeper he can be."

Dungannon Swifts boss Rodney McAree was frustrated with his side's display as they suffered a first league defeat in six games.

"We probably get what we deserve, we create numerous chances and don't take them, we present Crusaders with chances, and they capitalise on that," he said.

"I was a bit disappointed with us, at times we were lethargic and complacent, got caught in possession and paid the price."

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Linfield boss David Healy was satisfied that his side "responded well" in their emphatic 6-1 win over Bangor, which ended a run of three straight league defeats.

First-half goals from Charlie Allen and Matt Yates gave the Blues a comfortable half-time advantage which they built on in the second period with doubles from Chris McKee and Matthew Fitzpatrick.

The win moves Healy's side up to fourth in the table and he was pleased his side bounced back from damaging defeats against Glenavon, Glentoran and Coleraine.

"A couple of results that were tough to take for everyone, so it's important you win your next game," he told BBC Sport NI.

"We responded well, we got what we wanted today in terms of some well-worked goals and second half, we opened up the Bangor defence.

"The longer the game went today the more frustrated supporters would have been and that adds pressure to the players, but I thought we responded well, got the goals at a good time. We capitalised on a couple of good moments and got the goals in the second half at good times too."

Bangor boss Lee Feeney said he takes "full responsibility" for his side's heaviest defeat since their return to the top flight, but that he will not allow his players to dwell on it.

"I came into this game thinking I could play 4-4-2 and it didn't work out," he explained.

"We're disappointed but we know there are a lot of positives to take out of it. I think we'll use that as fuel going forward. I think that's the worst we'll be and we'll be better from this."

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Two of Saturday's Irish Premiership matches have been postponed due to frozen pitches.

Ballymena United's home game against Glenavon was postponed after a pitch inspection at the Ballymena Showgrounds on Saturday morning.

The game between Portadown and Cliftonville at Shamrock Park was also called off following a pitch inspection at Shamrock Park.

Saturday's three other games including Carrick Rangers' home game against title challengers Glentoran, are still set to go ahead as planned.

A yellow weather warning for snow and ice in Northern Ireland began at 15:00 GMT on Friday and is due to last until noon on Saturday.

That will be followed by another yellow warning - again for snow and ice - that comes into effect as the first warning ends and will last until noon on Monday.

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Larne boss Gary Haveron praised his team's attitude after an impressive 3-0 victory over title rivals Coleraine at Inver Park.

All the goals came from substitutes late in the game with Andy Ryan's double followed by a Paul O'Neill header.

The win sees the Inver Reds move seven points clear at the top and they also have played two games less than the second-placed Bannsiders.

"The attitude of the boys from the first whistle was plain to see - the desire to get the result was there.," said Haveron.

"I tell the boys that if they believe in themselves as much as I do they are capable of beating anybody in the league.

"It was a really good win but it's only three more points and we move on."

Larne are chasing a third Gibson Cup success in four years.

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Midfielder Stephen Fallon has joined Bangor on loan from Coleraine until the end of the season.

The 28-year-old joined the Bannsiders in the summer, having previously enjoyed a successful eight-and-a-half year spell with Linfield.

Fallon won six Irish League titles, three League Cups, two Irish Cups and a County Antrim Shield during his trophy-laden spell with the Blues.

"This is the calibre of player that we want to attract to Bangor Football Club – Stephen's been one of the best midfielders in the league over the past number of years," enthused Bangor manager Lee Feeney.

"He's coming into an environment that we think will suit him. We believe we can bring the best out of him and we're keen to get him playing on a consistent basis.

"He's a quality player – he's a box-to-box midfielder, he's intelligent, he's won this league."

Bangor lie seventh in the Premiership and face Linfield at Windsor Parkin their next league match on Saturday.

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Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins says his side will go after all three points when his side take on Irish Premiership leaders Larne at Inver Park on Friday night.

It is a battle of the top two in the league table as the Bannsiders try to reduce their deficit to the Invermen to one point, albeit Larne have two games in hand.

The game will be broadcast live on BBCiPlayer and the BBC Sport website, with kick-off at 19:45 GMT.

Higgins' side gave their title hopes a much-needed boost on Tuesday with a 3-1 victory over champions Linfield at Ballycastle Road, while Gary Haveron's men were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Cliftonville,

"It gives us confidence going there and we will go there and try to win the game. We won't be going there to try and get a point," Higgins told BBC Sport NI.

"Obviously Larne are huge favourites in everyone's eyes now [to win the league] but we have to go there and try to pick up three points."

The Bannsiders have added former Derry City players Mark Connolly and James Akintunde to their squad, along with acquiring midfielder Ben Wylie from Portadown.

Higgins believes the players will make a significant difference to his squad.

"They'll bring personality, Mark brings unbelievable leadership, which I think was lacking in certain games, hence why we've gone after the sort of personality we've gone after," he explained.

Larne go into the fixture unbeaten in their past 12 top flight outings.

Both previous meetings between the sides this season have been played at the Showgrounds, with Coleraine winning 1-0 on the opening weekend of the season in August and Larne exacting revenge with a 2-1 success in November.

"You've got to love it, you've got to embrace it, Coleraine coming to Inver Park for the first time this season and we'll be ready for the challenge," said Haveron.

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Former Northern Ireland international Josh Carson has joined Portadown after leaving Ballymena United.

The 32-year-old midfielder left Ballymena after 18 months at the Showgrounds, when he made the switch from Coleraine.

He previously played for Ipswich Town, York City and Linfield, and he won four Northern Ireland caps while playing in England.

Currie said he had been a "huge fan" of Carson "for many years", and he has "undoubted pedigree and quality".

"He's hungry and I could feel that from him right from our first conversations," he said.

"I totally expect him to quickly become a big favourite at our club, I'm sure our supporters will appreciate this lad."

Carson said he was "over the moon" to make the move to Shamrock Park.

"I'm hungry, passionate and I've a burning desire to be successful," he sad.

"What to expect from me is nothing less than 100% every time I cross that white line."

Portadown have also announced that midfielder Ryan Mayse has left the club to join Premier Intermediate side Dergview.

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Irish Premiership title challengers Coleraine have signed midfielder Ben Wylie from Portadown.

Wylie joins on a two-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee.

The 23-year-old joined Celtic from Linfield in 2020 and had loan spells at Ballymena United and Airdrie before a stint in Sweden with Ytterhogdals.

He joined Cliftonville in January 2024 and made the switch to Portadown that August, where he has impressed for Niall Currie's side.

Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins said that Portadown had given Wylie "a foundation to really play and express himself".

"I think we're going to get the benefits of it as his potential is now coming to the fore and we've got a really talented midfield player, who's not just talented, but he has an edge about him as well," Higgins said.

"I think that's really important in what we're trying to do."

Wylie said he was excited to return to full-time football and his aim "is to win trophies".

"I feel I know the league pretty well and I feel like I know what I have to do to be at my best every week.

"At the end of the day, I came here to win trophies. That was the aim the manager told me and that's what I want to do."

Portadown said it wished Wylie well for the future and thanked him for his time at Shamrock Park.

Wylie is the third arrival at the Coleraine Showgrounds of the window after the Bannsiders announced the signing of Derry City captain Mark Connolly and former Candystripes striker James Akintunde.

Higgins has also recalled 18-year-old Seanan Devine from his loan spell with Championship side H&W Welders.

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Rodney McAree says Dungannon Swifts' 1-0 win over struggling Glenavon was a "fantastic three points".

Junior Ogedi-Uzokwi scored the winning goal in the second half as the Swifts moved up to fourth in the Irish Premiership table.

McAree felt the Swifts were the better team than bottom side Glenavon, who have just 12 points from 23 matches, but "we had to dig deep near the end".

It has been a 2025 to remember for the Swifts after they won the Irish Cup for the first time in their history and qualified for European football.

The Swifts travel to Belfast to take on Crusaders on Saturday and McAree says while his focus is on the next match, they also have to "celebrate" their historic year.

"We have to celebrate that we've so many points come the turn of the year, so we'll maybe have the opportunity to not look over our shoulders so much and challenge ourselves.

"It feels as if we're punching a bit with the finances around the league, but we've a great set of lads, and we have shown how united we are and how together we are.

"We've shown we have the drive to succeed, and that's important. If we have all of that then we'll always give ourselves a chance."

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Larne manager Gary Haveron said the Irish Premiership leaders "needed to do more" in Tuesday's goalless draw at home to Cliftonville.

After Coleraine's win over Linfield, Larne's lead at the top of the table stands at four points over the Bannsiders, however Haveron's side have two games in hand.

The top two in the table face off at Inver Park on Friday, and Haveron feels his side need to do more in attack compared to Tuesday's draw with the Reds.

"For all the dominance we had with possession of the ball, we didn't ask enough questions or trouble the goalkeeper enough," Haveron said.

"We dominated the game but not the scoreboard. We needed to do more."

Haveron felt Larne had two "massive shouts" for a penalty waved away by referee Evan Boyce for challenges on Tomas Cosgrove and Matt Ridley.

"They are two absolute stonewalls, if they aren't penalties then I don't know what is."

In a boost for Larne, star striker Andy Ryan returned from a long-term knee injury as a late substitute and Haveron said they had "missed him badly"

"He's obviously our talisman in terms of goals. He's very sharp in and around the box, and if a chance falls to him he's prolific.

"It's great to have him back. We have to get him up to match speed as quickly as possible. Andy is going to be like a new signing."

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Linfield manager David Healy says that he is "hurting" after his side's losing run was extended to three games when Coleraine beat the Blues 3-1 at the Ballycastle Road Showgrounds.

Former Linfield striker Joel Cooper broke the deadlock just after the restart with substitute Jamie McGonigle adding a second for the home side.

Chris McKee did net from the spot in additional time for the defending league champions, but Will Patching adding Coleraine's third before the full-time whistle.

"We are going through a tough spell at the minute," Healy told BBC Sport NI.

"I get the frustration of the supporters. I hurt like them, I support the football club and I want us to do better.

"I said to the players, whether people like to hear it or not, sometimes you have to endure a bit of heartache and pain along the journey to get where you need to be and it is always a little bit better when it happens."

Linfield are now fifth in the Premiership standings, 14 points behind league leaders Larne and 10 off the Bannsiders in second position.

However, despite the poor run being the first time in eight years that Linfield have lost their past three league games, Healy added that they will not sign new players in January "for the sake of it".

"We'll probably look more in-house at more people coming back, then assess in January. We are not going to for the sake of," he continued.

"If something becomes available that will enhance the group and playing squad, we will see what business can possibly be achieved."