Irish League Football

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Glentoran manager Declan Devine praised his players after the 2-1 comeback victory over leaders Coleraine at the Oval.

Matthew Shevlin put the visitors in front but Coleraine lost Dylan Boyle to a red card before late goals from Pat Hoban and Jonathan Russell clinched a dramatic win.

It also brought a five-match winless run in the league to an end as the Glens moved eight points behind the Bannsiders and Larne.

"It was a bit of a crazy game - it was a battle and we're obviously delighted to end that run of results," said Devine.

"It shows that when when we are at our best we are more than a match for anyone.

"No-one's getting carried away. It's a good win but I actually though we played better last week and lost.

"But the big plus for me is that it's credit to the players - it's so much down to them and going a goal behind it's very easy to buckle.

"The fans also deserved that - the noise they made and the appreciation they have given to the players."

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Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins says his side are "excited" about Friday night's Irish Premiership game against Glentoran, a match which will be streamed live on the BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website (19:45 GMT).

The Bannsiders sit top of the table ahead of the encounter at the Oval, with the Glens in fourth spot, 11 points adrift of the pacesetters with three games in hand over their opponents on Friday night.

The visitors to east Belfast have won their past three league games after suffering consecutive defeats to Cliftonville and Larne.

"Glentoran are at home so I'm sure they'll come out and have a right go," said Higgins.

"I think that's the only way they know and it should make for an open game. It's a game we're looking forward to and excited about.

"We just need to do the basics well. I'm sure it'll be a really difficult encounter."

Glentoran have picked up just two points from their past five league outings but that is not causing any complacency in the Coleraine camp.

"I know that Glentoran have recently had a difficult run of results but if you actually look at the performances against Cliftonville and Larne, in particular, they deserved to win both games and took just one point.

"So, if I was a Glentoran supporter, I would still be optimistic because of some of their performances.

"It would be different if they were getting beaten and deserved to be beaten - they haven't deserved the points total that they've got over the past few games.

"Three points would be very important if we could pick them up. It would be more daylight between us but we just have to try and treat the game in isolation and try and win the fixture that's in front of us."

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Details of the next eight Irish Premiership matches that will be shown live on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website have been revealed, with the County Antrim Shield final also set to be streamed.

Defending champions Linfield's trip to Taylors Avenue to face Carrick Rangers on Tuesday, 13 January (19:45 GMT) will be shown on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website as will the Blues' home match against Gary Haveron's Larne on Friday, 16 January (19:45).

The County Antrim Shield final at the Ballymena Showgrounds between Cliftonville and Carrick Rangers on Tuesday, 20 January (19:45) will also be streamed.

Title challengers Coleraine's match against bottom of the table Glenavon on Friday, 23 January (19:45) will be live streamed as well as Glentoran v Cliftonville on Sunday, 25 January (14:00).

The BBC cameras will then be at Inver Park for Glentoran's trip to face Larne on Tuesday, 10 February (19:45).

Three days after, Dungannon Swifts against Cliftonville (19:45) will be streamed with the Big Two derby between Linfield and Glentoran at Windsor Park also on the BBC iPlayer and website on Saturday, 21 February (18:00).

The final game of this set of live streams sees Cliftonville host Linfield on Sunday, 1 March at Solitude (15:00).

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

Tuesday, 13 January: Carrick Rangers v Linfield, 19:45

Friday, 16 January: Linfield v Larne, 19:45

Tuesday, 20 January: County Antrim Shield final: Cliftonville v Carrick Rangers, 19:45

Friday, 23 January: Coleraine v Glenavon, 19:45

Sunday, 25 January: Glentoran v Cliftonville, 14:00

Tuesday, 10 February: Larne v Glentoran, 19:45

Friday, 13 February: Dungannon Swifts v Cliftonville, 19:45

Saturday, 21 February: Linfield v Glentoran, 18:00

Sunday, 1 March: Cliftonville v Linfield, 15:00

Image source, Inpho

Glentoran boss Declan Devine says his team must strive to "transform decent performances into points" as they prepare to host Coleraine at the Oval on Friday (19:45 GMT) in a game that will be live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website.

The Glens welcome the leaders to east Belfast hoping to end a run of five league games without a win as they look to keep pace with the Bannsiders and Larne at the top of the table.

Devine has been encouraged by his team's displays in draws with Bangor and Cliftonville and last week's defeat by Larne, but has asked for more from his side to help them get back to winning ways.

"I know what's going on behind the scenes, where we're trying to go and what we're trying to improve on. If we were getting battered with the ball and other teams were cutting us open, I'd be extremely worried, but I know the fine margins," he told BBC Sport NI.

"We have to strengthen in January, but we can't fall any further behind. There are a lot of points still to play for and a lot of teams to play.

"We have to get back to basics of putting games to bed and getting clean sheets and if we can do that, we have the quality and togetherness. We need to transform decent performances into points."

Coleraine boss Ruaidhri Higgins is hoping his side can exact revenge at the Oval after the Glens picked up a 2-1 win against the Bannsiders at the Showgrounds in September.

"We have our own agenda, we have to go there and try pick up three points," he said.

"We know it will be a really difficult game, but we will give it everything to take the points home."

Image source, Ballymena United FC

Ballymena United have announced their first new signings under manager Oran Kearney with Dean Ebbe and Igor Rutkowski joining the club.

Ebbe joins the Sky Blues from Dundalk, who clinched the First Division title this year in the League of Ireland.

Formerly at Crusaders, the 31-year-old has played for Inverness Caledonian Thistle and the New Saints.

"Ebbe plays in an area of the pitch we need to improve on and we want strength and depth there too," Kearney told Ballymena United's social media channels.

"He's shown character and drive at Dundalk and you want people who are hungry and maybe want to prove a point after a spell in the league before."

As for Rutkowski, he makes the move from Armagh City after netting eight times for the Championship side so far this season.

The 21-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract at Kearney's side with both players eligible to play once the January transfer window opens.

"Igor is an exciting one and someone I've watched for a while," Kearney continued when asked about Rutkowski.

"He has shown a lot of quality, and I feel the timing is right for him here now.

"He's a confident, hardworking lad who scores goals and we'll get him in and training so he's ready to hit the ground running in January."

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Carrick Rangers manager Stephen Baxter said that his side's 3-3 draw with Dungannon Swifts at Taylors Avenue on Saturday "felt a bit like a loss" as Sean McAllister's last-minute equaliser secured a point for the visitors at Taylors Avenue.

Cahal McGinty's goal had the Swifts ahead early on, but Danny Gibson levelled to send the sides in all square at half-time.

McAllister netted the first of his double, but Paul Heatley and Aidan Steele were then on target, before Carrick restored parity in the dying moments.

"We were hugely disappointed not to get over the line. When you take the lead and you have four or five minutes to see out and you don't get the job done it's so disappointing.

"Obviously when that other team is nearly dead on their feet and they get that goal it feels like a win for them.

"A draw sometimes feels like a loss and that's how it feels a bit for our dressing room."

Despite the late disappointment, Baxter was satisfied with how his team performed.

"Take nothing away from our performance. The performance from us was stunning. We were brilliant in the first half. We were the team that was on the front foot the whole first 45 minutes.

"I thought they had a wee bright spell in the first 15 minutes of the second half and then we came right back into the game, scoring the goals.

"We were lively in the game and had a lot about us."

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Glenavon manager Michael O'Connor says the goals that his side conceded just before half-time during their 5-2 defeat against Cliftonville were "poor" and "schoolboy".

Jack Malone's effort cancelled out Eric McWoods strike early in the first half before Bridel Bosakani fired the away side ahead.

However, Cliftonville responded with Joe Sheridan and Addis netting for the Reds before the half-time whistle.

Despite Odhran Casey being dismissed after the restart, Jack Keaney secured the three points in the final 10 minutes after two stylish strikes.

"I thought it was a poor start from us. Three minutes in and we're 1-0 down," O'Connor told BBC Sport NI.

"Our reaction was good; we got ourselves back into the game and then led 2-1 with eight or nine minutes to go before half-time.

"Then the goals we conceded were awful. It was schoolboy stuff, not just the defenders, but midfielders as well. As a team, the two goals we conceded were poor."

Despite the man advantage, Glenavon struggled to find another goal with the Reds netting twice in the closing stages of the second half.

The defeat means that the Lurgan Blues are now without a win in two games and remain eight points adrift at the foot of the table.

"We didn't test the goalkeeper once [in the second half]," O'Connor continued.

"We didn't want to run in behind without the ball. We were misplacing passes and forcing the play instead of keeping it.

"It's a hard one to take. At 3-2, with them down to 10, I thought we might have a chance, but we didn't take it."

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Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton says his side "deserved to win" after their 5-2 victory against Glenavon at Solitude.

Eric McWoods broke the deadlock after just three minutes before goals from Jack Malone and Bridel Bosakani gave Glenavon the lead.

However, the Lurgan Blues' advantage lasted only a matter of minutes with Joe Sheridan firing home and Jonny Addis then adding another for the Reds just before the break.

Nine minutes after the restart, the Reds were reduced to 10 men when Odhran Casey was given his marching orders, but two stylish goals from Jack Keaney secured the three points.

"We got off to a fantastic start. We talked about getting off to a good start, and we did. Unfortunately, we didn't capitalise," Magilton told BBC Sport NI.

"They scored a really good goal and then the second goal is a fantastic finish.

"We just needed to increase our tempo, our passing and our quality. When we did that, we were obviously better. Overall, I think we probably deserved to win."

Despite the strong finish to the first half, the home side suffered an early setback after the restart when Casey was shown his second yellow card of the game for a foul on Paul McGovern.

Despite that, Cliftonville looked impressive during the second period with the result moving Magilton's side up to fifth position.

"I think she [Louise Thompson] had no alternative but to give it [the second yellow]," Magilton continued.

"I think the first one is a foul, but it's not a yellow card. Then the second one - is it a yellow card? I'm not sure.

"Obviously, Glenavon players aren't going to help that situation because they're gathering around her and they're in her ear. We shouldn't influence her, and the fourth official should help out in that, too."

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Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree says an improved second-half performance helped his side secure a 3-3 draw away to Carrick Rangers, the first time this season his side has emerged from a point from a Premiership game.

Cahal McGinty gave Swifts an early lead but Danny Gibson levelled before half-time.

Sean McAllister and Paul Heatley then traded goals, Aidan Steele edged Carrick ahead, then McAllister grabbed his second to ensure a point for the visitors to Taylors Avenue.

"We led the game twice and whenever you're leading twice you expect to get something out of it," McAree told BBC Radio Ulster's Sportsound after the game.

"To find ourselves 3-2 down was a bit of a kick in the teeth, because I thought we did better in the second half than we did in the first.

"We equalised in the 91st minute and we had a really good opportunity right at the death to win it.

"It could have been even better for us but the boys deserve great credit."

McAree was pleased with his team's improved commitment and application in the second period.

"We had to roll our sleeves up. I didn't think we did that well enough in the first half but I thought we did it much better in the second.

"Any time you play against a team managed by Stephen Baxter you know that they are going to be very committed. If you don't match that commitment his teams will run all over the top of you."

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Portadown manager Niall Currie has lavished praise on matchwinner James Teelan after the winger popped up with the winning goal in his side's 1-0 victory over Ballymena United at Shamrock Park.

The former Newry City and Crusaders player fired home with 15 minutes remaining to claim all three points for his side.

"James came to the party again for us and it's a huge result for us," Currie told BBC Sport NI after the game.

"He carries a huge threat and he possesses the one quality that players don't like to play against and that's pace. He has an abundance of pace and an abundance of ability.

"We're delighted to have him and he has become a very important player for us."

The Ports boss was pleased that his side kept a second consecutive clean sheet as they made it two wins in succession after beating Crusaders last week.

"It wasn't a pretty-on-the-eye type of game. It's one of those 50-50 games I talk about that we have to come out on top in and we did.

"They were two evenly matched teams but I thought we dealt with Ballymena really well. We looked nice and solid from a defensive point of view.

"We've conceded far too many goals this season but that's our second clean sheet in a row and that's what you build on, it's how you win football matches.

"I think we still carried a threat most of the game but it takes wee moments of magic to win a game."

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Linfield manager David Healy says his side "took the sting" out of Crusaders during their 4-0 victory at Windsor Park.

An own goal from Lewis Barr and Matthew Fitzpatrick's strike gave the home side the lead at the break.

Callumn Morrison then netted twice in the second half to help Linfield move seven points behind league leaders Coleraine.

"We had to work for it, like always," Healy BBC Sport NI.

"Crusaders will have been disappointed with the goals they gave away as it gave us an edge and a platform to build on.

"I am pleased. You look at Crusaders getting well beaten last weekend and potentially provoking a positive reaction, so we had to take the sting out of them and we did."

Morrison netted twice in 21 second-half minutes to register his first league goals of the campaign.

However, he was denied his third from the spot by Jonny Tuffey, who dived the correct way and denied his penalty.

"He probably should have, he will be disappointed," Healy added when asked if Morrison should have scored a third.

"I thought his work ethic, his work rate and some of his play was good today.

"Callumn is a talented player and we look forward to him building on his confidence and hopefully adding goals to his game."

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Ballymena United manager Oran Kearney says he has identified a number of areas in which his side can improve after watching the Sky Blues lose 1-0 at Portadown in his first match in charge at Shamrock Park.

James Teelan's second-half goal proved sufficient to earn Niall Currie's side three points.

"Disappointed to lose the game and the manner of the defeat. We defended really well all day, I don't remember Declan [Breen, Ballymena goalkeeper] having much to do.

"There's just one ball over the top where we switch off for a few seconds and it's costly. Our response was good and I thought we had a real good go at it in the last 15 or 20 minutes of the game but a lot of work to do.

"The positives are there - the attitude didn't stop, didn't wane, and we've kept going.

"It's been a busy week and we're all getting to know each other. There were parts we were content with, but other parts we're not content with."

The former Coleraine boss anticipates making some changes to his squad in January.

"The thing is we are mid-season and we have to get cracking on those things quickly."

"We'll do business in January but we have a lot of work to do coming in to that and it's important we use that window as best we can."

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Crusaders manager Declan Caddell says "confidence is low" after his side were defeated 4-0 by Linfield at Windsor Park.

A Lewis Barr own goal gave the home side the lead after just five minutes before Matthew Fitzpatrick netted later in the first half.

Callumn Morrison then scored twice in the second half to give Linfield more breathing space and inflict a second 4-0 defeat on Crusaders of the week.

Caddell's side sit in 11th position, but eight points ahead of Glenavon at the bottom of the table.

"There were patches in the game when I thought we were really good, but conceding after five minutes puts the game plan out the window," Caddell told BBC Sport NI.

"It was difficult. Confidence is low at the minute, and you are coming into this game hoping that everything falls into place.

"We go back to basics and decision making. It's [the first goal] a ball whipped in and it is an own goal from two yards out at the back post. It doesn't happen in school football and it should never happen at this level and it's happening far too often."

Crusaders are now without a win in five games and have failed to score in their last four matches.

Despite being busy during the summer transfer market, Caddell added that he has "big decisions" to make in the January window.

"It is a good month in terms of windows opening," Caddell continued.

"We have given boys opportunities, and some boys have really taken those opportunities but, ultimately, I need to make big decisions on the squad going forward.

"I have played my whole career and mistakes happen, but they can't happen every single week and that is why we are in the situation we are in."

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Glentoran manager Declan Devine lamented his side's lack of a clinical edge in their 1-0 loss to Larne in Friday's Irish Premiership game at Inver Park.

Benji Magee drilled home a low shot with eight minutes remaining of the encounter, leaving the Glens without a win from their past five top division matches.

Devine's side, who have collected just two points from those five outings, lie 11 points adrift of Larne and Coleraine, who sit top of the league table on goal difference.

"We have to look at ourselves in terms of not taking opportunities. We've dominated the game against a good side away from home at a difficult venue," bemoaned the Glens boss.

"We've given up one opportunity in the game and we've got punished, yet we've created four or five good chances and not taken them.

"It's a very difficult time for us at the moment because our performances haven't been bad in recent games but our points tally has been poor. There's no shying away from that.

"You can have all the domination that you want but at the end of the day it comes down to having three points in the bag. You've got to put that ball in the back of the net."

With meetings against Coleraine and Linfield to come in their next two games, things don't get any easier for the Glens.

"I know we're really close to being a really good side, I think we'll still be in the mix, and we don't fear anyone in the league, but we've got to tidy up and make sure we are more ruthless, have more cohesion about us in terms of digging out a clean sheet.

"We can't fall further behind [the leaders].

"We've gone behind in each of the last five games so when you give away that first goal it's extremely hard to come away with three points.

"We wanted to send our supporters home happy [against Larne] as they were magnificent for us. The players are distraught because it was a game we didn't deserve to lose."

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Larne manager Gary Haveron has praised the match-winning contribution of forward Benji Magee, who came off the bench to score a brilliant goal eight minutes from time to secure a 1-0 victory over Glentoran at Inver Park on Friday night.

The moment of individual brilliance from the former Loughgall front man saw him drift away from Cameron Palmer and rifle a low drive past Andrew Mills from just outside the penalty area.

The victory has the Invermen level on points with Coleraine at the top of the table, trailing only on goal difference, but with two games in hand over the leaders.

"It needed something to kick-start the game. It never really caught fire but Benji came up with that moment and that's what he's capable of," said Haveron.

"We know that, we see Benji do that on a regular basis. When you see some of the things he does in training it's no surprise when he pops up and produces that bit of brilliance in the game.

"That was the bit of quality the game was probably lacking. We've had a really tough run of games but 10 points out of 12 from fixtures against Coleraine, Dungannon Swifts, Linfield and Glentoran is a super return by the boys.

"It was always going to be small margins in a game like this so delighted to get three points and we move on."

Haveron was satisfied with the way his side combatted the threat posed by their opponents in the first meeting between the sides this season.

"It's hard to play against the Glens, they're so long and direct and they stretch the game. They press up behind the long ball. That's a style that really works for them as they've got a great striker in Pat Hoban who can hold the ball up and they can get players up around him.

"They've got that very direct style that you've got to combat.

"It's more difficult for us because we're trying to play the ball out from the back, move the ball quickly across the back and play up through the thirds but we lacked that little bit of connection between midfield and attack.

"We got in behind them a couple of times in the first half but we never did the same in the second. We never had that threat. But they asked a lot of questions and we had the answers."

Larne remain unbeaten at home this season in the league, their last hone defat on their own patch coming against Dungannon back in February.

"Keeping this place tight is really key for us. I hate conceding goals with an absolute passion and we're a hard team to break down. We stick at it."

DD: "We have to look at ourselves in terms of not taking opportunities. We've dominated the game against a good side away from home at a difficult venue.

"We've given up one opportunity in the game and we've got punished, yet we've created four or five good chances and not taken them.

"It's a very difficult time for us at the moment because our performances haven't been bad in recent games but our points tally has been poor. There's no shying away from that.

"You can have all the domination that you want but at the end of the day it comes down to having three points in the bag. You've got to put that ball in the back of the net.

"I know we're really close to being a really good side, I think we'll still be in the mix, and we don't fear anyone in the league but we've got to tidy up and make sure we are more ruthless, have more cohesion about us in terms of digging out a clean sheet.

"We can't fall further behind."

"We've gone behind in the last five games so when you give away that first goal it's extremely hard to come away with three points.

"We wanted to send our supporters home happy as they were magnificent for us. The players are distraught because it was a game we didn't deserve to lose."