Irish League Football

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Glentoran boss Declan Devine said that while he was "frustrated" by their 1-1 draw with Bangor, he could not fault his players' "desire" at Clandeboye Park.

Pat Hoban rescued a point for the Glens, levelling eight minutes after Tiarnan Mulvenna's stunning strike had put Bangor ahead.

Hoban then squandered two late chances as Glentoran's winless run in the league stretched to three games, but Devine praised his players after questioning their application in defeats to Glenavon and Dungannon Swifts.

"I thought we deserved to win it, we had more clear-cut chances and that's not being disrespectful to Lee [Feeney] and his team because they ask questions of you," Devine told BBC Sport NI.

"We were the team really trying to win the game, we are frustrated we weren't able to take the opportunities presented to us, but one thing I can't question is the hunger and desire of the players to keep going.

"I can't be critical, we had a lot of big performances, but no one's celebrating a point, we know we have to be better."

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Bangor boss Lee Feeney said that he was "really pleased" for midfielder Tiarnan Mulvenna, who scored a stunning goal in the Seasiders' 1-1 draw against Glentoran.

Mulvenna fired home from long range on 70 minutes to open the scoring, with Pat Hoban snatching a point for the Glens at Clandeboye with a goal eight minutes later.

Feeney praised Mulvenna's all-round display as well as his super strike which helped earned the point that moved Bangor up to seventh in the table.

"He deserved that, I'm really pleased for him, he puts so much effort in and I've mentioned before unsung heroes of the team and he's one of them," Feeney told BBC Sport NI.

"I hope he gets a bit of publicity for his performance and goal. Tiarnan has that in the locker, but the work he does off the ball too is fantastic."

Bangor are now winless in their last six league games after a tough November, but Feeney was heartened by their display against the Glens and believes they deserved a point.

"The last couple of minutes they were putting us under a bit of pressure and I was hoping we could see it out. I thought we did enough to get something out of the game," he added.

"We defended really well, attacked really well and won our midfield battles. It would have been disappointing if we didn't get anything so delighted to get something out of it."

Watch highlights as Bangor draw 1-1 with Glentoran in the Irish Premiership.

Read more: Glens held to frustrating draw against Bangor

Don't forget to follow all of our Irish Premiership coverage on our dedicated Irish League Football page

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Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins says "the honeymoon period is over" after his side's 2-1 loss against Larne at the Coleraine Showgrounds.

Leroy Millar and Sean Graham scored late in the first half to give the away side the lead with Conor McKendry coming close to netting Larne's third before the half-time whistle.

Despite Matthew Shevlin's late goal, Coleraine couldn't create a dramatic late comeback with Higgins labelling the performance from his side as "unacceptable"

This result means that, for the first time this season, Ruaidhri Higgins' side suffered back-to-back defeats after losing against Cliftonville on Saturday.

"That is what I said in there, the honeymoon period is over," Higgins told BBC Sport NI.

"We have to step up, all of us, and we will see in the coming days what we are made of really and it is important that we respond in the right manner to a bad four days.

"I demand that we respond in the right manner, get back on the horse and start winning football matches."

After Higgins was appointed late last season, Coleraine made a bright start to this campaign and were top of the table coming into the match against the Inver Reds.

However, now it is Gary Haveron's side are top of the table, two points clear of the Bannsiders with a game in hand.

"You can take getting beaten, but the manner of the defeat was unacceptable really," Higgins added.

"There is collective responsibility there. We are all responsible, I think.

"I think they did a number on us. They came, sat in and countered on us.

"We were weak in certain parts of the game which is extremely disappointing, and it is an unacceptable performance really."

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Larne manager Gary Haveron says his team were ''excellent from start to finish'' after they defeated Coleraine 2-1.

The cold north coast air didn't stop Leroy Millar from scoring his first goal of the season, before Sean Graham doubled their lead as half-time approached.

Matthew Shevlin got one back for Coleraine in stoppage time, but it wasn't enough to get anything from the game.

"I thought to a tee they carried out the game-plan to perfection," Haveron told BBC Sport NI.

"I thought they were excellent from start to finish and we rightfully got in ahead at two nil. If Conor's (McKendry) one had have sneaked into the bottom, it would've been the perfect first half performance.

"[We were] really secure at the back, really solid all over the park, and we were a constant threat on the counter attack. To come away with the three points, I'm absolutely delighted.''

Coleraine sat top of the league coming into this game, but this result means Larne overtake them to go first and two points clear despite Haveron commending Coleraine's "incredible" signings.

''We just look after ourselves and turn our attention to Dungannon, which is going to be a really difficult game,'' Haveron continued.

''If you look at the reinforcements they brought in, look at the amount of players they've signed, it's incredible.

''I never thought in the Irish League, you'd get to the point where people are getting the rewards of what they are. It's incredible so fair play to them.''

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Crusaders manager Declan Caddell insists striker Fraser Bryden is "going nowhere" despite rumours of a January move.

The 21-year-old Scot has made a major impact since arriving at Seaview in the summer, netting 13 goals.

Caddell accepts such a strike rate will draw attention from clubs within the Irish League and further afield, but has no fears the rumours will unsettle the player.

"Fraser is a level-headed kid," Caddell told BBC Sport NI following his team's 1-0 defeat by Linfield on Tuesday.

"The full focus is on ourselves and he doesn't let the outside noise annoy him.

"Of course, when you're hitting those heights you're going to get noticed and there will be talk about you, but he is a Crusaders player and he will always put the club first. At the minute he is going nowhere and his full focus is with us."

Crusaders went down to Chris McKee's 44th-minute strike on Tuesday but Linfield would strike the woodwork three times and also spurned further opportunities.

Caddell said he took "full responsibility" for his team's performance and conceded he got his tactics wrong.

"In the first half, I set the team up completely wrong, quite negative and didn't have a lot of time to work on it," he admitted.

"We looked disjointed, didn't look like ourselves and probably gave Linfield too much respect in the first half, held out for 44 minutes before we conceded

"We tried to recover in the second half, but just didn't reach the heights of this season. We were more on the front foot, but ultimately didn't do enough."

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Linfield manager David Healy feels their 1-0 win over Crusaders could have been more comfortable, but is happy with another three points on the board.

The Blues hit the woodwork three times in the first half through Kirk Millar, Charlie Allen and Chris McKee, while they went close on a number of occasions.

However, McKee finally broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time and although his side had further chances, it was enough to secure the win.

"It was hard fought, but I thought for large parts of the first half we should have extended our lead with the amount of opportunities we had," Healy told BBC Sport NI.

"That was frustrating and there were moments in the second half where (we could have been) a bit cleaner and tidier and added to our lead.

"Crusaders are dogged, Decky (Caddell) knows the league and they have big 'Chicken' (Jordan Owens) on the line too, so they aren't going to come, wave the white flag and hand three points over.

"I'm pleased with the outcome, pleased with the win and we'll move on to Carrick on Saturday."

With the experience of Jamie Mulgrew and Chris Shields missing, Healy was happy that McKee, Allen and Scot Whiteside have stepped up and made an impact.

"The hardest thing in sport and life, probably, is to keep being successful when you've been successful," he continued.

"We're probably missing one or two of the more experienced heads but the others who came in tonight and Saturday gave us good options, good energy and a freshness.

"They've been in and around the squad long enough now to know that when you get your opportunity, you've got to grasp it."

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Irish Premiership leaders Coleraine's home game with Larne will be shown live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website on Tuesday night.

The game at the Coleraine Showgrounds will see the top two in the league go head-to-head for the second time this season.

Michael Clarke will be joined on commentary by former Ballymena United and Linfield boss David Jeffrey.

Larne are a point behind Coleraine with two games in hand and have won their last three league games.

Coleraine, meanwhile, have failed to win their last two, losing 1-0 against Cliftonville on Saturday.

Joel Cooper scored the winner on his debut for the Bannsiders to help Ruaidhri Higgins' side claim a 1-0 win when the two teams met in August.

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Linfield manager David Healy says his side's 1-0 victory over Bangor at Clandeboye Park was a "big win".

Despite Bangor having the best chance of the first half and making a bright start to the second, Matthew Fitzpatrick netted the only goal of the game on 55 minutes.

The result is Linfield's second on the road of the season with their only other victory away from home also against Bangor.

"We are obviously pleased to win," Healy told BBC Sport NI.

"I have seen Bangor so many games over the last five years, so I am sort of proud of their progress and, in an unselfish way, you feel a bit disappointed you beat a team like Bangor.

"Bangor are so well drilled and such a threat. It was such a big win for us today."

The defending champions are now unbeaten in their last five games and move up to fourth.

Despite missing key players through injury and suspension Healy praised Linfield's "professional performance" in the second half.

"We have to up the ante away from home and we did that today. In the second half it was a very controlled and professional performance," Healy continued.

"It was poor in the first half, we spoke about it in the dressing room and we said it was actually boring me in the first half; it was that sort of game.

"Credit to the players today, we are missing experienced players who normally know how to manage the game."

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Carrick Rangers manager Stephen Baxter has bemoaned the decision to rule out a late goal which would have earned his side a draw against Portadown at Taylors Avenue on Saturday.

Ben Wylie gave the Ports the lead, before Jack Scott equalised from the penalty spot, then Eamon Fyfe netted what proved to be the winner in a 2-1 victory for the visitors.

There was late drama however deep into stoppage time when Adam Lecky headed Joe Crowe's free-kick into the path of Danny Gibson, who headed home what looked like an equaliser, but the linesman flagged for offside.

"When you pile the pressure on and you go into a crowded box and have every single player in the box and that ball comes in and we score off the second ball, I'll need to see that back, because in a crowded box I can't see how you get an offside in that," Baxter told BBC Sport NI.

"If the linesman has got that right from that distance fair play to him, he must have great eyes."

The Carrick boss thought the two teams cancelled each other out.

"I thought both teams shut each other out in many ways. I felt we probably had the better of the first half, certainly territorially, and we spent more time in their half.

"We got into good positions and had them under pressure without really creating a lot or causing much threat.

"In the second half, they had a 15-minute spell when they started getting in and around our box, put a bit of pressure on and then got the goal.

"They caught us high up the pitch and broke to score. We got back into the game quickly with the penalty, but it was naïve on our part not to be tight enough to the wide man and to allow the cross in for their second. That was disappointing."

Portadown manager Niall Currie was satisfied with his side's display.

"We knew it was going to be a very difficult day whenever you come to Carrick, and I've got to make sure that you win your individual battles and you have to go toe-to- toe with them.

"They are a big, strong, physical team with quality and championship winners, so I'm very proud of my players. To a man they were top drawer, and overall, we deserved to win the game, and I can't praise the players high enough.

"We had a difficult run of games. We've had Bangor, now Carrick, and these are the 50/50 games, and today was one, and we showed a real heart and aggression and all the things you need to win a football match."

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Bangor manager Lee Feeney says his side were "very unlucky" after their narrow 1-0 loss against Linfield at Clandeboye Park.

The Seasiders had the best chance of the first half with Chris Johns making a good save to deny Ben Cushnie's effort from a Tiernan Mulvenna cross.

The home side then made a bright start to the second half, but the Blues broke the deadlock against the run of play through Matthew Fitzpatrick just 10 minutes after the break.

"We are definitely improving and getting better," Feeney told BBC Sport NI.

"I know we didn't pick up points today, but I feel like we are getting closer to the top some of the top teams and we are learning as we go along.

"To play 90 minutes against those teams is a big ask, but I felt we were very unlucky today."

Bangor had a good chance to level the game, but Arthurs opted to pass to his strike partner Cushnie rather than have a shot himself.

Feeney turned to his bench and brought on attacking players, but they couldn't help his side find a leveller.

"I felt it was a scrappy game; when you are up against a team with a lot of quality, you try to make it into a battle," Feeney added.

"I felt in the first half we had the best chances and could have got one or two goals.

"You have to be ruthless when you play Linfield. That is twice we have played them now and they have been ruthless, and we haven't and that is why they are champions."

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Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton says that Rory Hale's goal was 'top class' and praised his side's work ethic, attitude and application during their 1-0 victory against Coleraine at Solitude.

The Reds broke the deadlock just before the break when Rory Hale converted Keevan Hawthorne's pass.

Cliftonville are now unbeaten in their last 16 games against the Bannsiders, who remain top of the table despite the defeat.

"In the end, you can take a deep breath when the game is over," Magilton told BBC Sport NI.

"I thought the goal we scored was a really top-class goal and if you watch football all weekend, you might not see a better goal in terms of the way we moved, passed the ball and Rory's finish.

"We dug in so well. I thought our work ethic, attitude and our application were outstanding and another clean sheet [their fourth in a row in the league]."

After a challenging start to the season, when the Reds were without a victory in their opening four games, they have found form and now move into the top six.

Magilton's side sit three points behind fifth-placed Dungannon Swifts.

Cliftonville's attention now turns to Tuesday night, when they face Ballymena United for a spot in the County Antrim Shield final.

"It is about building on the confidence and the momentum in the football club and the players," Magilton continued.

"We have a more settled team now and that is important in selection and players coming off the bench have to add worth and value. Today they did that.

"We won the game today and we have to build on that coming into December when we have a lot of games."

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Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins says his side "lacked quality" in the final third during their 1-0 defeat against Cliftonville at Solitude.

Rory Hale's goal in the 40th minute sealed the three points for the home side and extended the Reds' unbeaten run against Coleraine to 16 games.

Higgins' side remain top of the table but missed the chance to extend their slender advantage over Larne in second position to more than a point.

"We are obviously extremely disappointed," Higgins told BBC Sport NI.

"In the second half we had majority of the play, got into countless good areas over and over again and lacked quality when we got into the final third.

"We have outstanding footballers, but we probably had too many today who weren't at their best. Hence the reason we are going away from Solitude with no points."

The league leaders came into the game after a dramatic draw with Linfield at Windsor Park two weeks ago.

They now face Larne at Ballycastle Road on Tuesday night knowing that if the Inver Reds win they will move into top spot.

"I am glad because we have an opportunity to try and bounce back straight away," Higgins continued.

"We need to recover really well over the next couple of days and get ready to play a good side who are having a brilliant season.

"We will be going all out to at home to get the three points."

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Ballymena United manager Jim Ervin says it would have been "criminal" if his side had not picked up a point in their 2-2 draw with Crusaders at the Showgrounds.

The Sky Blues twice came from behind to salvage a draw in an action-packed encounter.

Jarlath O'Rourke put the Crues ahead, Kian Corbally equalised, Finley Thorndike edged the visitors in front again, but Danny Lafferty's late strike restored parity again.

"First half was very end-to-end and obviously they get the goal from the free-kick," said Ervin.

"We responded the right way and we got a goal back and I thought it was just going to be a matter of time before we kicked on.

"We gave another sloppy goal away but I thought the second half was the most one-sided second half that we have been involved in this year.

"The longer the game goes on you wonder if it's not going to be your day. We had 19 attempts on goal today but to be fair to Declan's boys they put their bodies on the line, then up steps Danny Lafferty with something we know he can do."

The Ballymena boss added that he was disappointed not to take all three points.

"Credit to the boys they bounced back twice. It's two points dropped but potentially it could have been worse."

Crusaders were denied a third consecutive league victory but their manager Declan Caddell believed a draw was a deserved outcome for both sides.

"Overall over the 90 minutes it was probably a fair result. Credit to both teams, they left everything on the pitch.

"For me it could have ended up 5-5, 6-6, 7-7, so credit to both sides for putting on a show.

"It's a difficult place to come, they're a good side, a well drilled side, very physical, but the boys stood up today so I'm pleased."