© Presseye
Action from Larne v Glentoran in the Danske Bank Premiership last season
A look ahead to all the games in the Danske Bank Premiership this weekend including details of how you can keep up with all the action.
(venue: Ballymena Showgrounds; kick-off: 3pm)
Defeats to the Premiership’s top two teams in the last fortnight will not deter David Jeffrey’s new look Sky Blues as they return home to the Showgrounds for the visit of Crusaders. Josh Kelly remains suspended as he serves the last game of his three match ban for the Sky Blues, who lost the last meeting between the sides back in January, 2-0 at Seaview.
Crusaders’ 100% start to the league campaign came to an end last Friday evening at Windsor Park against Linfield, but Stephen Baxter will be hoping his team can bounce back at the Showgrounds. Forward Adam Lecky made the switch from Ballymena to the Crues and could come up against his former side. Defender Billy Joe Burns is suspended.
The match is available to stream from ballymenaunitedfc.tv for £7.50
(venue: Belfast Loughshore Hotel Arena; kick-off: 3pm)
Both sides will be looking to get their first win of the season and put their tepid starts to the Danske Bank Premiership campaign to bed at the Belfast Loughshore Hotel Arena on Saturday. Carrick Rangers remain pointless after three defeats from three – the latest of which was at Solitude last Saturday, losing 3-0 to Cliftonville. Captain Mark Surgenor sits this important clash out through suspension.
By comparison Kris Lindsay will relieved to get a credible point on the board after a scoreless draw against Glenavon seven days ago. The Swifts won the last meeting between the two sides back in February in one of the final league games before the season curtailment, 2-1 at Stangmore Park.
This match is not being streamed by any broadcaster or either club.
(venue: Solitude; kick-off: 3pm)
The Reds will still be reeling from a late defeat to Glentoran in midweek which will have cost them the opportunity to retain the County Antrim Shield next month, but Paddy McLaughlin’s attentions will quickly focus back on the league campaign. Cliftonville start the weekend in fourth after two wins from three, the latest being a comfortable 3-0 victory over Carrick Rangers last weekend.
‘Point boss Barry Gray returns to the club he steered to an Irish Cup final a few seasons ago and after four points from their opening three games, could leap-frog the Reds in the early season standings with victory at Solitude. The task will be made harder though without influential duo Colm Deasy and Gavin Peers who both saw red in last Saturday’s draw against Portadown at Milltown.
The match is available to stream live from 247.tv/niprem for £7
(venue: Mourneview Park; kick-off: 3pm)
At Mourneview Park, home manager Gary Hamilton is still searching for the first win of the league campaign after another frustrating showing against Dungannon Swifts last Saturday. The Lurgan Blues will still be without the suspended defender Andrew Doyle.
The Bannsiders go into this game buoyed by the news of contract extensions for star performers Jamie Glackin, Ben Doherty and Josh Carson in the past week. Striker James McLaughlin scored the winner last time these sides met back in March, but he will be unavailable to Coleraine boss Oran Kearney following his red card against Glentoran
The match is available to stream live from 247.tv/niprem for £5
(venue: Shamrock Park; kick-off: 3pm)
The big games keeping coming thick and fast for the Ports in their return to the top-flight as they welcome reigning Champions Linfield to Shamrock for the first league meeting in over three years. Ports boss Matthew Tipton, himself a former Linfield player, watched from the stands as his side drew 1-1 with Warrenpoint Town last Saturday.
Despite boasting a flawless start to the Premiership season, Linfield tasted domestic defeat for the first time on Tuesday night in the County Antrim Shield to Larne. Midfielder Stephen Fallon faces an immediate suspension following his first half red-card against the Invermen. The last meeting of these two clubs came in the quarter finals of the League Cup in December 2018, a last minute Jordan Stewart goal sealed the victory for Linfield.
The match is available to stream live from 247.tv/niprem for £7
(venue: The Oval; kick-off: 5.30pm)
A dress-rehearsal for the County Antrim Shield final at the Oval on Saturday is the featured game for BBC Sport NI. Glentoran continued their fine cup form with progression to the Shield decider thanks to a solitary Dale Gorman goal. Manager Mick McDermott will now be looking to use that momentum to kick-start their faltering league campaign. Glentoran are without a win to date and host the league leaders. Defender Patrick McClean scored a dramatic late winner in this fixture last season and he returned to action in midweek following injury and will be in contention for his first league start of the season.
The Invermen reached their first senior final since 2005 on Tuesday night in style against Linfield but their focus will return to maintaining their 100% start to the season on Saturday with a trip to East Belfast. The return of Johnny McMurray is a boost for Tiernan Lynch, after he picked up a serious injury in January against Glentoran at Inver Park, but he will have to displace the in form David McDaid first – who has scored four goals in seven days for Larne.
The match is available live on the BBC Sport NI website and BBC iPlayer for FREE.
