The wintery conditions may have wiped out most of the schedule but that didn’t stop those games that did beat the weather from hotting up the title races in each of their respective divisions.

Two Danske Bank Premiership games got the nod, and they resulted in victories for Linfield and Cliftonville as both closed the gap at the top of the table.

Linfield hit four goals without reply past Dungannon Swifts at Windsor Park.

Chris McKee opened the scoring as early as the sixth minute after converting a low cross from close range.

Eetu Vertainen added a second just after the half-hour mark with a stylish finish into the top corner, before Cameron Palmer made it 3-0 early in the second half.

Liam McStravick, who this week signed a professional contract with the Blues, then completed the scoring in stoppage time.

Across the city Cliftonville came from a goal down at Solitude to defeat Portadown 4-1, thanks largely to a hat-trick from Joe Gormley.

Greg Moorhouse fired the visitors into a 12th minute lead following a scramble in the box but Gormley hit back with two goals late in the first half to hand the Reds the advantage at the break.

Gormley then claimed the match ball on 70 minutes after connecting with Jonny Addis’ long ball to score from close range with Ronan Hale completing the scoring in added time.

The only game in the Lough 41 Championship saw Annagh United move to within two points of leaders Loughgall with victory over Institute at the BMG Arena.

Ciaran McGurgan’s side got off to a blistering start with two goals inside the first ten minutes from Adam Glenny and Craig Taylor.

‘Stute did twice hit the woodwork later in the first half, and pulled one back midway through the second but it wasn’t enough to deny Annagh the win.

And just one game survived in the Premier Intermediate League too, a first defeat of the season for leaders Ballymacash Rangers at home to Queen’s University.

Two goals in quick succession midway through the first half from Matthew Hughes and Ben Mulgrew put the Students very much in the driving seat.

Michael Moore pulled one back for ‘Cash on 68 minutes but Hughes, with his second of the afternoon, restored QUB’s two-goal cushion moments later.

Joshua Cahoon failed to convert from the spot on 87 minutes as Rangers chased a point and although Justin Armstrong did reduce the deficit in the closing moments the visitors held on to move into third spot.

The game at Clandeboye Park between second placed Bangor and Banbridge Town did start but was abandoned – scoreless – early in the second half due to the deteriorating conditions.

One game was played on Friday evening, also, when second half goals from Padraig Slane and Aodhfionn Casey saw Newington defeat HW Welders at Solitude.