The Danske Bank Premiership weekend continued on Saturday with important victories for Glenavon and Ballymena United while the big game at the Coleraine Showgrounds finished scoreless.

Glenavon, needing to bounce back following Tuesday’s League Cup defeat, did so in style with a five goal defeat of Dungannon Swifts at Mourneview Park.

Although scoreless at the break, Gary Hamilton’s side found their shooting boots in the second half. Conor McCloskey opened the scoring on 50 minutes with Eoin Bradley following up just a couple of minutes after that.

Isaac Baird made it 3-0 just after the hour with a superb strike into the top corner from around 20 yards out before Matthew Fitzpatrick bundled home a fourth not long after. Aaron Prendergast then completed the scoring late on with a great strike past Declan Dunne.

And Ballymena United also picked up a much needed three points thanks to a David McDaid double at home to bottom of the table Portadown.

McDaid bagged his first after eight minutes from close range after Ross Redman’s free-kick wasn’t cleared, before making sure six minutes from the end after running onto a well delivered Kenny Kane through ball.

Meanwhile, both the Bannsiders and Linfield failed to find the net in what was an eagerly anticipated encounter at the Showgrounds.

On Friday evening Larne moved to the top of the table with a 2-0 win away to Newry City, Glentoran hit five without reply past Carrick Rangers at the BetMcLean Oval while the north Belfast derby at Solitude also ended scoreless.