The new 2024/25 season in both the Sports Direct Premiership and Playr-Fit Championship got underway on Friday night with games at the BetMcLean Oval and Clandeboye Park.

New Crusaders boss Declan Caddell got his tenure off to a winning start with a narrow defeat of Glentoran.

What proved to be the only goal of the game - and the opening goal of the new Premiership campaign - came after 21 minutes when Kieran Offord turned the ball into the empty net after an attempted clearance by Glens keeper Daniel Gyollai was allowed to run free.

Just prior to that, at the other end, David Fisher saw a snapshot turned away by Jonny Tuffey while the home side might have levelled just before the break only for Wassim Aouachria's header from a Niall McGinn corner to be cleared off the line by Philip Lowry.

Glentoran had another chance early in the second half after another McGinn delivery was laid off by James Singleton for Charlie Lindsay but he could only turn his effort over the bar.

Substitute Jordan Jenkins almost made his presence felt almost immediately not long after that but his near post touch was cleared to safety by Robbie Weir.

Paddy McClean then headed over a little later in the game followed soon after by Lindsay spotting Tuffey out of position but unable to make the most of the opportunity.

Meanwhile, a few miles down the road, Bangor and HW Welders battled to an equal share of the four goals scored in the Championship season opener at Clandeboye Park.

The Seasiders held the advantage at the break after Matthew Ferguson - against his former club - finished off on the rebound after keeper Jack Mills had saved his initial effort.

The visitors levelled ten minutes into the second half through Sean O'Kane when he nodded home from David Parkhouse's long throw but, barely two minutes after that, 'Spike' struck again from Kyle Owens' knock down to head Bangor back in front.

It was a lead they held until eight minutes from time when summer signing Lewis Mearns earned a point for the Welders when he turned the loose ball home from close range after keeper James Taylor failed to hold onto Tiarnan O'Connor's free-kick.