The big traditional Boxing Day derbies well and truly lived up to their billing with an afternoon packed with goals, drama and incident across all six games in the Sports Direct Premiership.

There were victories for Crusaders, Dungannon Swifts and Glenavon, it ended scoreless at the BetMcLean Oval and Inver Park while Coleraine stormed back from two goals down to share the spoils with Ballymena United.

Linfield saw their lead at the reduced slightly to 12 points after a battling scoreless draw with Glentoran.

The Glens created considerably more chances throughout, but it was Linfield that came closest when Stephen Fallon directed a header onto the crossbar around the hour mark.

Both sides also finished the game with ten men each following the dismissals of Sam Roscoe and Marcus Kane in separate incidents, both after picking up two bookings each.

Coleraine hit back from two goals down to salvage a point from the visit of Ballymena United.

The deadlock was broken by the visitors just after the half-hour mark following an Alex Gawne cross from the right which Ethan Devine nodded beyond keeper Rory Brown.

United doubled their advantage right of the stroke of half-time in very similar circumstances to their first after Gawne's right-sided delivery was flicked home at the near post by Devine.

Coleraine pulled a goal back early in the second half through Cameron Stewart when he got his head to a Glackin corner to divert the ball past Sean O'Neill.

Then, midway through the second half, Dean Shiels' side grabbed the leveller after Shevlin stepped up to convert from the spot following handball in the area.

Kieran Offord bagged both goals as Crusaders defeated Cliftonville at Seaview.

After a scoreless first half it took the Crues only moments after the interval to find a way through. Jordan Stewart almost found the net himself with a thunderous effort off the crossbar from around 30 yards with Offord on hand to slide home the rebound.

Then, on 50 minutes, Offord doubled his tally with a back post header after Harry Jewitt-White had sent the ball back in after Ross Clarke's initial cross was only partially cleared.

Dungannon Swifts moved back into second spot with victory over Loughgall at Stangmore Park.

The Swifts moved in front on 19 minutes when Leo Alves sent over a corner which skipper Dean Curry did well to connect to and direct a powerful header past Nathan Gartside.

They then bagged their second on 66 minutes after John McGovern latched onto a through ball to keep his composure and slot past Gartside into the bottom corner.

Loughgall hit back with four minutes remaining to set up a nervous finish for the Swifts when Jay Boyd connected with a cross at the near post to send a header beyond the keeper.

Glenavon claimed the Mid Ulster bragging rights with a two-goal defeat of Portadown at Mourneview Park.

Although chances were at a premium in the first half Glenavon did go in at the break on top when, on 28 minutes, Len O'Sullivan burst into the area down the left and lay the ball back for Peter Campbell to slot past keeper Aaron McCarey.

And, right at the end, they made sure of the points when Niall Quinn knocked home the second with a left-foot finish that came off the woodwork before hitting the back of the net.

Larne had three goals disallowed and struck the woodwork as they had to settle for a scoreless draw in the East Antrim derby with Carrick Rangers.

Gary Haveron's side twice found the net in the scoreless first half, but both efforts were subsequently ruled out by the officials.

Their first, just before the half-hour mark, saw Cian Bolger head home at the back post from a Mark Randall delivery only for a push to be spotted thus wiping the 'goal' out.

Then while, a few minutes after that, Matthew Lusty knocked home the rebound from an Andy Ryan effort but this was also chalked off, this time for offside.

The deadlock might have been broken might through the second half after Aaron Donnelly had a go from 25 yards only for the crossbar to save Rangers while Ryan could only send the rebound wide.

Larne's luck continued to fail them later in proceedings after Conor McKendry - just on the pitch - struck an effort against an upright.

And, remarkably, they had yet another effort disallowed. On this occasion Bolger knocked on a Jordan McEneff corner and whilst keeper Ross Glendinning pushed the ball away it fell loose for Ryan to bundle over the line - but once again a flag was raised to scrub it out.