Philip Major
Sportsound summariser

The challenge for Glentoran is do they have enough to go on an unbeaten run? The evidence suggests not. They still have an awful lot to play and need just think about beating Linfield today.

It's a Big Two derby to kick off the Irish Premiership split as Gibson Cup chasing Glentoran welcome current champions Linfield to the Oval.

The Blues of course defeated the Glens last time out in the BetMcLean Cup Final 13 days ago, but haven't beaten the east Belfast outfit on their own patch in over two years.

In fact, Linfield's last league win at the Oval came on Boxing Day back in 2022.

In regards to selection, David Healy makes four changes to his side following their disappointing 2-0 defeat to Carrick Rangers last Friday night.

In come David Walsh, Matt Yates, Jamie Mulgrew and Isaac Baird for Chris Johns, Euan East, Kyle McClean and Chris McKee.

Declan Devine on the other hand makes two changes from last Saturday's 1-1 stalemate with Coleraine. Marcus Kane and Jack Malone return to the starting XI at the expense of Daniel Larmour and Jarlath O'Rourke.

Glentoran: Mills, Cooney, Kamson Kamara, Kane (c), Singleton, Malone, McEneff, Palmer, Clarke, Hoban, Amos.

Subs: Crellin, Burt, Larmour, Daniels, Stewart, Gallagher, Jenkins.

Linfield: Walsh, Hall, Yates, Archer, Mulgrew (c), Frizzell, Baird, McGee, Fitzpatrick, Leahy, McCullough.

Subs: Whiteside, Gorrin, Millar, McDaid, Ballantyne, McKee, Taylor.

Image source, BBC Sport

Shane McCabe
BBC Radio Ulster summariser

I can see Larne doing a professional job today, it is going to be difficult for Glentoran. I can't see anyone getting ahead of Larne.

The 'business end' of the season officially starts now and both managers have had to shuffle their packs ahead of this Inver Park encounter.

Larne boss Gary Haveron has Dan Bent and James Simpson away on international duty, while Leroy Millar is also missing from the side which won 3-0 at Glenavon last time out.

Ronan Doherty, Jordan McEneff and Matty Lusty all come into the starting line-up.

International commitments at under-age level also deprive Cliftonville boss Jim Magilton of the services of Keevan Hawthorne and Joe Sheridan, while skipper Rory Hale is suspended following his red card against Ballymena and Shaun Leppard and Sean Robertson are also missing from the team that started that game.

In their places come Conor Pepper, Jonny Addis, Harry Wilson and Ryan Curran.

Larne: Ferguson, Cosgrove, Ridley, Donnelly, S Graham, Gallagher, Doherty, McEneff, Lusty, O'Neill, Ryan.

Subs: D Graham, McKendry, Randall, Magee, Nolan, Austin, McAlister.

Cliftonville: Morrison, Toole, Addis, A Kelly, Glynn, Pepper, J Kelly, Wilson, McStravick, Healy, Curran.

Subs: Ridd, Jordan, McCay, Gormley, Carroll, Tohill, Anderson.

Image source, BBC Sport

Declan Devine was first to admit his Glentoran side were not at their fluent best in the 1-1 draw with Coleraine but he was delighted with the contribution of Jordan Stewart.

The winger popped up to head home the all-important equaliser with 15 minutes to go at the Oval before Pat Hoban saw an 82nd minute saved by visiting keeper Ryan Schofield.

While Devine was disappointed not to win it he was happy to take a point in the end thanks to Stewart's intervention.

"Jordan showed his quality on numerous occasions and to get in at the back post, it's a huge goal for us," said Devine.

"The players deserve great credit for the effort and commitment they've put in over the past seven days. We maybe weren't as fluent but you can't knock this team's willingness to keep going until the end.

"It was important we didn't lose that game. Of course we would have liked to see the penalty go in but you have to give their goalkeeper huge credit. It's an outstanding save because Pat has put huge power into it.

"The character our players have shown is immense. We were hugely disappointed at half-time but the energy we put into the second half, we'll take the point."

Image source, Inpho

Ruaidhir Higgins believes this season's Irish Premiership is the most competitive it has been and the stats would seem to back him up.

Linfield romped to a record 57th Irish League title last season finishing on 85 points after 38 games.

Their nearest challengers Larne ended the season on 63 points, but with five games remaining Gary Haveron's side, Glentoran and Coleraine have already surpassed that tally with the Blues currently a point below it.

“It's really strange, the top four are currently on 62 points plus which shows how the league has swung, how competitive the league has become," said Higgins.

“Larne finished second last year on 63 points but with games to go all top four teams have nearly equalled that so it's really competitive.

“At this moment in time we're on two points a game which normally would have you very much in the mix.

“I know we’re in the mix but we're probably not in as good a position as other teams.

“It's relentless this league. There's no real international breaks, there's no mid season break, it's just flat out from start to finish; but it's great.

“At this stage of the season you're always going to have people playing through injuries.

“You look at Joel Cooper and his mentality. Joel's had a problematic knee injury virtually all season but he just keeps going and keeps delivering.

“He knows that he's of huge importance to us but his mentality is frightening really.

“He's played with pain all season but he's kept going and he's actually got stronger as the season's gone on.”

Image source, Inpho

Crusaders may have only picked up a point from their goalless draw at Portadown but Declan Caddell felt it handed them a major boost going into the post-split fixtures.

The point was enough to lift them off the foot of the table and the Crues manager feels his side can build on it.

"There's still a lot to play for with five tough games coming up," he said. "They're all 50-50 games, if you turn up, you can get something out of it.

"So it's good to get our foot back in front...still a long way to go and difficult matches ahead, so we'll bank it. And all we can do is build on that performance.

"Whether you're bottom or second bottom, someone's on your heels. But the good thing is that the players responded.

"I always think it's probably easier chasing a team ahead of you than being chased. And I think we've seen that today.

"That's a performance that can build confidence on, as I said, I thought we dominated large parts of the game, a lot of the pressure was with us."

Image source, Inpho

Gary Haveron feels his Larne side have been "underestimated" in some quarters.

The Inver Reds sit four points clear at the top of the Irish Premiership ahead of the final five games of the season with a third league title in four seasons in their sights.

Haveron, who was appointed as permanent boss in October, praised the resilience his players have shown this season.

"I don't think too many people gave us a hope to be in the position we find ourselves in, but they don't know our group," said the 45-year-old.

"They don't know the resilience of the people, the club and the town. They underestimated us and that's fine but we know the belief we have in each other.

"It's an incredible group and the coaching staff have been superb. The support we've had from the ownership group as well has been fantastic from day one.

"We've been in the trenches early with Europe but we know what this means and I've very proud of the group and the resilience they continue to show."

Victory over Glenavon last week coupled with Glentoran's draw against Coleraine extended Larne's lead at the top to four points and Haveron said the mood in the camp is good.

"It is really good, it's been good all season," he said. "We've missed key players at different stages of the season but other players have stepped up and done really well for us.

"Our squad is starting to look healthy again. We have Mark Randall coming back, Leroy is back again, Benji Magee is back training again and Dylan Sloan is knocking on the door.

"So if you have all those options available for the run-in you have to be excited for it. You have to embrace the challenge and look forward to it."

Image source, Inpho

David Healy cut a frustrated figure following Linfield's 2-0 defeat at Carrick Rangers in their most recent Premiership fixture.

Healy's mood after the costly loss at Taylors Avenue was not helped by a number of refereeing decisions which he labelled as "farcical".

The Blues boss disagreed with ref Tony Clarke's decision to send off Darragh Leahy with 36 minutes on the clock.

And with 10 minutes to go Kyle McClean picked up a booking to rule him out of the 'Big Two' meeting with Glentoran along with Leahy.

"I thought we were let down. It's a farce. It's farcical," said Healy. "Our jobs are on the line. We're fighting for European money. We're fighting for everything.

"But if decisions are being made like that tonight. Kyle McClean got booked and he's going to miss the first game of the split.

"The referee counted up the amount of fouls that he had made. And I don't even think he got that right. I think it was Kyle's maybe second foul.

"So yeah, frustrated, disappointed. Decisions like that, you always feel aggrieved. And so soon after the game, you feel aggrieved even a little bit more."

Image source, Inpho

It's all up for grabs at either end of the table as we head into the final five games of the season.

Larne, Glentoran, Coleraine and Linfield all still have a shout for the title with the Inver Reds in the box seat thanks to their four-point lead over the Glens.

Dungannon Swifts and Ciftonville are already sure of their places in the European play-offs and they will be joined by either Carrick Rangers, Bangor, Portadown or Ballymena United.

One point currently separates bottom club Glenavon and Crusaders in 11th with both fighting to avoid automatic relegation to the Championship.

Read more about what is at stake in the post-split fixtures here.

Image source, Inpho

Here is how the table looks ahead of today's Irish Premiership action.

Image source, BBC Sport

Hello and welcome to our live text commentary as the post-split fixtures get under way.

We have four Irish Premiership games up for decision this afternoon - three in the top six and one in the bottom six.

League leaders Larne host Cliftonville looking to maintain their four-point advantage at the summit with the Gibson Cup in their sights.

Nearest challengers Glentoran will be hoping they can take advantage of any slip-ups by Gary Haveron's side as they welcome Linfield to the Oval.

Third-place Coleraine know they need to pick up all three points at Dungannon Swifts to keep their slim title hopes alive.

In the bottom half Crusaders, who travel to Carrick Rangers, will be aiming to extend their lead over bottom club Glenavon, who have a free weekend along with Portadown, Ballymena United and Bangor due to international call-ups.

As ever, we will have a live text commentary, in-play clips from the matches with a match report, highlights and reaction to follow.

You can also listen to Sportsound by clicking the 'Listen live' icon at the top of the page or on BBC Radio Ulster.

Thanks for joining us this afternoon. Enjoy!

Image source, BBC Sport