The last head-to-head meeting between these two Mid-Ulster rivals at Mourneview Park resulted in a comprehensive 3-0 home win just five weeks ago.

Portadown's last league win on their travels to Glenavon came back in October 2020, with the Lurgan Blues looking to leapfrog Crusaders off the foot of the table with a win this afternoon.

The visitors still have their eye on seventh place and that European spot, but today is a must-win you feel if the Ports are to catch Carrick Rangers.

With regards to team news, both managers make just the one change.

Michael O'Connor brings Stephen Mallon in from the start with Peter Campbell dropping to the bench.

Captain Gary Thompson returns for Niall Currie's side from the start as he replaces Adam Towe who is amongst the substitutes.

Glenavon: Carney, McMullan, Burns, Murphy, McKeown (c), Mallon, Ferris, Carlin, Falls, McGovern, McGerrigan.

Subs: Cartwright, Campbell, Lowe, Gilmore, Harkin, Lindsay, Mountney.

Portadown: Moore, Altintop, MacKinnon, Wilson, Chapman, Ukek, Fyfe, Traynor, Teelan, Tabu, Thompson (c).

Subs: Tetteh, Scott, McCartan, Annett, Towe, Quinn, Carson.

Image source, BBC Sport

Larne boss Gary Haveron said his side are out to banish bad memories of their previous Irish Cup semi-final defeat when they face Coleraine in the last four on Saturday, a game that will be live on the BBC iPlayer.

The Inver Reds, who have never won the Irish Cup, lost 2-0 to eventual winners Cliftonville at Windsor Park in their previous semi-final appearance in 2024.

And Haveron, who was part of Larne's coaching staff that day, wants his side to right the wrongs from their poor performance that day and progress to the decider where they will face the Reds or holders Dungannon Swifts,

"Last semi-final we played in against Cliftonville we didn't do ourselves justice I hope this time we can erase that from our memory and give the supporters something to look forward to Saturday," he told BBC Sport NI.

"Semi-finals are all about getting to the final any which way they'll come. We know it's going to be really difficult ask.

"Coleraine are a top side, a lot has been made of the amount of players and quality they've brought in this year, so we'll have it all to do but it's a challenge we look forward to. We want to to play the best teams and be involved in games that matter."

Image source, Inpho

Larne make one change from the side which beat Cliftonville last week as they took a step closer towards the league title.

Dan Bent is back from international duty with Gibraltar and will play as one of three central defenders. Paul O'Neill misses out through injury.

Coleraine make three changes from their league win at Dungannon as they continue to chase European football on two fronts.

In come Cameron Stewart, Dean Jarvis and Rowan McDonald, who replace Zane Okoro and Mark Connolly - who are named among the subs - and the suspended Levi Ives.

Larne: Ferguson, Cosgrove, Bent, Ridley, Donnelly, S Graham, Gallagher, Doherty, McEneff, Lusty, Ryan.

Subs: D Graham, Nolan, Randall, Simpson, McKednry, Magee, O'Connor.

Coleraine: Schofield, Kane, Stewart, Dunne, Jarvis, Coyle, McDonald, Wylie, Patching, Glackin, Cooper.

Subs: Webb, Boyle, Shevlin, McGonigle, Okoro, Connolly, Devine.

Image source, BBC Sport

Dungannon Swifts midfielder Gael Bigirimana cut a delighted figure as his side came through on penalties to return to the Irish Cup final, but admits Cliftonville's late equaliser for force spot kicks "got to me".

It seemed the holders were on their way when Kealon Dillon fired home in the first period of extra time following a scoreless 90 minutes, but the north Belfast side scrambled home an equaliser in the last act.

It could have proven to be a hammer blow to the Dungannon side, but they regrouped to hold their nerve and keep their hopes of back to back Irish Cups alive.

"I'm an optimistic person but that goal got to me," Bigirimana told BBC Sport NI.

"It was almost like 'maybe this isn't going to be our day' because we've had chances and then to concede like that.

"The gaffer got us into a huddle and reminded us of what is happening outside of football and how precious life is. We wanted to do it for ourselves, our families, our kids and the community.

"Sometimes when you have achieved something big, the mentality, determination and disciple to go even further is not easy, we've put ourselves in another final."

Dungannon made a slow start to the season, but have ensured a top-half finish in the league and are 90 minutes away from another Irish Cup triumph.

"We don't know how to make it easy on ourselves," Bigirimana continued.

"It's been a tough season as a part-time club. We were delighted to have the Conference [League] experience but the season didn't start well for us with injuries, some players stepping out and new ones coming in.

"To have the type of season we've head is really proud for the club at the club."

A disappointed Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton felt his side did not do enough to secure a third Irish Cup final appearance in a row as he watched his side lose out on penalties to Dungannon Swifts in Friday's semi-final.

It was a similar story to last year's final for the Reds as they once again lost 4-3 on spot kicks following a 1-1 draw after extra-time.

Although the north Belfast side made a good start to the game and showed plenty of fight to force an equaliser in the dying act of extra time, Magilton felt they left too many opportunities behind them.

"Dungannon deserved to win the game," the Cliftonville manager told BBC Sport NI.

"We played well in patches in the first half, created one or two really good opportunities, but in big games you need to be clinical and if you don't take your opportunities it can come back and cost you.

"You have to credit the lads for keeping going. It's dying embers, nothing left in the game but they drag it into penalties, get regrouped but unfortunately we missed and they didn't - same as last year.

"We're disappointed as we didn't play as well as we did in the first 45 minutes. I thought we could have kicked on but we didn't."

Image source, Inpho

Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree paid tribute to his players' "courage" to come through on penalties against Cliftonville in Friday's Irish Cup semi-final.

As the holders battled through to return to the final with a 4-3 win over Cliftonville on penalties in Friday's semi-final, McAree's thoughts were firmly with family as his father in law, John gravely ill and passed away in the hours that followed.

Naturally emotional, McAree said he reminded his players of that fight as they gathered themselves for the shoot-out following a 1-1 draw after extra-time when Cliftonville found an equaliser with time virtually up.

Preparing for such a big game in such circumstances was tough for McAree, but he paid tribute to all at the club for helping him through.

"I've terrific people around me, terrific support in the club and a terrific group of players who want to do well," McAree told BBC Sport NI.

"They understood my situation before tonight so it was just a case of finding something within to win on penalty kicks.

"It's remarkable as people has been saying he's hanging on to find out the result. John is going to a good place and he knows he can go there as a happy Swifts man."

Read more

Image source, Inpho

Holders Dungannon Swifts are heading back to the Irish Cup final and await the winner of today's other last four game after a dramatic penalty shootout win over Cliftonville in Friday night's semi-final at Windsor Park.

In a repeat of last season's decider, Dungannon looked to have booked a return to the showpiece in May thanks to Kealan Dillon's strike in the first half of extra time after the sides had failed to fashion a goal in 90 minutes.

However, a late equaliser with the last action of extra time from Cliftonville sent the tie to penalties.

In the shootout, Dungannon – as in last year's final – successfully converted all four of their kicks. While Joe Sheridan and Harry Wilson missed for the Reds, to keep Dungannon's dreams of back-to-back Irish Cup triumphs alive.

Read the full report here

Image source, Inpho

Saturday's Irish Premiership game between Ballymena United and Bangor has been postponed.

The sides were due to meet at the Ballymena Showgrounds, but the pitch failed an inspection on Saturday morning.

Heavy rain has left the pitch unplayable as Storm Dave moves into Northern Ireland on Saturday with high winds and heavy rain forecast throughout.

Details on the rescheduled date will be released in due course.

Image source, Inpho

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of today's two games in the Irish Cup and Irish Premiership.

In the Irish Cup, Larne meet Coleraine in the semi-final at Windsor Park with holders Dungannon Swifts waiting in the decider.

You will be able to watch that game live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website.

In the Irish Premiership, there's a big game at the bottom of the table as Glenavon host Mid-Ulster rivals Portadown as the hosts look to move off the bottom of the table.

We will have live text and radio commentary as well as in-play clips from both games so you won't miss any of the action.

Enjoy!

Image source, Pacemaker