Summary

  1. Watch: Healy hits opener at Solitudepublished at 15:14 GMT 21 February

    Cliftonville 2-0 Crusaders

    Here is how Brian Healy fired Cliftonville ahead at Solitude with an emphatic finish.

    Media caption,

    Cliftonville 1-0 Crusaders

  2. goal

    GOAL - Cliftonville 2-0 Crusaderspublished at 15:11 GMT 21 February

    Luke Conlan (8 mins)

    The home side doubles their advantage as Michael Glynn pings a corner toward the front post, where Luke Conlan powers a header into the net.

    A dream start for the Reds in north Belfast.

    Cliftonville celebratingImage source, Pacemaker Press
  3. Postpublished at 15:11 GMT 21 February

    Bangor 0-0 Glenavon

    A fairly lengthy delay at Clandeboye Park due to an injury to Bangor's Iestyn Hughes but happily the Welshman is able to continue.

  4. Postpublished at 15:06 GMT 21 February

    Bangor 0-0 Glenavon

    Glenavon make a bright start, pinning Bangor inside their own penalty area and debutant Seasiders goalkeeper Lee Axworthy has already had to punch clear twice from dangerous situations.

  5. goal

    GOAL - Cliftonville 1-0 Crusaderspublished at 15:05 GMT 21 February

    Brian Healy (4 mins)

    It's a dream start for the hosts!

    Brian Healy latches onto a long ball through the middle and outmuscles Scot Rough before firing low past Musa Dibaga.

    That's the striker's fifth goal for the Reds since joining from the Welders.

    Brian HealyImage source, Pacemaker Press
  6. Postpublished at 15:04 GMT 21 February

    Cliftonville 0-0 Crusaders

    Rory Hale clips a cross toward the back post for Joe Sheridan, but the delivery was just overhit and the ball sails out for a goal kick.

  7. KICK-OFFpublished at 15:01 GMT 21 February

    Cliftonville 0-0 Crusaders

    Who will have the bragging rights of north Belfast at full-time?

    Let's find out.

  8. KICK-OFFpublished at 15:01 GMT 21 February

    Bangor 0-0 Glenavon

    Referee Shane McGonigle starts the action at a wet and dreary Clandeboye Park.

  9. Saturday's four fixturespublished at 14:56 GMT 21 February

    Saturday 21 February

    A final look ahead to Saturday's line-up.

    Bangor v Glenavon and Cliftonville v Crusaders kick off shortly at 15:00.

    Portadown v Dungannon Swifts is a 17:30 kick off, while the 'Big Two' derby has a 18:00 start.

    Games on SaturdayImage source, BBC Sport
  10. BBC Radio Ulster and iPlayer coverage aheadpublished at 14:54 GMT 21 February

    BBC Radio Ulster

    A reminder that the football coverage on BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Sounds doesn't start until 16:15 GMT this afternoon.

    You can also watch the 'Big Two' derby on BBC iPlayer later on at 18:00.

  11. Team newspublished at 14:51 GMT 21 February

    Bangor v Glenavon (15:00 GMT)

    It's a first Clandeboye Park meeting of the season for these two sides after Bangor won the previous two clashes, both at Mourneview Park.

    Bangor make three changes from their draw at Crusaders last week, including a debut for former Athlone Town goalkeeper Lee Axworthy, signed to cover for injured senior stoppers Gareth Deane and Patrick Solis Grogan.

    Jay Boyd and Lewis Francis also replace Stephen Fallon and Lewis Harrison.

    Glenavon also make three changes from their defeat by Linfield last week with Barney McKeown, Nathaniel Ferris and Luke McGerrigan replacing Jordan McMullan, Luke Cartwright and Charlie Lindsay.

    Bangor: Axwrothy, Lynch, Haughey, Francis, Neale, Hughes, Mulvenna, Hassin, Cushnie, Boyd, Arthurs.

    Subs: McMahon, O'Mahony, Fallon, Garrett, Morgan, McGuinness, Mitchell.

    Glenavon: Carney, Mountney, Murphy, McKeown, Burns, Carlin, McGerrigan, Campbell, Falls, McGovern, Ferris.

    Subs: McMullan, Cartwright, Mallon, Lowe, Gilmore, Lindsay, Quinn.

    Bangor v GlenavonImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    Bangor v Glenavon

  12. Team newspublished at 14:48 GMT 21 February

    Clifronville v Crusaders (15:00 GMT)

    Jim Magilton makes two changes to the side that were 1-0 up before floodlight failure curtailed the Reds’ clash with Portadown, as Micheal Glynn and Joe Sheridan come in for Callum McCay and Keevan Hawthorne.

    Declan Caddell, meanwhile, reshuffles his park following the 2-0 defeat by Ballymena United.

    Kurtis Forsythe, Kieran McKechine, Thomas Maguire, Stewart Nixon, Cameron Bruce, and Lewis Barr all drop out.

    Adam Brooks, Finley Thorndike, Elliot Dunlop, Evan Easton and Josh Williamson are drafted into the starting line-up as Caddell looks for an immediate response.

    Cliftonville: Ridd, Wilson, Hale (c), Leppard, Conlan, Glynn, Toole, J. Kelly, Healy, Carroll, Sheridan.

    Subs: Murray, Pepper, Curran, Gormley, A. Kelly, McStravick, Hawthorne.

    Crusaders: Dibaga, Brooks, Thorndike, Dunlop, Easton, J. Forsythe (c), Williamson, Bryden, Maguire, Rough, Anderson.

    Subs: Tuffey, K. Forsythe, McKechnie, Nixon, Bruce, McCart, James.

    Clifronville v CrusadersImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    Clifronville v Crusaders

  13. Caddell calls for response to Ballymena defeatpublished at 14:46 GMT 21 February

    Cliftonville v Crusaders (15:00 GMT)

    Crusaders boss Declan Caddell said his side "have to be a hell of a lot better" against north Belfast rivals Cliftonville than they were against Ballymena United on Tuesday.

    The Crues fell to a 2-0 defeat against the Sky Blues, which leaves them 11th in the table, three points behind Oran Kearney's side in the race to avoid the relegation play-off place.

    Caddell hopes his side can produce a markedly improved performance and take home a big three points against the Reds, who they beat at Solitude on Boxing Day.

    "After Tuesday's performance any game is the perfect game to respond, it couldn't get any worse than that performance," he told BBC Sport NI.

    "Throughout the season we have played well against a lot of teams and Cliftonville are a good, well-organised side that can cause you problems, so have to be a hell of a lot better than we were on Tuesday to get anything out of the game."

    Declan CaddellImage source, Inpho
  14. Portadown v Cliftonville abandoned after floodlight failurepublished at 14:43 GMT 21 February

    Cliftonville v Crusaders (15:00 GMT)

    Tuesday's Irish Premiership match between Portadown and Cliftonville at Shamrock Park was abandoned due to floodlight failure.

    It had been an entertaining start to the game and the away side led through Joe O'Toole's stunning strike.

    However, in the 41st minute, the floodlights failed at Shamrock Park.

    After discussions, the players were then taken off the pitch while they attempted to fix the issue but efforts proved unsuccessful.

    This is the second time this campaign that the side have had issues with their floodlights after the second half of their Boxing Day derby against Glenavon was delayed by 15 minutes after an issue with the oil filter.

    Last season, Glentoran's match against Larne at the Oval was postponed following floodlight failure early in the second half with this match replayed in full at a later date.

  15. Highlights: Jenkins scores four as Glentoran win in Irish Cuppublished at 14:40 GMT 21 February

    Linfield v Glentoran (18:00 GMT)

    Watch highlights from Glentoran's 5-0 Irish Cup sixth round win over amateur league side Drumaness Mills at the Oval on Tuesday night.

    The Glens will now take on Larne in the quarter-finals.

    Media caption,

    Glentoran cruise past Drumaness into Irish Cup quarter-finals

  16. Linfield title defence 'unlikely, but not impossible'published at 14:36 GMT 21 February

    Linfield v Glentoran (18:00 GMT)

    Linfield manager David Healy says his side will not give up their defence of the Irish Premiership without a fight after Tuesday's 4-1 win at Dungannon Swifts.

    Gael Bigirimana cancelled out Matthew Fitzpatrick's opener but Isaac Baird's double and Kyle McClean's goal gave Linfield a comfortable win.

    Healy's side are third in the table and are eight points off leaders Larne with 10 matches remaining.

    "It's unlikely, but not impossible. We have a lot of work to do but we've put ourselves in this position," Healy told BBC Sport NI.

    "There are three other very good teams who have all invested incredibly well over the past number of months.

    "Larne have responded when a lot of people probably thought they were going to go away after winning the league, and us last year.

    "Credit to the teams and managers, they have put squads together who are not only capable of challenging but putting themselves in with a chance of success."

    Despite a surprise Irish Cup exit at the hands of Championship frontrunners Limavady United, Linfield are now unbeaten in eight matches in the league.

    Healy also had praise for midfielder Baird, who assisted Fitzpatrick's opener before his double.

    "There has been a lot of questions and challenges over the last while, and the players have responded, but it's important that we go and back this up going forward.

    "In the past few weeks Isaac has been given a more free role in attacking midfield. He scored a couple of scruffy goals, which are key and they break the defiance of the opposition."

    David HealyImage source, Inpho
  17. Highlights: Linfield thrash Swifts at Stangmore Parkpublished at 14:35 GMT 21 February

    Linfield v Glentoran (18:00 GMT)

    Watch highlights as Linfield beat Dungannon Swifts 4-1 in the Irish Premiership at Stangmore Park on Tuesday.

    Media caption,

    Dungannon Swifts 1-4 Linfield

  18. BBC to stream Glens v Larne Irish Cup quarter-finalpublished at 14:30 GMT 21 February

    Linfield v Glentoran (18:00 GMT)

    The Irish Cup quarter-final between Glentoran and Larne will be shown live on BBC Sport NI.

    The Glens will welcome the Irish Premiership leaders to the Oval on Friday, 6 March (19:45 GMT)

    Twenty-three time winners Glentoran eased past amateur side Drumaness Mills 5-0 in their rearranged sixth-round tie on Tuesday to book their place in the last eight.

    Larne, who have never won the Irish Cup, reached the quarter-final stage with a 2-0 win over Championship side Warrenpoint Town.

    The game will be live-streamed on the BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport NI website and BBC Sport app.

    Liam Burt and Jordan McEneffImage source, Inpho
  19. Higgins happy to 'dig out' win over Ballymenapublished at 14:25 GMT 21 February

    Fri: Coleraine 1-0 Ballymena United

    Ruaidhri HigginsImage source, Inpho

    Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins said he was "just delighted to get the three points" as his side closed in on leaders Larne thanks to their 1-0 victory over Ballymena United on Friday night.

    Will Patching's first half goal was enough to see his side claim victory at the Showgrounds as Larne fell to a defeat at home to Carrick Rangers which leaves Higgins' side just two points adrift.

    However, the Bannsiders' boss said events at Inver Park were "irrelevant" unless his team got he job done and was delighted they dug out the win.

    "The main thing tonight was the result," Higgins told BBC Sport NI.

    "In the first half, I thought we were really good, played how we wanted the game to go. We had dominance and had them on the back foot, but in the second half we got a big cagey and maybe lost our composure for parts.

    "We've limited them to just two chances in the game and without being brilliant in the second half, we've dug out a 1-0 win.

    "In the early part of the season, maybe we wouldn't have won it, but have shown a good side to us tonight."

    The win was made a little sweeter for Coleraine fans following defeat by their rivals on 26 December.

    Higgins paid tribute to the support for helping his side get over the line and also his players, whose recent run of form has them within striking distance of the leaders.

    "Winning at home to Ballymena was really important to us after Boxing Day," he continued.

    "Our supporters were fantastic tonight and it shows the potential of this club. If we get that on a fortnightly basis when we are at home, it can be a really special place.

    "That's out 12th home win in 15 which is some return and we've taken 16 (points) from our last 18 available, so the players deserve so much credit and we are sticking in there, so we will move on to Dungannon."

  20. Highlights: Coleraine see off Ballymenapublished at 14:19 GMT 21 February

    Fri: Coleraine 1-0 Ballymena United

    Watch highlights as Will Patching's goal is enough to see Coleraine defeat Ballymena United 1-0 at the Showgrounds on Friday night.

    Media caption,

    Highlights: Coleraine v Ballymena United