Summary

  • Top Six

  • FT: Cliftonville 1-2 Glentoran (19:45 BST)

  • Stewart smashes in for Glens and Hoban adds second before substitute Gormley pulls one back

  • FT: Dungannon Swifts 1-3 Linfield (19:45 BST)

  • McGinty finds the net for Swifts but McClean scores twice and Leahy also nets

  • FT: Larne 1-4 Coleraine (19:45 BST)

  • Shevlin nets twice as Bent sees red but Ryan levels from spot

  • Wylie restores Coleraine's lead and Patching extends it from the spot

  • Watch action from Inver Park live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website

  • Bottom Six

  • FT: Ballymena United 1-1 Glenavon (19:45 BST)

  • Edogun fires Sky Blues in front before Falls rifles in leveller

  • FT: Crusaders 1-1 Bangor (19:45 BST)

  • Cushnie scores for Seasiders as Anderson nets late equaliser

  • FT: Portadown 1-1 Carrick Rangers (19:45 BST)

  • Towe opens the scoring for Ports and Gibson levels from the spot

  1. goal

    GOAL - Larne 0-1 Colerainepublished at 19:47 BST 7 April

    Matthew Shevlin (2 mins)

    What a start to this game!

    Less than two minutes on the clock and the visitors take the lead through, who else, but Matthew Shevlin.

    Scorer of the winning goal in the Irish Cup win at the weekend, the striker latches on to a ball over the top from Mark Coyle before rounding Rohan Ferguson and slotting into an empty net.

  2. KICK-OFFpublished at 19:47 BST 7 April

    Dungannon Swifts 0-0 Linfield

    The visitors kick proceedings off at Stangmore Park.

  3. Postpublished at 19:47 BST 7 April

    Portadown 0-0 Carrick Rangers

    Josh Ukek has a speculative early effort that Nathan Gartside spills but his captain Luke McCullough mops up before James Teelan can sneak in.

  4. KICK-OFFpublished at 19:46 BST 7 April

    Ballymena United 0-0 Glenavon

    After a brief delay due to some running repairs to one of the goal nets, referee Ross Dunlop starts the action at Ballymena Showgrounds in a hugely significant game for both clubs.

  5. KICK-OFFpublished at 19:46 BST 7 April

    Larne 0-0 Coleraine

    Andy Ryan gets us under way on a perfect night for football in the east Antrim harbour town.

    Larne have won two of the three previous league meetings this season, including a resounding 3-0 success here at the start of January.

    However, since then, Coleraine have won 10 of 14 Premiership games, losing just twice, and with confidence boosted by the weekend cup win, they will be targeting a first league victory here since November 2022.

  6. Postpublished at 19:46 BST 7 April

    Larne v Coleraine

    Colin Coates
    Former Crusaders captain on BBC Sport NI

    The onus is on Larne, they are hunting down the league title especially now going out of the Irish Cup and with their position in the league.

  7. KICK-OFFpublished at 19:46 BST 7 April

    Crusaders 0-0 Bangor

    The Seasiders get us going at a chilly Seaview.

  8. KICK-OFFpublished at 19:45 BST 7 April

    Portadown 0-0 Carrick Rangers

    We are under way at Shamrock Park with the visitors in all black attacking the away end.

  9. KICK-OFFpublished at 19:44 BST 7 April

    Cliftonville 0-0 Glentoran

    We are under way at Solitude as Conor Pepper gets the ball rolling for Cliftonville.

  10. McAree credits Swifts' 'courage' on emotional nightpublished at 19:43 BST 7 April

    Dungannon Swifts v Linfield (19:45 BST)

    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 was 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."

    Rodney McAreeImage source, Inpho
  11. We didn't do enough to reach the final - Magiltonpublished at 19:41 BST 7 April

    Cliftonville v Glentoran (19:45 BST)

    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.

    "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."

    Jim MagiltonImage source, Inpho
  12. 'Still a lot of twists and turns' - Glens boss Devinepublished at 19:40 BST 7 April

    Cliftonville v Glentoran (19:45 BST)

    Glentoran manager Declan Devine said there are still a lot of potential "twists and turns" in the Irish Premiership title race after watching his side fall six points behind Larne at the top of the table following their 1-1 draw with Linfield at the Oval last time out.

    Matt Yates put the Blues ahead in the first half with Aaron McEneff levelling from the penalty spot in the second half.

    With four rounds of fixtures still remaining, the Glens' hopes of a first league title since 2009 appear to be fading fast, but Devine believes there is still hope of being crowned champions despite a second successive home draw.

    "It's frustrating but there are still a lot of points to play for and a lot of twists and turns. We know we can be better and hopefully over the course of the rest of the season we can show that," said the Glentoran boss after the game.

    "I don't think we played well enough, our standards weren't as high, especially in the first half.

    "We were disappointed with the levels we showed. We know that today we weren't as cohesive as we have been. We just didn't do enough to win it.

    "I was really disappointed with the goal that we gave away and I think we had a couple of opportunities where we should have done better."

    Declan DevineImage source, Pacemaker Press
  13. Team newspublished at 19:39 BST 7 April

    Crusaders v Bangor

    Declan Caddell makes six changes to the side that were swept aside 6-1 by Carrick Rangers, with Musa Dibaga, Kurtis Forsythe, Kieran McKechnie, Elliot Dunlop, Adam Brooks and Evan Easton all coming into the starting XI.

    Jonny Tuffey, Stewart Nixon, Thomas Maguire, Scot Rough, Lloyd Anderson and Lewis Barr drop out, while notably the Crues do not name a substitute goalkeeper.

    Lee Feeney, meanwhile, keeps faith with the team that edged past Dungannon Swifts 1-0 at Stangmore Park 10 days ago, naming an unchanged XI as his side look to record back-to-back wins.

    Crusaders: Dibaga, K. Forsythe, Weir, McKechnie, Brooks, Dunlop, Easton, J. Forsythe, Williamson, Bryden, Bruce.

    Subs: Jewitt-White, Thorndike, Nixon, Maguire, Rough, Anderson, Barr.

    Bangor: Deane, Neale, Harrison, Hassin, Mulvenna, Cushnie, Fallon, Lynch, Francis, McGuinness, Hughes.

    Subs: Axworthy, Haughey, O’Mahony, Boyd, Devlin, Morgan, Mitchell.

    Crusaders v BangorImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    Crusaders v Bangor

  14. Crusaders defeat by Carrick 'embarrassing' - Caddellpublished at 19:38 BST 7 April

    Crusaders v Bangor (19:45 BST)

    Crusaders manager Declan Caddell said his side "let themselves down" during their 6-1 defeat against Carrick Rangers at Taylors Avenue.

    Goals from Aidan Steele, Adam Lecky, Danny Gibson, a double from Paul Heatley and an own goal from Fraser Bryden secured the impressive win for former Crusaders boss Stephen Baxter's side.

    Crusaders sit in 11th position with 26 points but have played a game more than Glenavon, who are a point behind and have a superior goal difference.

    "Poor from us, embarrassing," Caddell told BBC Sport NI.

    "The fans came and gave their support as they have all season and, once again, have been let down. The players should be embarrassed by the performance today.

    "They let me down and the fans down but first and foremost they have let themselves down."

    Read the full article here.

    Declan CaddellImage source, Pacemaker Press
  15. Team newspublished at 19:36 BST 7 April

    Portadown v Carrick Rangers

    Welcome to Shamrock Park where a win for the visitors will seal their place in the European play-off spot with a draw all but confirming seventh spot for Stephen Baxter's side.

    Niall Currie makes one change from Saturday's Mid-Ulster derby draw at Mourneview Park with Adam Towe in for Gary Thompson.

    Meanwhile, Stephen Baxter makes two changes from their 6-1 win over Crusaders 10 days ago. In come Danny Gibson and Ryan McKay for Adam Lecky and Paul Heatley.

    Portadown: Moore, Altintop (C), MacKinnon, Wilson, Chapman, Ukek, Fyfe, Traynor, Teelan, Minzamba, Towe

    Subs: Isamala, Gibson, Tetteh, Scott, Quinn, Wells, Carson

    Carrick Rangers: Gartside, Place, Burns, Callacher, Gibson, McCullough (C), Steele, Crowe, Snoddy, McKay, Moore

    Subs: Donnelly, Waide, Cherry, Glendinning, McCawl, Olosunde, Jeffers

    Portadown v Carrick RangersImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    Portadown v Carrick Rangers

  16. Team newspublished at 19:33 BST 7 April

    Ballymena Utd v Glenavon

    It's potentially a huge game for both teams at the Warden Street Showgrounds.

    A Ballymena win will almost certainly eliminate any lingering fears of being dragged into the relegation battle, while three points for Glenavon will give them fresh hope that their improbable 'Great Escape' from the drop could still happen.

    Ballymena make two changes from a 2-2 draw with Cliftonville in their last outing more than a fortnight ago.

    Donal Rocks starts a game for the first time since August following a successful recovery from a knee operation while Success Edogun has completed a suspension. They replace Sean Murray and Calvin McCurry.

    Glenavon make three changes to their starting line-up from Saturday's Mid-Ulster derby draw with Portadown as Oran O'Kane, Kris Lowe and John Mountney replace Stephen Mallon, Sean Carlin and the suspended Harry Murphy.

    Also serving bans for the Lurgan Blues are Peter Campbell - sent off late on after coming on as substitute on Saturday - and manager Michael O'Connor, who picked up his third yellow card in that game.

    Ballymena United: Wade, Toure, McCallion, O'Donnell, Clarke, Rocks, McGeouch, Sule, Corbally, Edogun, Rutkowski.

    Subs: Breen, Jarvis, P McEleney, O'Reilly, Ebbe, McCurry, McEleney.

    Glenavon: Carney, McMullan, McKeown, Burns, O'Kane, Lowe, Mountney, McGerrigan, Falls, McGovern, Ferris.

    Subs: Byrne, Wilson, Gilmore, Harkin, Carlin, Lindsay, Quinn.

    Ballymena Utd v GlenavonImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    Ballymena Utd v Glenavon

  17. Watch: Spoils shared in feisty Mid-Ulster derbypublished at 19:30 BST 7 April

    Portadown v Carrick Rangers (19:45 BST)

    Watch highlights as Peter Campbell scores a late free-kick to rescue a 1-1 draw for Glenavon against Portadown in the Irish Premiership at Mourneview Park.

    Media caption,

    Spoils shared in feisty Mid-Ulster Mourneview derby

  18. Team newspublished at 19:27 BST 7 April

    Cliftonville v Glentoran (19:45 GMT)

    With only four games left to go in the race for the Irish Premiership title, Glentoran know they cannot afford any slip-ups if they are to overhaul leaders Larne.

    Six points is the deficit going into tonight's fixtures with the Glens hoping their recent run of good form against Cliftonville continues.

    They are unbeaten in their previous four fixtures this season and have scored seven goals without reply in the last two meetings.

    Declan Devine makes three changes to the side which drew 1-1 with Linfield on their last outing some 10 days ago.

    Jordan Stewart, Daniel Larmour and Josh Daniels all come into the starting XI with Jack Malone dropping to the bench while Ross Clarke and Marcus Kane miss out completely.

    Cliftonville will still be smarting from yet another penalty shootout defeat as Dungannon Swifts knocked them out of the Irish Cup at the semi-final stage on Friday, but they can keep themselves ahead of the Swifts in the race for home advantage in the European play-offs.

    Jim Magilton makes four changes to his side following their Irish Cup defeat with Conor Pepper, Aidan Kelly, Ryan Curran and Keevan Hawthorne handed starts while Jonny Addis, Harry Wilson and Luke Conlan miss out through injury and Josh Kelly is ineligible to play against his parent club.

    Cliftonville: Morrison, Pepper, Hale, Curran, Leppard, Glynn, Kelly, Toole, McStravick, Healy, Hawthorne.

    Subs: Ridd, Jordan, McCay, Gormley, Carroll, Sheridan, Stanfield.

    Glentoran: Mills, Cooney, Palmer, Hoban, Stewart, Kamson-Kamara, Lamrour, Amos, Singleton, Daniels, McEneff.

    Subs: Crellin, Thomson, Connolly, Burt, Gallagher, Jenkins, Malone.

    Cliftonville v GlentoranImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    Cliftonville v Glentoran

  19. Team newspublished at 19:24 BST 7 April

    Dungannon Swifts v Linfield

    The last eight head-to-head meetings between Dungannon Swifts and Linfield have all gone the way of the Blues, including a 4-1 rout at Stangmore Park back in February.

    With European places still up for grabs for both sides, tonight's game is far from a dead rubber.

    Swifts boss Rodney McAree makes four changes to his side that beat Cliftonville to reach the Irish Cup final last time out.

    In come Peter Maguire, James Knowles, Malachy Smith and Sam Anderson at the expense of Leo Alves, Shea Gordon, Paul Doyle and Gael Bigirimana, who all drop to the bench.

    David Healy on the other hand makes just two alterations from their 1-1 draw with Big Two rivals Glentoran 10 days ago. Kyle McClean and Kirk Millar return to the starting XI with Josh Archer and Isaac Baird amongst the substitutes.

    Dungannon Swifts: Dunne, Maguire, Kelly, Knowles, Dillon, Glenny, McGinty (c), Smith, Wallace, Anderson, Moore.

    Subs: Henderson, Alves, Gordon, Doyle, Mitchell, Bigirimana, Liggett.

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

    Subs: McDaid, Ballantyne, McKee, Archer, Baird, Brown, Taylor.

    Dungannon Swifts v LinfieldImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    Dungannon Swifts v Linfield

  20. Watch: Swifts secure Irish Cup final spotpublished at 19:20 BST 7 April

    Dungannon Swifts v Linfield (19:45 BST)

    Watch as holders Dungannon Swifts continued their defence of the Irish Cup by booking their spot in the final with a penalty shootout win over Cliftonville.

    Media caption,

    Highlights:Cliftonville v Dungannon Swifts