At the other end, Liam Burt has a go, but his effort sails wide of the right hand post.

It has certainly been a lively start to the game at the Oval.

Portadown are forced into a very early change as Gary Thompson makes way for Jack Scott.

That’s an earlier-than-planned debut for the former Coleraine man, who’ll be looking to settle quickly into midfield.

Crikey, that was close!

Jordan McEneff whips the ball into the box for Sean Graham, whose shot crashes off the crossbar.

What a chance for Larne to take an early lead.

Paul O'Neill's shot is deflected out of play by Daniel Larmour and the away side now have the first corner of the game.

An early pause in play as Gary Thompson receives treatment on the far side. That would be a significant blow for Niall Currie if the experienced midfielder can't continue.

Off we go in the rescheduled all-Championship Irish Cup tie.

Penalty to Ballymena...

We're under way at the Oval.

Can league leaders Larne extend their unbeaten run to 13 league games or will Glentoran be the victors this evening?

We're underway at Mourneview Park on referee Michael McKenna's whistle. The visitors get us underway kicking left to right.

Early chance for the visitors as Matthew Fitzpatrick spins and strikes, but can't keep his effort down as it sails high and wide of the target.

Referee Mark Dillon signals the start at Shamrock Park.

It's all to play for with a home tie against holders Dungannon Swifts the reward for whoever comes through this one.

Referee Chris Morrison starts the action at a chilly Ballymena Showgrounds.

Over the course of all Irish Premiership sides’ most recent 10 league fixtures, only leaders Larne (26 out of a possible 30 points) have amassed more points than Cliftonville’s tally of 19.

Conversely, only Carrick Rangers (six) have accumulated less than Ballymena’s eight points over that same period.

Will tonight’s game follow the formbook or can Ballymena produce a positive result?

We're under way at Taylors Avenue for this Irish Premiership meeting between Carrick Rangers and Linfield.

Premiership basement boys Glenavon host a Newington side who sit sixth in the Championship.

This is actually the Lurgan Blues' first game of 2026 and Michael O'Connor makes four changes to the side who lost 1-0 here to Dungannon Swifts back on 30th December.

There are debuts for Glentoran loanees Nathaniel Ferris and Charlie Lindsay while Stephen Mallon and captain Barney McKeown return to the starting line-up. Another loan signing Mikey Harkin is on the bench having completed a temporary move from Larne.

This is also Newington's first game of the new year and Paul Hamilton makes one change from their 3-3 draw at The Brandywell 14 days ago as new signing Paul Donnelly starts having returned to the club from Ards.

Glenavon: Byrne, McMullan, Burns, Murphy, McKeown (C), Mallon, Ferris, Wilson, McGovern, Lindsay, Quinn

Subs: Campbell, McClelland, Kee, Gilmore, Harkin, Carlin, McGerrigan

Newington: Brown, Casey, Gowdy (C), R. Donnelly, Stuart, McIlhone, Watters, Corish, P. Donnelly, Gorman, J, Donnelly

Subs: Rice, McGreevy, Gorman, McKiernan, McBride, McAuley, Kalla

Image source, BBC Sport

Watch highlights as Carrick Rangers beat Queen's University 5-1 in the Irish Cup fifth round on Saturday.

Carrick Rangers welcome champions Linfield to Taylors Avenue tonight under the lights, looking to register their first Irish Premiership win since October.

The Blues have won the last nine head-to-head meetings between the two sides, with the last Carrick victory against the south Belfast side coming on the 28th August 2022.

Carrick boss Stephen Baxter names an unchanged side from Saturday's 5-1 Irish Cup victory over Queen's University.

David Healy on the other hand makes two changes with Ben Hall and Jamie Mulgrew coming in for Charlie Allen and Sean Brown.

Carrick Rangers: Pengelly, Place, Burns, Gibson, Lecky, McCullough (c), Steele, Buchanan-Rolleston, Crowe, Heatley, Snoddy.

Subs: Donnelly, Callacher, Boyd, James, Grills, McCawl, Olosunde.

Linfield: Johns, East, McClean, Hall, Yates, Archer, Mulgrew (c), Baird, McGee, Fitzpatrick, McCullough.

Subs: Walsh, Gorrin, Allen, McKee, Brown, Taylor, Morrison.

Image source, BBC Sport

Watch highlights as Linfield beat Bangor 1-0 in the Irish Cup fifth round courtesy of Isaac Baird's header.

Ballymena’s first competitive fixture of 2026 will also be goalkeeper Sean O’Neill’s final game before retiring.

He captains a side which shows four changes from United’s last outing, a 2-0 defeat at Bangor before the turn of the year.

That includes two of United's January signings, Igor Rutkowski and Sean Murray, while top scorer Success Edogun and former Scotland international Dylan McGeough return from injury. Ballymena's third arrival in this transfer window - striker Dean Ebbe - starts on the bench.

Cliftonville make five changes from the side which breezed past Dundela in the Irish Cup at the weekend.

PJ Morrison returns in goal at the expense of Lewis Ridd, while Conor Pepper, Ryan Curran and Joe Sheridan are restored to the starting line-up and 16-year-old Shea McGarry makes his full debut.

Ballymena United: O'Neill, Toure, McCallion, Clarke, Lafferty, McGeough, Murray, Corbally, O'Connor, Edogun, Rutkowski.

Subs: Breen, Gould, Jarvis, Scott, Ebbe, Thompson, Hood.

Cliftonville: Morrison, Pepper, Leppard, Casey, McGarry, Wilson, Fapetu, Sheridan, Hawthorne, Healy, Curran.

Subs: Ridd, Hale, Jordan, McCay, Gormley, McStravick, McWoods.

Image source, BBC Sport

Ballymena United goalkeeper Sean O'Neill is to retire following tonight's Irish Premiership game against Cliftonville.

The 37-year-old began his career with the Braidmen when moving from Glentoran's U18s in 2005 and initially made 18 appearances before a move to Dungannon Swifts in 2010.

After one season with the Tyrone outfit, he then joined Crusaders where he spent the bulk of his career, winning three Premiership titles, plus Irish Cup, League Cup, County Antrim Shields and Setanta Cup medals during his 11 years at Seaview.

An initial loan move to Ballymena United in 2022 became permanent as O'Neill's career came full circle.

"Tomorrow night v Cliftonville will be my last game for Ballymena United and will bring down the curtain on my playing career," O'Neill confirmed in a statement on social media.

"I've had 20-plus years of memories, friendships and battles that I am truly grateful for.

I would like to thank Ballymena, Crusaders and Dungannon for giving me the opportunities to play in our league and to the managers who trusted me with playing."

O'Neill, who also represented Antrim in Gaelic football, will seek to go out on a high in the final game of a career which has spanned over two decades.

In statement, Ballymena United paid tribute to the shot-stopper who made a significant impact during his spells with the club.

"Tomorrow night marks the end of an era in the Irish League as Sean O'Neill plays the final game of his illustrious career at the Showgrounds against Cliftonville," they said.

"During two spells at the Showgrounds, Sean has made 165 appearances, keeping 40 clean sheets for Ballymena United - the fifth highest in the history of the club.

"Everyone connected with the club wishes him well in his retirement from playing and his future career as a coach."

Image source, Inpho