Almost an opener for the visitors as Matt Yates' header requires saving from Musa Dibaga, who does extremely well to get down to his left to prevent a certain goal.

Musa Dibaga is forced into an early save as Matthew Fitzpatrick meets Kyle McClean's cross but can't generate enough power to trouble the goalkeeper.

The Crues go straight up the other end as Fraser Bryden lets fly from outside the area, but Chris Johns saves routinely.

Colin Coates
Former Crusaders captain on BBC Radio Ulster

It has been a bright start from Linfield. They have had all of the ball so far and have looked comfortable.

There is a cold wind coming in and it is certainly helping Linfield.

Another close shave for the Rangers' defence.

Shea Gordon heads a looping header from eight yards that Carrick Keeper Scott Pengelly does well to knock over the bar.

It has been a dominant start from the team in blue.

Less than a minute on the clock and the visitors are almost in front.

A ball over the top sends Andrew Mitchell clear, but his shot from 12 yards goes just wide of the right-hand upright. What an opening that would have been.

We're under way at a windy Seaview as 11th place Crusaders welcome champions Linfield.

Which way will this one go?

Dungannon Swifts get us under way at a windswept Taylors Avenue

Colin Coates
Former Crusaders captain on BBC Radio Ulster

If you look at the Crusaders' team sheet today and with O'Rourke and Clarke moving on, there is a real lack of Irish League household names and experience.

If you look at Linfield's team sheet with the likes of McClean and Fitzpatrick, they have lots of players who have been around the league more.

You'd think they will have too much for Crusaders and will need the points after the results last night.

Curtis Allen
Former Glentoran and Carrick Rangers striker on BBC Sounds

There are lots of happy faces here today [at Taylors Avenue] and it is great for the club and the players.

A trophy is a trophy, and it gets everyone smiling.

I am really pleased for the club and I wish I stayed one more year to have got my hands on it myself!

Here are the two Irish Premiership matches ahead today.

A reminder that Ballymena v Portadown was postponed following a pitch inspection.

Image source, BBC Sport

After their County Antrim Shield final heroics on Tuesday evening, Carrick manager Stephen Baxter will be hoping to continue the side's winning form today against fifth-placed Dungannon Swifts.

It is no surprise that he makes just the one change to the starting XI today, with Adam Lecky promoted to the starting line-up after a superb goalscoring cameo in mid-week. Aidan Steele is the player to make way, despite scoring the winning penalty in that shield shootout.

Swifts' boss Rodney McAree makes three changes to his side that defeated Ballymena United by 2-0 last week with Peter Maguire, Shea Gordon and Andrew Mitchell all elevated to the starting line-up.

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

Subs: Donnelly, Steele, Cherry, McKay, McCawl, Moore, Jeffers

Dungannon Swifts: Dunne, P.Maguire M Smith, Marron, Wallace, Kelly, Bigirimana, Dillon, Gordon, Mitchell, Junior.

Subs: Henderson, Bermingham, Knowles, Alves, Hawe, Liggett, C Smith.

Image source, BBC Sport

From the moment Aidan Steele's penalty hit the back of the net, 33 years of frustration went out the window.

Carrick Rangers defeated Cliftonville 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the County Antrim Shield final to win a first senior trophy since 1993.

When the competition started in September, in truth few would have predicted that Stephen Baxter's side would have been the last team standing.

In an era when Larne, Glentoran, Linfield and Cliftonville have dominated football in Northern Ireland, Carrick were very much outsiders at the start of play.

Especially when you look at the club's standing in the league, where they languish in the relegation play-off spot in 11th place.

Read Andy Gray's full article here.

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Watch highlights as Dungannon Swifts beat Ballymena United 2-0 at Stangmore Park in the Irish Premiership.

Carrick Rangers won the County Antrim Shield for the first time in 33 years with a 4-2 shootout win over Cliftonville after a 1-1 draw at Seaview.

Ryan Curran's strike in the third minute put Cliftonville in front but Adam Lecky equalised with 10 minutes remaining to send the game to a shootout.

Aidan Steele scored the winning penalty after Curran and Liam McStravick missed in their spot kicks.

It is the second time Carrick have won the County Antrim Shield in their history.

Read the full report here.

Crusaders welcome Linfield to Seaview, looking to end a run of 10 straight defeats to the south Belfast side.

The last time the Crues beat David Healy's side was exactly three years ago to the day, with Jordan Forsythe and Philip Lowry earning the north Belfast side a 2-0 victory.

Declan Caddell came off the bench that day, but now occupies the dugout and makes two changes to his side following their 5-1 thumping at the hands of Coleraine last Saturday afternoon.

In come Harry Jewitt-White and Josh Williamson at the expense of Finley Thorndike and Jordan Forsythe.

Blues boss Healy also rings the changes with four alterations in total. Darragh Leahy, Josh Archer, Matt Yates and Charlie Allen replace Euan East, Sean Brown, Isaac Baird and Chris McKee in the starting XI.

Crusaders: Dibaga, Jewitt-White, Brooks, Dunlop, Easton, Williamson, Bryden, Nixon, Bruce, Anderson (c), Lewis Barr.

Subs: Tuffey, Thorndike, McCart, Leon Barr, Donnelly, Maguire, James.

Linfield: Johns, Gorrin, McClean (c), Allen, Hall, Yates, Archer, McGee, Fitzpatrick, Leahy, McCullough.

Subs: Walsh, Millar, Mulgrew, Frizzell, Brown, Baird, Taylor.

Image source, BBC Sport

Linfield have completed the signing of Scottish midfielder Adam Frizzell on an 18-month deal.

The 27-year-old arrives on a free transfer after leaving Derry City following a six-month spell with the Candystripes.

Frizzell has also featured for the likes of Kilmarnock and Dumbarton and was captain at Airdrieonians.

He becomes the Blues' second January arrival after Darragh Leahy joined from Waterford.

"Adam brings vital leadership and experience into the middle of the park, and he comes from a really good pedigree across the water," Linfield boss David Healy told the club's website.

"We've tracked him for a number of years when he was playing in Scotland so it's great to get his signature at the club. He plays two or three attacking positions and we're hopeful he'll play a key role for us here at Windsor Park and be an important addition to the group.

"I look forward to introducing him to the rest of the team and getting him out on the training pitch this week."

Elsewhere, Ballymena United have signed experienced defender Shane McEleney from Glentoran.

The 34-year-old joins the Sky Blues after a year with Declan Devine's side and will link up with his brother Patrick at the Showgrounds.

Coleraine have confirmed that defender Adam Long has left the club by mutual consent after joining last summer.

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Glentoran have completed a double swoop from Crusaders for Jarlath O'Rourke and Ross Clarke.

O'Rourke spent six years at Seaview following a move from Dungannon Swifts in 2019.

The 30-year-old defender made 246 appearances for the north Belfast club including 24 this season when he served as team captain.

"Even before getting out on the pitch with the lads, you can sense the standards around the place," O'Rourke said after the move was confirmed.

"It's a strong group, competitive in the right way and there's a real hunger within the squad to achieve something together."

Midfielder Clarke, 32, became the second player to swap Seaview for the Oval on Thursday.

The midfielder made 257 for the Crues since his arrival from Linfield in 2018, scoring 34 goals and claiming three Irish Cup winners medals in the process, but makes the move across the city to strengthen the right side of Glentoran's midfield.

"The opportunity to play full-time was one I couldn't turn down," Clarke said.

"Glentoran is a massive club with big expectations and you can see immediately the standards and professionalism around the place.

"It's a club with a real history and I'm proud to be pulling on the Glentoran jersey. I'll give everything I've got to make a success of my time here and do my bit for the team."

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Watch highlights as Coleraine fight back to beat Crusaders 5-1 at the Showgrounds in the Irish Premiership.

The rescheduled Irish Cup fifth round tie between Ballymena United and Larne has been postponed for a second time.

The all-Irish Premiership tie was originally set to be played on Saturday, 10 January but frozen conditions forced a number of games to be postponed.

Ballymena were set to host Larne on Tuesday night but a waterlogged pitch at the Showgrounds has forced the game to be called off a second time.

The game will now be played on Tuesday, 3 February and will still be at the Showgrounds, and the winner will travel to Championship side Warrenpoint Town on Saturday, 7 February.

Loughgall's tie with Knockbreda has also been postponed after heavy rain across Northern Ireland on Tuesday, while Glentoran will take on Strabane Athletic in the third rescheduled tie.

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins says his side "weren't themselves" during their 2-0 victory over Glenavon at the Coleraine Showgrounds.

The home side broke the deadlock midway through the opening half through leading scorer Joel Cooper.

Glenavon started the second half the better side, but it was the Bannsiders who scored again when substitute Jamie McGonigle found the back of the net.

"We weren't ourselves if I am being honest. A lot of credit has to go to the opposition and how they were set up," Higgins told BBC Sport NI.

"Glenavon caused us problems. We didn't give up any chances as such, but we gave up territory, they had good possession and passed the ball really well. Most of our opportunities came from counter-attacks.

"I have complained before that we haven't gotten points when we haven't played well and we have gotten three points tonight when we haven't been ourselves, so we will take it and move on."

Image source, Pacemaker