Irish League Football

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Larne captain Tomas Cosgrove says the Inver Reds "took their foot off the gas" against Glentoran, despite winning 4-1 at the Oval.

The deadlock was broken during an action-packed match after just seven minutes when former Glens midfielder Paul O'Neill converted a penalty before Daniel Larmour levelled the game.

Ryan Cooney was then dismissed for a clumsy challenge on Sean Graham with Larne taking advantage of the extra man and Cricky Gallagher, O'Neill and Cosgrove all netting.

"Good result, probably not the best performance," Cosgrove told BBC Sport NI.

"I think Glentoran held their own. They were on top of us for large parts of the game.

"We went in front and took our foot off the gas, sat back and let them come into the game when we should have went for them. Maybe the red card changed the game."

Larne had made a bright start to the game and were denied by the crossbar in the opening two minutes before opening the scoring shortly after.

However, they struggled to build on that momentum, with the home side able to find a leveller.

After Cooney's dismissal, the Inver Reds were clinical and ran out the comfortable victors in the end.

"It was brilliant [timing to score the second goal] as we weren't playing well at all. I don't know what it was and we can't blame anything," he continued.

"Cricky scores that goal. I am actually screaming for the ball out wide, I was raging that he took a shot and then it snuck into the bottom corner, and I thought 'good decision Cricky!'"

"It was brilliant to go in 2-1 in front and it gives you a bit more confidence going into the second half."

Gary Haveron's side now sit 10 points clear at the top of the Irish Premiership and have played one game less than Coleraine in second.

They now face defending champions Linfield, who have won just one of their last five league games.

"It is obviously great," Cosgrove replied when asked about having a comfortable advantage at the top of the table.

"I'm going to give the boring answer, it is one game at a time. I have seen a lot of strange things happen in football.

"There is no bigger game in the league than Linfield, the champions, so we have to go and put on a good performance and hopefully get the three points."

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The Irish Cup sixth-round game between Limavady United and Linfield will be shown live on BBC Sport NI.

The Roesiders, who are second in the Championship, will welcome the reigning Irish Premiership champions to the Coleraine Showgrounds on Friday 6 February (19:45 GMT).

Limavady booked their spot in the next round with a commanding 4-1 win over Lisburn Rangers on Saturday, while the Blues beat Bangor 1-0 in an all-Premiership encounter at Windsor Park.

Linfield are chasing a record-extending 45th Irish Cup triumph and first since 2021 after being knocked out in the sixth round by Glentoran last season.

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

There are four rescheduled Irish Cup fifth-round games taking place on Tuesday night after falling victim to wintry conditions last weekend.

Ballinamallard United host Institute, Glenavon entertain Newington and Portadown take on neighbours Annagh United (all 19:45 GMT), while Warrenpoint Town face Lisburn (20:00 GMT).

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Ballymena United goalkeeper Sean O'Neill is to retire following Tuesday'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."

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Larne defender Matt Ridley has been named the Irish Premiership Player of the Month for December by the Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association.

Ridley was a key member of the Larne defence which conceded one league goal in the month, and has let in just nine in the top flight all season.

Larne are top of the table after a strong month which saw Gary Haveron's side defeat Glentoran, Crusaders and Carrick Rangers, and also draw with Linfield and Cliftonville.

"Thank you to the Football Writers for the award," said Ridley, who joined Larne from Blyth Spartans in the summer.

"We've had 14 clean sheets and as a defender you defend first and play second, and that's what I've always taken pride in. To bring that into the Irish League is something I'm immensely proud of.

"It's not possible without the full 11, but especially the boys beside me in defence."

Sean McAllister of Dungannon Swifts was second and Glentoran midfielder Cammy Palmer was third.

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Linfield boss David Healy said he was pleased with the contribution of match-winner Isaac Baird in the Blues' 1-0 Irish Cup fifth round win over Bangor.

Summer signing Baird headed home the only goal of the game from a Dane McCullough cross on 43 minutes to help Linfield into the sixth round, where they will face Championship side Limavady United.

And Healy was pleased that Baird took on advice given to him about being in the box to score more headers.

"Isaac should score more goals, I said to him before the game he should score more headers, he is six foot plus," Healy told BBC Sport NI.

"Thankfully I celebrated the goal, not just because it was the breakthrough, but because he listened."

The 21-year-old has already featured 21 times for Linfield since his switch from Glenavon and Healy believes there is plenty more still to come from the midfielder.

"The good thing with Isaac is he already has had some good experience at Glenavon," he added.

"You feel like he has been around for a long time, he had a long-term injury which he is still getting fully fit from, he's still to fill out and use his big frame, but the longer he is with us the bigger small percentages we will get out of him.

"He's a big plus, zero hassle, very professional and the money we have spent on him will be money well served. He's adjusting to the full-time side of it and he will continue to improve."

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Cliftonville striker Brian Healy says his "eyes lit up" before his goal during the Reds' 3-0 victory over Dundela in the Irish Cup fifth round.

Conor Falls gave last year's runners-up the lead at the break before debutant Healy and Sean Robertson netted in the second half.

Jim Magilton's side will now play either Glenavon or Newington at Solitude in the sixth round as they aim to make the Irish Cup final for the third year in a row.

"I am absolutely delighted," Healy told BBC Sport NI.

"It was a great touch from Ryan [Curran] and my eyes lit up because I had a few chances before that that I should have tucked away but, once I hit that, I knew it was going into the back of the net."

Healy joined Cliftonville for an undisclosed fee after scoring 25 goals in 26 games for the Championship side H&W Welders.

The 21-year-old is the Reds' third January signing after the arrivals of Joseph O'Toole and Liam McStravick.

"Once a team like Cliftonville come calling, you can't say no," he continued.

"I grew up as a kid playing for St Oliver Plunkett and have watched Cliftonville matches before when they have been in finals with my family, so it is a club that I grew up supporting."

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Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree says he didn't want to "read the headlines tomorrow that the holders had fallen at the first fence" after his side comfortably overcame Ards 3-0 to begin their cup defence.

After a fast start at Stangmore Park, Sean McAllister broke the deadlock after 15 minutes.

Junior and Tiernan Kelly then fired past Marc Matthews later in the half to give the home side breathing space.

"We are not going to give it [the Irish Cup] up without a fight," McAree told BBC Radio Ulster.

"We wanted to get over this round as we didn't want to wake up and read the headlines tomorrow that the holders have fallen at the first fence.

"We wanted to make sure we bypassed Ards, which was a tricky tie for us."

After a challenging start to the campaign, the Swifts are now on an impressive run and sit fifth in the Irish Premiership, losing just one of their last seven games.

They have further strengthened their squad in January by signing Shea Gordon and Corey Smith with McAree adding he believes this is the best side that Dungannon have ever had.

"I do," McAree replied when asked did he think this squad was Dungannon's strongest.

"When I look around the changing room and see the players left out of the squad and coming back into the squad, we have done well assembling a very strong squad with depth.

"The biggest thing about us is we are together, everyone is fighting for each other, and everyone is pulling in the same direction which I think is important."

The holders will now travel to face either Portadown or Annagh United in the sixth round.

The fifth round match between local rivals Portadown and Annagh was postponed due to a frozen pitch and is now due to be played on Tuesday, 13 January at Shamrock Park.

"It's a Mid-Ulster derby whatever way you look at it," he continued.

"Everyone wants a home draw, but all we wanted to do was make sure we were in the draw and we have done that.

"We look forward to seeing who we get and that tie when it comes around."

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Carrick Rangers manager Stephen Baxter praised the character of his squad during their 5-1 victory against Queen's University at Taylors Avenue in the Irish Cup fifth round.

Adam Lecky and Aidan Steele put Carrick ahead before Ronan Young pulled one back for the away side.

However, goals from Joe Crowe, Matthew Snoddy and Danny Gibson after the restart guaranteed it was Stephen Baxter's side who would advance to the next round.

"You saw the response of the team [from the 7-0 Glentoran loss] which was absolutely magnificent," Baxter told BBC Sport NI.

"How they passed the ball, how they got into great areas to score and then scored five and missed five.

"That tells you a lot about the character of the squad and we were able to get players who were hurt back into the squad and get two new players in which helps the squad."

The Premiership side will now host Coleraine at Taylors Avenue in the sixth round.

Queen's University manager James Lavery also praised Baxter's side and added that they "clicked" during the match.

"The third goal after 15 minutes in the second half really killed it for us and it was a bit too far at that point," said Lavery.

"I am proud of the players. I think we gave a good account of ourseleves.

"Full credit to Carrick, they were very, very good. It is a great squad of players, but I think it really clicked for them today."

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The draw for the sixth round of the Irish Cup was made on Saturday evening, with Championship promotion challengers Limavady United against Linfield one of the confirmed last-16 ties.

In an all-Premiership encounter, Carrick Rangers will host Coleraine at Taylors Avenue, while H&W Welders will be at home to Ballymacash Rangers.

The other matches will see Cliftonville play Glenavon or Newington at Solitude and holders Dungannon Swifts away to either Portadown or Annagh United.

The winner of the postponed Ballymena United-Larne fifth-round tie will be away to Lisburn Distillery or Warrenpoint Town.

Strabane Athletic or Glentoran will take on Drumaness Mills, while Knockbreda or Loughgall will entertain Ballinamallard United or Institute.

The sixth-round ties are scheduled for Friday 6 February and Saturday 7 February.