Irish League Football

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Glentoran will face Crusaders in one of two all-Irish Premiership ties in the second round of the BetMcLean Cup.

The other will see in-form Bangor travel to Larne and ties will be played on Tuesday, 4 and Wednesday, 5 November.

Holders Cliftonville will host Premier Intermediate side Stranbane Athletic, who defeated Loughgall in the first round.

Linfield have been drawn with H&W Welders and Glenavon, who announced Michael O'Connor as manager on Saturday, will travel to Newry City.

Ballymena United will host Newington and Coleraine will take on Armagh City, who stunned Carrick Rangers in round one, and Moyola Park will travel to Dungannon Swifts in the other second round ties.

Second round draw - ties to be played Tuesday, 4 & Wednesday, 5 November

Ballymena United v Newington

Cliftonville v Strabane Athletic

Coleraine v Armagh City

Dungannon Swifts v Moyola Park

Glentoran v Crusaders

HW Welders v Linfield

Larne v Bangor

Newry City v Glenavon

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Bangor manager Lee Feeney says his players will keep their feet firmly on the ground and continue to try and progress after the Seasiders sealed their fifth win from 10 Premiership matches by beating Glenavon 3-0 at Mourneview Park on Saturday.

Tiarnan Mulvenna, Reece Neale and Jack O'Mahony were on target as Feeney's team consolidated their sixth position in the league and condemned their beleaguered opponents to an 11th straight top flight defeat.

"The players have settled in well and credit to them, they don't look one bit out of place. They're willing to do anything for each other. They'll fight for each other," Feeney told BBC Sport NI after the game.

"We have really good characters in there, good chemistry between them all. We've enjoyed it so far. We have shown good consistency.

"We're in a good place but by no means do we get carried away. We stay humble."

Feeney was satisfied with the fact that his team recovered from a difficult start to claim a second successive victory after their win over Coleraine at Clandeboye seven days previously.

Neale's second-half long-range effort was particularly special.

"After 15 or 20 minutes we sussed it out and started to come into the game after they had caused us problems.

"I was really pleased with how the players fixed things on the pitch themselves which made my half-time team talk easier. I was delighted with the clean sheet.

"Reece's desire to get on the ball and run with it and shake off the challenges of a defender earned him his goal.

"Whether he meant it or not, he'll tell you he did, so listen I'll go with that."

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Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins says his side will continue to "get better and develop as a team" after watching the Bannsiders defeat derby rivals 3-1 at the Warden Street Showgrounds to leapfrog Glentoran into top place in the Irish Premiership table.

An opener from Will Patching was followed by a Matthew Shevlin double as the visitors took control, before Ben Kennedy replied with a late consolation strike.

Higgins' charges had lost two of their previous three league encounters, including a loss to 10-man Bangor last week, but bounced back in style to move two points clear at the summit.

"To score a goal so early in a derby was obviously a major help. The start of the game gave us a big platform," Higgins told BBC Sport NI.

"I thought we showed different sides of our game today. I thought in the early stages we played some brilliant football in terms of possession.

"We scored three great goals and then we dug in when we needed to dig in. Our third goal was sensational, a really good team goal."

The former Derry City boss went on to praise Shevlin's huge contribution and his team's game management in the latter stages.

"Matthew Shevlin has come in today and I thought his all-round play was exceptional. Two brilliant goals, two brilliant finishes, but I thought his workrate was sensational.

"He led from the front and it was infectious right throughout the team.

"We have experienced players who managed the game quite well and we're delighted with the three points."

Higgins believes there is much more to come from his side.

"We are where we want to be. We're competing and we've won a lot of games playing some brilliant football at times.

"I know that we'll develop and get better as a team, I've absolutely no doubt about that.

"The signs are good but we definitely have to eradicate some of the types of goals we've conceded in recent weeks. If we can do that we'll become a real top team."

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Dungannon Swifts recovered from a goal down at half-time to beat Glentoran 3-1 and end Declan Devine's unbeaten run in the Irish Premiership.

Marcus Kane's headed goal had the Glens one goal to the good against the run of play, before Jordan Jenkins was sent-off for a second bookable offence after the break.

Leo Alves with a free-kick, Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe and Adam Glenny then found the net to make it five wins out of six in the top division for Swifts.

Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree: "Massive three points. They're hard to come by when you're up against the Glens. Glentoran are a very good side, have been all season, but I thought in the first half we were exceptional.

We found ourselves one-nil down after 21 minutes, and I couldn't understand how. We were in control, used the ball well, played well and created a good opportunity. But we showed great character after going behind.

It was important we stayed in the game and didn't let it become two-nil because that would've been a mountain to climb.

We got in at half-time, spoke about doing the simple things well, and gave ourselves every chance - and that's exactly what we did.

In the second half, I actually thought we played better in the first than the second, but we scored three in the second, so it's a really pleasing three points."

Glentoran first team coach Tim McCann: "I understand decisions go for you and against you, that's football. I understand refereeing is a tough job, I really do. But it's got to be consistent.

"We felt we were very harshly dealt with today, and the sending-off absolutely killed us and killed the game. It's a tough one to take."

"We're not going to lose focus. It's maybe one defeat in 10 or 11 games. It still hurts and it'll hurt the boys over the weekend, but we've had a chat in the changing room.

"We can't let it define our season or our next game. We'll work on what we did wrong today and try to put it right."

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Former Northern Ireland midfielder Michael O'Connor has been named as the new manager of Irish Premiership side Glenavon.

The 38-year-old succeeds Paddy McLaughlin in the position, the former Institute and Cliftonville boss having parted ways with the Mid Ulster club at the end of last month.

After plying his trade in England, O'Connor made 70 appearances for Glenavon as a player between 2020 and 2023 and went on to become assistant manager at Newry City for a spell, before occupying the same role as part of Dean Shiels' backroom staff at Coleraine.

Glenavon's 3-0 home defeat by Bangor on Saturday made it 11 defeats from 11 matches for the club so far this season and they are languishing 10 points behind Crusaders at the foot of the table, having played two games more than the north Belfast club.

A short statement released by the club on Saturday evening said: "Glenavon FC can announce the appointment of their new manager, Michael O'Connor. He will be joined by Mark Ferguson and Andrew Doyle."

Lurgan Blues players David McDaid and Niall Quinn had formed part of Glenavon's interim management team, along with coaches Tim Lennon and Ryan Prentice, since McLaughlin's departure a fortnight ago.

Jana McCabe
BBC Sport NI journalist

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Glentoran manager Kim Turner has said that winning the league would 'put the cherry on top of the cake' ahead of her side's Women's Premiership title decider on Sunday (18:00 BST) against Cliftonville.

The Glens go into the final game of the season two points ahead of defending champions Cliftonville, who need to take victory at the Blanchflower Stadium to stop the east Belfast side from regaining the trophy.

The winners of the Premiership title will not only lift the trophy at the weekend but also book a coveted spot in the Champions League.

"This is where we wanted to be at the start of the year, so the fact that we are here means we are hitting those goals and values," Turner told BBC Sport NI.

"The girls deserve nothing but this. I can be biased, but I don't think any team works harder than us away from the field.

"The way they look after their bodies, the commitment and the extra sessions they are willing to do, they do not get enough credit. I feel like the league title would put the cherry on top of the cake."

Both teams lost their home matches against their main title rivals when they met earlier on in the season, with the respective losses representing the two sides' only defeat of the campaign.

They have also played in the Women's League Cup final, when the Reds came from two goals down to win 4-2 at Seaview.

However, Turner said they are "glad" that defeat happened and that "it is not going to happen again" ahead of Sunday's showdown.

"The biggest thing that Cliftonville have had, and always will, have is that never-say-die attitude," the former Northern Ireland midfielder continued.

"We learnt that the hard way in the final.

"We have learnt from that and we are glad that happened as it is not going to happen again."

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Portadown manager Niall Currie will seek to rebuild his backroom following the departures of assistant Cliffy Adams and first team coach John McAllister.

The club confirmed both Adams and McAllister will depart "with immediate effect", bringing a three-year spell to an end having arrived with Currie in October 2022.

In that time, Portadown made a return to the top flight as Championship winners in 2023/24, a season in which they also won the Mid Ulster Cup and reached the final of the BetMcLean Cup where they lost to Linfield.

Upon their return to the Premiership last season, they helped the Ports to their highest finish in a decade when finishing eighth, one place outside the European play-offs.

They depart with Portadown eighth in the table thanks to back-to-back wins, with Currie's side preparing to travel to Carrick Rangers on Saturday (15:00 BST).

In a statement, the club offered its gratitude to the departing pair.

"Everyone at Portadown Football Club thank Cliffy and John for their contributions, commitment and effort during their time at Shamrock Park and wish them well for the future," they said.

Jana McCabe
BBC Sport NI journalist

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Larne captain Tomas Cosgrove has been named September's Irish Premiership player of the month by the Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association.

The 32-year-old played in all of the Inver Reds five victories in September as they beat Bangor, Glenavon, Crusaders and Carrick Rangers in the league and Queen's in the County Antrim Shield.

Defender Cosgrove also played a key part in his side not conceding for the whole month of September in all competitions.

"It's the first time I've won this award so I'm thrilled," Cosgrove said after picking up the award.

"I'm the man collecting the trophy, but we defend as a team, so all the players deserve credit for the clean sheets.

"Gary Haveron has been brilliant as well, he has kept the ship steady through some tough times."

While September was a very successful month for Larne, October has not been as kind thus far with a 2-0 by Dungannon Swifts in Haveron's first loss since he became interim manager.

"We were excellent in September but obviously started October with a loss to Dungannon Swifts," Cosgrove continued.

"Hopefully we can bounce back and put more wins on the board."

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Crusaders and Derry City will join forces to commence legal proceedings over their omission from Stage Two of the Northern Ireland Football Fund.

In September, the Department for Communities announced 20 clubs from across Northern Ireland would progress to the next round of the process with three different tiers of funding available.

Of the 41 clubs eligible to apply, 38 submitted bids, leaving those who missed out bitterly disappointed.

Both Crusaders and Derry City were two to miss out and having considered the decision, jointly confirmed on Wednesday evening they will now lodge legal proceedings against the decision to omit them.

In a statement, Crusaders said: "Following an extra-ordinary general meeting of Crusaders Football Club members on Wednesday, 8 October 2025, Crusaders FC have determined to join Derry City FC to commence legal proceedings to challenge the exclusion of both clubs from Stage 2 of the Northern Ireland Football Fund."

The League of Ireland club expressed similar sentiments.

"Derry City FC have made the decision to join with Crusaders FC to commence legal proceedings to challenge the exclusion of both clubs from Stage 2 of the Northern Ireland Football Fund process," they said in a statement.

"We believe we were left with no other option."

The Stormont Executive has set £36.2m aside, but Communities Minister Gordon Lyons estimated the departmental cost of the 20 projects would come to "just over £82m", while the "estimated total project costs" are £98m.

The big winners were NIFL Premiership clubs Glentoran and Cliftonville who progressed in the third and most expensive tier of over £6m.

The middle bracket of applications between £1.5m to £6m saw 13 successful applications, while five of of less than £1.5m also progressed.

A Department for Communities spokesperson said: "The Department will consider its response to any action being brought as and when it has been formally notified."

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Dungannon Swifts boss Rodney McAree said his side "played with a lot of energy" in their 2-0 home win against Larne.

First-half goals from Tiernan Kelly and Kealan Dillon secured the Swifts' third successive win.

And McAree was delighted with their performance, particularly in the first half.

"I thought we were very good. We started the game brightly, we were on the front foot and we tried to get in Larne's face and squeezed them well," he told BBC Sport NI.

"We played with a lot of energy and overall, I'm very pleased with the two goals and the clean sheet."

The Swifts' upturn in form after a difficult start has coincided with Junior's introduction into the side after arriving late in the window as a free agent, and McAree has been delighted with the striker's displays so far.

"Junior came in at a good time for us, he added a little bit of freshness. We were going through a bad run and we wanted to introduce something different and he has done extremely well," McAree added.

"He gets us high up the pitch, he had weighed in with a couple of goals, looks a threat, has good feet for a big man and he has certainly added to us."

Larne boss Gary Haveron said it was an "incredibly disappointing afternoon" as his side's six-game winning run was brought to a crashing halt.

"We just didn't show up in that first half. We got what we deserved today, which was nothing," he said.

"Too many individual mistakes I suppose and then second half, we huffed, and we puffed and had a lot of possession but didn't really do anything with it."

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Portadown boss Niall Currie praised his side's second-half display as they came from a goal down to beat rivals Glenavon 3-1 at Shamrock Park.

Teenager Luke McGerrigan scored an early opener for Glenavon, but the Ports fought back in the second half with goals from Luke Wilson, Steven McCullough and Ben Quinn helping the hosts to pick up all three points.

"I thought we thoroughly deserved it, even coming in 1-0 down at half-time, I felt we were hard done by," Currie said.

"We controlled most of that first half after conceding a poor goal. We do like to give ourselves mountains to climb sometimes, and that was another one tonight, but in the second half, we raised our levels, kicked on again and got what we deserved.

"Once the first goal went in, you could feel the momentum shift. We had a great effort saved just before that, and you sensed it was coming.

"We talked at half-time about staying calm - no panic, just keep doing the right things. The three goals we scored were fully justified."

Currie also singled out Ryan Mayse for praise as the forward assisted the first two goals.

"I thought this was the perfect game for him. Ryan's been coming off the bench most of the season, but tonight felt right to start him. He's produced two brilliant assists, and that's fantastic," Currie added.

"Sometimes it's horses for courses - if you expect to have more of the ball, you need that bit of creativity, that spark to open things up.

I felt this game would suit him, and it turned out exactly that way. His quality on the ball made a real difference for us."

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Ballymena United boss Jim Ervin was pleased that his side were able to fight back from a goal down to beat Carrick Rangers 2-1 at Taylors Avenue.

Kym Nelson cancelled out Nedas Maciulaitis opener, before Ryan McNickle completed the comeback with a low finish as the Sky Blues got back to winning ways.

"Delighted to get the three points the conditions were absolutely awful, it wasn't a day for any sort of football. It was a day to play the conditions and thankfully we got the three points," Ervin told BBC Sport NI.

"I'm not sure of what the stat is but it is not pleasant from ourselves going a goal behind and coming back to win, but we showed a lot of character and other than the first 15 minutes, we were on top and were good value for the three points."

McNickle and Daire O'Connor were handed first starts of the season and both impressed, with Ervin happy that they contributed to the victory after they had to bide their time for minutes following summer moves to the Showgrounds.

"For one reason or another they haven't made the squads. They have had to work hard away from the place and be patient and it's two different scales," he explained.

"One [McNickle] is stepping up two levels, and one [O'Connor] is coming back from full-time football and is finding it difficult to adjust, so there have been key factors around them not participating.

"We haven't felt the opportunity was right, but we had to freshen things up and those two boys did well today."

Carrick Rangers boss Stephen Baxter was frustrated that his side slipped to a fourth successive defeat, despite the fact they were well in the game.

"We were very competitive, I felt we could have been three goals to the good at half-time with the chances we had. It was a hair's breadth between the two teams," he said.

"We haven't done enough second half, our second half performance wasn't as good as our first."