After a split opening round of games the NIFL Premiership got up and running with all twelve teams in action over the weekend. Coleraine came from behind to leap frog Loughgall at the top of the table with a 2-1 victory over the division's new boys.

Friday, 11th August 2023

Ballymena United 1-2 Crusaders

Adam Lecky and Jarlath O'Rourke were the scorers as Crusaders claimed an opening-day win to their league campaign at the Ballymena Showgrounds.

Narrowly defeated at Coleraine last weekend, Ballymena were hoping for points but fell behind sixteen minutes in when the creative Ben Kennedy freed Lecky, who clinically fired past Sean O’Neill in the home goal.

Ballymena then went close through Johnny McMurray before Crues doubled their advantage, Lecky turning provider as his cross was flicked on by Paul Heatley, falling for O'Rourke to slam home.

Captain Colin Coates saw red on sixty minutes as Crues remained comfortable.

Seven minutes into injury time, Ryan Waide struck what would be only a consolation goal as Stephen Baxter’s side made a victorious start.

Glentoran 1-2 Larne

Defending champions Larne earned their first three points of the season, second half strikes from Michael Glynn and Andy Ryan enough to beat Glentoran at the Oval.

After the jitters of letting a 4-1 lead slip last time, Larne went closest in the opening forty-five minutes, Dylan Sloan denied by the crossbar.

But only four minutes into the second half and they led, wig-back Glynn gliding through from Leroy Millar’s pass and slotting his side ahead.

Just past the hour, striker Andy Ryan made it two goals in two games and although Glens made it a nervy finish after Bobby Burns’ eightieth minute goal, this was a lead that Larne didn’t let slip.

Loughgall 1-2 Coleraine

Another week, another come-from-behind victory for Coleraine who made it two wins from two after edging out Loughgall.

Confident from their own opening weekend win, it only took two minutes for Loughgall to lead, Andrew Hoey with an early strike to please the Lakeview Park faithful.

Yet they weren’t celebrating for long as, with just four minutes elapsed, Coleraine levelled as Conor McKendry made it 1-1 with a close-range strike.

Andrew Mitchell composedly put Coleraine in front after twenty-five minutes, finishing cooly after Andy Scott assisted him.

There were more goalscoring opportunities for both teams with Mitchell heading wide and Gareth Deane denying Pablo Andrade a home equaliser.

Conor Jarvis could have made the game safe, but his late penalty was saved by Berraat Turker, the keeper saving splendidly.

A late drifting header from Caolan Loughran that drifted off target spared Jarvis’ blushes as Coleraine banked another three points.

Saturday, 12th August 2023

Carrick Rangers 0-2 Newry City

Newry City bounced back from last week’s loss to Loughgall, as their ten men saw out a precious victory away at Carrick Rangers.

The damage was done in the first half, a blow inflicted on fourteen minutes as Lorcan Forde finished fantastically for his side’s first strike of the new season.

They stylishly doubled that tally shortly after Daragh Owens smashed a piledriver past Ross Glendinning, Owens connecting sweetly with Ciaran O’Connor’s flicked layoff.

Shortly into the second half and Newry were reduced to ten, Adam Carroll sent off for his second booking.

Rangers went close through Andrew Mitchell to setting up a grandstand finale but couldn’t get past a resolute Newry defence.

Their cake almost had a cherry when Forde skipped through on goal late on and even though his shot was wide, this week’s performance left Newry with a far better taste.

Cliftonville 3-0 Glenavon

Joe Gormley’s brace and Sean Stewart’s strike in a first-half blitz saw Cliftonville canter to an opening victory over Glenavon at Solitude.

Manager Jim Magilton was in the home dugout for the first time and, on this evidence, has revitalised Cliftonville.

Six minutes were gone before Gormley, cool as you like, lobbed Rory Brown in Glenavon’s goal for the game’s opening strike.

Keeping their foot firmly on the accelerator, Stewart pounced to make it two after Brown parried Ben Watson’s effort into his path.

Three minutes from the interval, the lead was trebled as Ronan Doherty picked out Gormley who, once again, finished confidently to keep the home fans happy.

Gormley had chances to take the match ball home in the second half, but Glenavon were denied a consolation by Nathan Gartside superbly saving from Aaron Prendergast.

That rounded off a tough day for Glenavon, pointless and goalless after two matches. Cliftonville, and the Magilton era, by contrast are off to a flying start.

Dungannon Swifts 2-3 Linfield

This pulsating five-goal thriller saw Linfield take the points as Dungannon Swifts’ high-scoring start to the season continued at Stangmore Park.

Commencing their domestic challenge, Linfield looked like they would lead at half time, Chris McKee profiting from Joel Cooper’s vision to fire them in front on forty-two minutes.

But evidently not heeding Swifts’ spectacular late-late show against Larne, the hosts hauled themselves level on half time, Kealan Dillon whipping a wonderful free kick into the top corner.

Cooper restored the away lead moments after the break and late on, Kirk Millar’s fine finish looked to have sealed three points.

Dungannon didn’t go down easily though, Ben Gallagher again scoring late to set Linfield nerves jangling.

And despite losing defender Daniel Finlayson to a red card deep in injury time, the Blues held on, just about emerging victors from this helter-skelter clash.