Irish League Football

Image source, Press Eye

Manager Oran Kearney says he hopes Ballymena United can build on a "positive" start to the season against Glentoran on Friday.

The Sky Blues stunned Linfield 3-0 on the opening weekend of the season but lost 2-1 at Crusaders in their second outing.

Ballymena had a big turnover of players over the summer with 11 new arrivals at the Showgrounds, but Kearney is pleased with their start to the campaign.

"I think the big worry always with that first game is making sure that you're up to speed, particularly against a side that had played in Europe and maybe had been in earlier than us," Kearney told BBC Sport NI's Nicola McCarthy.

"So we were happy with the start that we got, but just a bit frustrated that we didn't back it up last Saturday."

Ballymena will aim to get back to winning ways against Glentoran on Friday night in a game which will be streamed live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport app and website.

Glentoran beat Limavady United in their first fixture but then lost to rivals Linfield on Saturday.

Kearney expects "a really tough game" against one of the favourites for the title.

The former Coleraine and St Mirren boss replaced Jim Ervin as Ballymena manager in December and the Sky Blues ended the previous campaign in ninth place.

For Kearney, it is all about improvement in the new season.

"We all want to do better than last year. I think that's the most important thing, and we want to get into a habit of winning games and competing in games," he added.

"Particularly towards the end of last season, I just felt there was games we struggled to compete in and we struggled to really chin the bar on many different aspects.

"I think, and hope, that we've fixed a lot of that."

The build-up to the third match week has been dominated by the takeover of Cliftonville by the Toronto Investment Group.

Kearney says that it is "exciting" to have new investment in the Irish League.

"We have four full-time clubs at the minute and Cliftonville look as if at some point they're going to move that direction as well.

"I'm not sure what the time frame of it is, but it has to be exciting times for the league, for the product and for all aspects of it."

Image source, NIFWA

Linfield winger Sophie McKnight has been named the Sports Direct Women's Premiership Player of the Month for July by the Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association.

The Blues had a strong month with wins over Lisburn Rangers and Larne Women, as well as a 2-2 draw with Belfast neighbours and title rivals Glentoran Women.

Teenager McKnight scored her fourth league goal of the season in the draw with Glentoran and impressed throughout the month as Ryan McConville's side also reached the quarter-finals of the Irish Cup and progressed to the final of the Couty Antrim Cup, where they will play holders Lisburn Rangers.

"I'm delighted to win the Player of the Month award at such a young age. Hopefully it's just the beginning for me," said McKnight, who joined the Blues from Glentoran ahead of the new season.

"I've really enjoyed my time at Linfield and I'm really grateful to Ryan [McConville, Linfield manager] for bringing me in and I'm looking to kick on.

"I think we've had a really strong season so far, we want to keep kicking on and keep going right through to the end of the season."

It is consecutive monthly award wins for Linfield, after Northern Ireland midfielder Megan Bell won June's prize.

Image source, Inpho

Limavady United manager Paul Owens said his newly promoted side need "a bit of belief" as their search for their first points of the Irish Premiership season continue.

Owens' side were beaten by Glentoran in the opening match of the season before being beaten 2-1 at home by Carrick Rangers.

Despite the tough start, Owens said there are plenty of positives for his side who are competing in the top flight for the first time in 18 years.

"We have five forward players in the squad and they're all under 23. I have full belief that they'll be fine and they will score goals at this level," Owens told BBC Sport NI.

"It's just a wee bit of belief that they need. We probably went through similar last year at times then all came good towards the end of the season.

"I have no doubt they'll come good here again. That's what we're all learning on the job. Myself as a manager as well. We just have to take the belief from the positive parts."

There was an impressive crowd for the side's first Premiership match at the Limavady Showgrounds since 2008 and they nearly produced an impressive comeback in front of their fans against Carrick when Alfie Gaston pulled a goal back.

However, despite growing in confidence and having multiple chances, they could not find a leveller.

"It's just a really ruthless league," he continued.

"They were flat at half-time, there is no doubt about that. We picked ourselves up and it just says one goal could change us and it proved to be the case.

"I'm just trying to beat the drum after the match as you can see the difference whenever we start believing but it took that goal to just energise us."

Image source, Inpho

Crusaders manager Declan Caddell said that new signing Owen Wardell was "outstanding" during Saturday's 2-1 victory over Ballymena United at Seaview.

The winger joined the Crues from BE1 National Football Academy in Lithuania and has made an instant impact.

Wardell netted the winning goal against the Sky Blues to complete Crusaders' comeback and secure their first points of the 2026-27 season.

"I thought he was outstanding, man of the match and well deserved," Caddell told BBC Sport NI after the Ballymena victory.

"Our front three were excellent but Owen has stood out. He has no fear, is a bag of tricks and he can go right and left.

"The first goal came from his cross and I think he put 20 of them in against Ballymena and tested them. I am delighted for him."

The Crues were involved in a tense relegation battle last year and only secured their Premiership status after beating Annagh United in the promotion/relegation play-off.

Caddell said the side must aim to make their home ground, Seaview, "a fortress" as they aim for a much more comfortable season.

"Results last year were no near enough good enough," Caddell continued.

"We talked a lot in preseason and before the game about making Seaview a fortress again and not giving up.

"It is nice, especially for the home fans after the disappointment of last year to get the three points on the board."

Image source, Inpho

Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton said that "nobody is getting carried away" despite the side's positive start to the Irish Premiership season.

The north Belfast outfit were the victors against rivals Crusaders in the opening game of the campaign before beating Bangor 3-1 at Clandeboye Park.

The Reds have scored the most goals so far with new signings such as Ben Quinn impressing in their first fixtures.

"We have set out to be hard to beat," Magilton told BBC Sport NI.

"The game is the greatest teacher, and we will take great positives but there are certain things we have to work on and nobody is getting carried away.

"It is delightful, it's two wins but there is such a long way to go and we have to keep our feet firmly on the ground."

Now, Magilton's side's attentions will turn to their match against Linfield at Windsor Park.

The Blues lost against Ballymena United in their first game, but responded with a comfortable 2-1 win against Glentoran.

"I always look forward to going head-to-head with David Healy and playing Linfield, they are a fantastic side," he continued.

"No surprise, to me, that they bounced back against Glentoran. They have wonderful players, manager and staff. They bounced back in the style I thought they would.

"I am looking forward to the game and we go in with a bit of momentum."

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Cliftonville remain eight points clear at the top of the Women's Premiership after a 3-0 win over Lisburn Rangers at Crewe Park.

Teegan Lynch broke the deadlock after just seven minutes before Caitlin McGuinness netted twice to secure the comfortable win.

Linfield were the 2-1 victors against Derry City to stay in second spot.

Goals from Rachel McLaren and Grace McKimm put the away side in control before Chelsea Scott pulled one back for the Candystripes to set up a tense ending.

Glentoran thrashed Larne 7-1 thanks to goals from Aimee Kerr, Mia Moore, Emily Wilson and doubles from Demi Vance and Naomi McLaughlin.

Elsewhere, Crusaders drew 1-1 with Lisburn Ladies after Stacey Murdough's goal was cancelled out by Rebecca Mann's strike.