Irish League Football

Tuesday's Irish Premiership match between Ballymena United and Crusaders has been postponed following a pitch inspection.

It is the fifth time that a scheduled match at the Ballymena Showgrounds has been postponed this year.

The remaining five matches are set to go ahead as planned with all games available on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website by using the multi-screen option.

This announcement follows the league fixture against Glenavon at the Showgrounds being postponed on 3 January as well as two attempts to play an Irish Cup fifth round tie against Larne, on 10 and 20 January.

Ballymena United and Portadown's league match also fell victim to the rain meaning only two of the fixtures due to be played at Warden Street have gone ahead in 2026.

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Crusaders have completed the signings of striker Rebecca Bassett and midfielder Mia Fitzsimmons from Linfield.

Bassett, 27, signed for the Blues in 2018 and won two league titles and a League Cup with the club.

Fitzsimmons has been with Linfield for 10 years and captained the team in recent years.

Elsewhere, Hannah Doherty has also left Ryan McConville’s side and returned to Cliftonville for a third spell.

The defender was part of the Reds' treble-winning season in 2024 during her previous spell at the club.

The Reds have lost midfielder Naomi McLaughlin, who signed for Scottish side Aberdeen.

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Carrick Rangers manager Stephen Baxter and Glentoran striker Pat Hoban have won January's Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association awards.

Carrick Rangers made a dreadful start to the new year as they lost 7-0 to Glentoran at Taylors Avenue, a game in which Hoban scored six goals.

However, Baxter's men fought back with league wins against Cliftonville, Dungannon Swifts and Portadown, and they also won the County Antrim Shield for the club's first senior trophy in 33 years.

"I'm sure I'm the first manager to win this award despite losing the first match of the month 7-0," said Baxter.

"I believe the key to our recent success is that we did not panic or get too down on ourselves when we were losing games. I always knew we had the quality to be competitive in this league.

"Winning the Shield was a great moment for everyone at the club, particularly the supporters who waited 33 years for a senior trophy."

For Hoban, his six goals against Carrick helped him to a nine-goal haul for the month as he also netted against Dungannon Swifts and twice against Strabane Athletic in the Irish Cup.

The 34-year-old won the Irish Premiershp Player of the Month award ahead of Carrick forward Adam Lecky and Glentoran midfielder Cammy Palmer.

"As a striker I've always backed myself to score goals. I'm obviously delighted to have 20 in 25 games, although I feel like I probably should have more. I've missed a few chances in certain games, but that's the nature of the job. Overall, it's been a good return so far.

"These awards are nice to receive and it's good recognition for the work you're doing, but I wouldn't be in this position without my teammates. They're the ones putting balls into the box and creating chances for me."

H&W Welders striker Ethan Devine won the Championship player of the month after an impressive month.

The former Linfield and Ballymena United forward scored an incredible nine goals in the month, including a six-minute hat-trick against Armagh City.

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Cliftonville FC have confirmed chairman Keiran Harding has stood down from his role at the north Belfast club.

Directors David Begley and Adrian Keenan have also resigned from their roles.

The announcement follows the news that the Toronto Investment Group (TIG) had withdrawn their investment proposal to complete a takeover of the Irish League club.

Cliftonville confirmed the trio have departed with a brief statement on the club website.

"Cliftonville Football Club confirms the resignation of Chair Kieran Harding, Facilities Director Adrian Keenan and co-opted Director David Begley from the Management Committee," it read.

"It is with great reluctance the resignations are accepted, and recognition and thanks are given to them for their dedication and hard work for the club over the past years.

"The club secretary will advise of the next steps to fill the posts vacated on an interim basis as soon as possible."

Harding became chairman of the north Belfast club two years ago, replacing Begley, after both played and managed in the Irish League.

The proposed TIG takeover proved a major issue between the board and supporters, but Harding, who referenced "a vicious, abusive and threatening campaign to remove us", insists he "always acted in the best interests of the club, whilst protecting its long-term interest."

"Having served as chair of this great club for over two years, I, along with David Begley and Adrian Keenan, today will step down as chair and directors," read Harding's statement.

"Throughout, we have always acted in the best interests of the club, whilst protecting its long-term interest.

"In recent months, we have been subjected to a vicious, abusive and threatening campaign to remove us, for holding others to account, in particular the recent investment proposal from TIG."

It continued: "Having made my position clear that this investment presented significant risk for the club, we have remained in place to ensure due diligence was followed.

"Subsequently, this due diligence has culminated in TIG withdrawing their proposal, and therefore the time has come to step down and avoid any further harm, distress or disrespect.

"It remains our belief that the 'right' investment is required."

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Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins says he is "couldn't be prouder" of his side after Matthew Shevlin scored three goals in extra-time against Carrick Rangers to seal their spot in the Irish Cup last eight.

The Bannsiders opened the scoring in first-half injury time through Ben Wylie before Carrick drew level with eight minutes to go when Adam Lecky fired home from close range.

Higgins' outfit upped the tempo in extra-time with Shevlin netting three times to help the away side book their space in the next round.

"It's better than an extra-time defeat like we had on Tuesday [against Glentoran in the BetMcLean Cup]," Higgins told BBC Sport NI.

"I am extremely proud of the players. I couldn't be prouder, to go to extra-time again and perform the way we did throughout the game.

"Shevlin gets goals, he is known for it. He gets into goalscoring positions and he has quality players around him who create opportunities for him."

Carrick Rangers have already secured one piece of silverware this season in the County Antrim Shield, but this result puts to an end their seven-game unbeaten run.

"I was worried about the power and strength that Coleraine had coming off the bench and Shevlin has shown that with his hat-trick," boss Stephen Baxter told BBC Sport NI.

"Their squad is littered with superstars and players of huge ability who have played very high-level football everywhere

"We knew we would be up against it and in extra-time you always expect the professional side to be stronger and that proved to be the case."

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Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton praised his side's attitude and spirit during their 2-1 victory over Glenavon which booked their spot in the Irish Cup quarter-finals.

The Lurgan Blues led at the break but, on 65 minutes, Joe Gormley cancelled out Luke McGerrigan's effort.

It became a more challenging task for the Reds shortly after when Sean Robertson was shown a second yellow card, but Jonny Addis' strike in the final seconds secured their place in the last eight.

"Well, listen, it's an unbelievable strike from Jonny. We know he possesses that and he has that in his locker," Magilton told BBC Sport NI.

"Scoring a goal at that time was obviously devastating for Glenavon, who played very well. But for us, it was just fantastic.

"You're down to 10 men, and the spirit the players showed and that 'never-say-die' attitude. When you put that shirt on, that's what people want, that's what they expect and the players showed that today."

Magilton's side will try and use this match to build momentum in the league with the side currently seventh and without a win in their last six Premiership matches.

However, the Reds are just one point off Carrick Rangers in sixth and have three games in hand.

"We're playing catch-up. Our league position isn't where we want it to be. I know we've got games in hand, but it starts again on Monday [in training]," he continued.

"We get the group in, we'll take stock and see who's ready to go. We've got players ready and chomping at the bit.

"Everybody has to play their part now, from now until the end of the season."

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Glenavon manager Michael O'Connor says his side "were too sloppy" during their 2-1 defeat by Cliftonville in the sixth round of the Irish Cup.

The Lurgan Blues opened the scoring through Luke McGerrigan's shot from the edge of the box before Joe Gormley levelled the game just after the hour mark.

Despite the home side being reduced to 10 men when Sean Robertson was shown a second yellow, the Reds booked their spot in the quarter-finals through the last kick of the game thanks to a superb strike from Jonny Addis.

"I thought we started brightly, played the ball quick and created some decent chances," O'Connor told BBC Sport NI.

"I think them going down to 10 men changed the game. We were too sloppy and we had an arrogance about us that we could go pass the ball with no end product. We didn't move the ball quickly enough and gave away silly free-kicks.

"It was a great strike from Addis, but we shouldn't be putting ourselves in that situation. It was hard to watch, it was too slow and it wasn't good enough, unacceptable."

The Lurgan Blues' attention now returns to the league with the side sitting nine points adrift at the bottom of the table.

O'Connor's side won their last Premiership match but face Carrick Rangers next, who are on an impressive run and have won their last five league games.

"They have been brilliant," O'Connor said when asked about Tuesday's opponents.

"They have a real threat going forward, experience in the team and every time you go to Carrick you know you have to roll the sleeves up.

"We have to treat every game going forward as cup finals and a six pointer."

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Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree says his side "won't give up the Irish Cup without a fight" as they came from behind to book a place in the last eight.

The holders trailed early against Portadown at Shamrock Park when Shay McCartan fired home, but Sean McAllister's strike from an angle levelled it before the break, while the turnaround was complete in the second period as substitute Andy Mitchell flicked home the winner.

McAree hailed his team's "fight" to get back into the game and then repel a late charge from the hosts.

"I thought when we conceded early on, we showed a fantastic response and got back into the game with a great trike from Sean," McAree told BBC Sport NI.

"The word we have spoken about all week is 'fight' and I thought we showed that in abundance - fight in the right manner.

"We showed togetherness we wanted to dig in for each other. We knew there would be a lot of balls coming into our box, so we had to be big and strong to come out on top, and thankfully we did that.

"If we're going to give it [Irish Cup] up, we won't do it without a fight."

McAree was delighted to see Mitchell net the winner after coming off the bench and explained his reason for not starting the attacker.

"'Mitch' missed training on Thursday night thorough his work and unfortunately for him and how we try to do things, it puts him out of the team because he was excellent last week.

"It was an opportunist goal, a back-heel flick that has looped over Alex Moore's head, and I'm delighted for him as he's a Dungannon Swifts man who loves the club.

"You could see the emotion from everyone, so we're glad he's done it for the changing room."

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Irish Premiership leaders Larne will play either Glentoran or Drumaness Mills in the quarter-finals of the Irish Cup next month.

The Inver Reds have been runners-up six times in the competition without ever lifting the trophy, but advanced to the last eight thanks to a 2-0 win away to Warrenpoint Town on Saturday.

Glentoran were due to take on Drumaness Mills at the Oval in the sixth round but the game was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

The game will now take place on 17 February with the winners hosting Larne on either Friday, 6 March or Saturday, 7 March.

Holders Dungannon Swifts, who came from behind to beat Portadown in the sixth round, will host Harland and Wolff Welders in the last eight with the east Belfast side having eased past Gary Hamilton's Ballymacash Rangers on Saturday.

Limavady United's reward for beating Premiership champions Linfield on Friday night will be a home quarter-final against Coleraine who required extra time to advance past Carrick on Saturday.

Cliftonville, Irish Cup winners in 2024, will travel to Loughgall in the last eight after Jonny Addis' sweetly struck free-kick deep into injury time saw them knock out Glenavon in the sixth round.

Loughgall came through the only all-Championship tie of the sixth round when they beat Institute 2-1.

Irish Cup quarter-final draw

Dungannon Swifts v Harland and Wolff Welders

Glentoran or Drumaness Mills v Larne

Limavady United v Coleraine

Loughgall v Cliftonville

Ties to be played Friday, 6 March or Saturday, 7 March

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