Irish League Football

Image source, Presseye

Limavady United manager Paul Owens says Friday night's Irish Cup sixth round tie against Linfield at the Coleraine Showgrounds represents "a welcome distraction" for his side.

The game between the Championship pacesetters and the Premiership champions will be broadcast live on BBC iPlayer and on the BBC Sport website and app.

Owens' side sit five points clear at the top of the second tier of Northern Ireland domestic football as they chase promotion to the top division.

The Roesiders claimed a major scalp in last year's competition by defeating Larne in the fifth round.

"We can go into the game with no pressure and just enjoy the occasion," the Limavady boss told BBC Sport NI.

"I've watched them [Linfield] a couple of games and I've told the players that it's a welcome distraction. We can forget about the league for a week, park it."

Blues manager David Healy is wary of being on the wrong end of an upset at the last-16 stage and says there will be no complacency from his team.

"Paul has an experienced team and they are going well in the league," he reflected.

"They'll make it difficult for us but we've had them watched and will prepare as best we can and hopefully try and progress to the next round of the Irish Cup."

The most recent of Linfield's record 44 Irish Cup successes came in 2021 when they defeated Larne 2-1 in the final.

Joel Bell
BBC Sport NI

Image source, Inpho

Glentoran assistant manager Tim McCann said his players were "playing for the jersey" in Tuesday's 2-1 BetMcLean Cup semi-final win.

Pat Hoban opened the scoring for the Glens but his goal was cancelled out by Joel Cooper's second-half equaliser.

Jordan Jenkins then scored the winner during extra time to help his side progress to the final, where they will face Linfield on Sunday, 15 March.

''It was two fantastic teams battling it out. Coleraine are a top top team, we knew it was going to be very difficult. It was a heavy pitch and the crowd got really behind us,'' McCann told BBC Sport NI.

''If you're looking for grit and determination and players playing for the jersey, our players gave everything they had in their body and I thought we deserved to win.''

Hoban has found the back of the net 20 times in all competitions this season for the Glens and McCann was pleased that he and fellow forward Jenkins could make such telling contributions as the east Belfast side reached a second successive BetMcLean Cup final.

''Pat's [Hoban] been doing that every week. He's very dangerous, fox in the box. It's great to see JJ [Jordan Jenkins] on the scoresheet," McCann added.

''JJ always pops up with important goals and has done for this club for many years. I hope he keeps a couple for the final.''

Image source, Inpho

Women's Premiership quartet Cliftonville, Glentoran, Linfield and Lisburn Rangers have discovered their All-Island Cup group stage opponents.

The annual cross-border competition, which is in it's fourth year, brings together 12 teams from the Women's Premier Division and four teams from the Women's Premiership.

The draw for the group stage, where the 16 teams are split into four groups, was made at the Northern Ireland Football League headquarters on Wednesday.

Linfield have been drawn in Group One alongside Shamrock Rovers, Sligo Rovers and holders Wexford.

Lisburn Rangers are in Group Two with two-time winners Galway United, DLR Waves and Peamount United.

Cliftonville, who won the Challenge Cup and League Cup last season, will take on Athlone Town, Cork City and Treaty United in Group Three.

Women's Premiership champions Glentoran are in Group Four with Bohemians, Shelbourne and Waterford.

Fixtures are still to be confirmed, but the first round of group games will take place on Saturday, 4 April.

The four group winners and four second place sides will progress to the quarter-finals which will be held on the weekend of 13-14 June.

The semi-finals will take place on the weekend of 27-28 June with the final scheduled for Saturday, 18 July.

All-Island Cup groups:

Group One: Linfield, Shamrock Rovers, Sligo Rovers, Wexford

Group Two: Lisburn Rangers, Galway United, DLR Waves, Peamount United

Group Three: Cliftonville, Athlone Town, Cork City, Treaty United

Group Four: Glentoran, Bohemians, Shelbourne, Waterford

Image source, Press Eye

Larne boss Gary Haveron says his team showed "class and quality" in defeating Ballymena United 2-1 in the Irish Cup.

Paul O'Neill fired home a Larne opener and Success Edogun's stunning strike brought United level before Leroy Millar hit the winner at the Showgrounds.

"Our boys showed real resilience, especially when they pegged us back at 1-1," said Haveron.

"Ballymena came out of the traps quickly at the start of the second half and got their goal.

"But we showed our class and quality with the second goal that we scored.

"The breakaway, a great ball in from Tomas [Cosgrove] and Leroy does what he's been doing for the last three to four years.

"It was a great finish from him and I'm delighted to see him get on the end of it."

Larne's reward is an away tie against Warrenpoint Town in the sixth round.

Watch highlights as Carrick Rangers come from behind to beat Bangor 3-2 in the Irish Premiership at Taylors Avenue.

You can read the report from the game here

Don't forget to follow all of our Irish Premiership coverage on our dedicated Irish League Football page

Image source, Inpho

January signings: Josh Carson (Ballymena United), Jack Scott (Coleraine), Gideon Tetteh (Athlone Town), Adhamh Towe (Loughgall)

January departures: Ben Wylie (Coleraine), Ryan Mayse (Dergview), Rhys Adams (Dergview), Jamie Rea (Newry City)

Portadown have already made a shrewd acquisition by bringing in experienced midfielder Josh Carson from Ballymena United.

Carson was plagued by injury during his time with the Sky Blues, but when at full fitness is an energetic and creative option for Niall Currie, who will hope his side can pull away further from relegation danger in the second half of the season.

The arrival of Carson should help to offset the departure of Ben Wylie, who has joined Coleraine after an impressive first half of the season at Shamrock Park, while the addition of Jack Scott on a permanent deal looks to be another good bit of business after he impressed on loan at Carrick Rangers.

Forward Ryan Mayse, whose minutes diminished this season after his goal scoring heroics off the bench for much of last season has also departed, joining Premier Intermediate side Dergview.

Currie will be glad the Ports held onto fellow forward Josh Ukek, who was attracting attention from other clubs in the league while Adamh Towe could be a good signing after impressing at Loughgall.

Image source, Pacemaker

January signings: Kenzie Beattie (Ballymacash Rangers - end of loan), Darragh Leahy (Waterford), Adam Frizzell (unattached)

January departures: Jacob Farr (Annagh United - loan), Callumn Morrison (Dunfermline)

Linfield had a quiet window, despite their need for some quality additions to challenge on multiple fronts.

Injuries have robbed David Healy of key players such as Chris Shields, Jamie Mulgrew and Kieran Offord for large parts of the season.

They have brought in experienced duo Darragh Leahy and Adam Frizzell, who will hope to hit the ground running.

Healy will hope the likes of Matt Yates, Charlie Allen and Chris McKee continue to step up in the continued absence of Offord and alongside Matthew Fitzpatrick.

Outgoings were few and far between too given the injury list, but Callumn Morrison has returned to Scotland with Dunfermline after struggled for consistency after arriving last year.

Image source, Inpho

January signings: Ronan Doherty (Coleraine)

January departures: Mikey Harkin (Glenavon - loan), Alex Eakin (Newry City), Kobei Moore (Dungannon Swifts - loan), Oisin Devlin (Bangor)

It was a quiet January for the Irish Premiership leaders, who made just one signing, although it was a significant one.

Ronan Doherty's arrival from title challengers Coleraine was a shrewd signing as the midfielder was a key player during his time at Cliftonville and can slot straight into Larne's midfield, which is missing Dan Bent and Dylan Sloan through injury.

Andy Ryan's return to goal scoring form so soon after his long injury lay-off and Paul O'Neill's form in his absence eased Larne's necessity to go into the transfer market for a new striker.

Young players such as Mikey Harkin and Kobei Moore will get valuable Irish Premiership experience in their loan spells, while Doherty's arrival allowed Oisin Devlin to complete a permanent move to Bangor.

Image source, Inpho

January signings: Ben Gallagher (Mandurah City), Jack Malone (Glenavon), Jarlath O'Rourke (Crusaders), Ross Clarke (Crusaders), Aaron McEneff (Shamrock Rovers), Josh Daniels (TNS)

January departures: David Fisher (Hanoi FC), Nathaniel Ferris (Glenavon - loan), Charlie Lindsay (Glenavon - loan), Jonny Russell (Crawley Town), Frankie Hvid (NK Kustošija), Jude Johnson (Annagh United - loan), Lorcan Donnelly (Carrick Rangers - loan), Shane McEleney (Ballymena United), Christie Pattisson (released), Josh Kelly (Cliftonville - loan)

Glentoran have further strengthened what was already a strong squad as they look to challenge on three fronts in the league, BetMcLean Cup and Irish Cup.

They have brought in midfielders Jack Malone and Ben Gallagher, who are both young but have impressed during their time in the Irish League with Glenavon and Dungannon Swifts respectively.

Ross Clarke and Jarlath O'Rourke also add some good Irish Premiership experience while the capture of Aaron McEneff from League of Ireland champions Shamrock Rovers was a standout deal as was bringing in Josh Daniels from TNS.

The Glens did get an undisclosed fee for selling Jonny Russell to League Two Crawley Town, a deal that looks to have worked for both parties given the Northern Ireland under-21 international was in and out of the team under Declan Devine and the east Belfast side have made a profit on an academy player.

Fringe players Charlie Lindsay and Nathaniel Ferris have departed on loan to Glenavon to get more minutes while David Fisher has completed an interesting move to Vietnamese side Hanoi FC, where he will link up with his former boss Warren Feeney and Josh Kelly will get regular game time at Cliftonville on loan.