Irish League fixtures today: Six Premiership clashes across Northern Ireland

A full programme of BOYLE Sports Premiership football takes place across Northern Ireland today, with six games on the card and plenty at stake at both ends of the early-season table.

League leaders Coleraine will look to continue their unbeaten start when they host Limavady United in the evening kick-off, while Linfield welcome Crusaders to Windsor Park and Larne make the short journey to Taylors Avenue to face Carrick Rangers.

Five matches kick off at 3pm, before attention turns to the Coleraine Showgrounds for the 6pm meeting between Coleraine and Limavady United.

Bangor v Portadown – 3pm

It’s an important afternoon at Clandeboye Park as the Premiership’s bottom two go head-to-head.

Bangor are still searching for their first league victory of the season and come into today’s match sitting 11th with two points from seven games.

The Seasiders suffered a 3-1 defeat away to Limavady United on Tuesday night, following their 1-1 draw with Glentoran last weekend.

Portadown are one place below Bangor at the foot of the table, with one point from seven matches.

There was at least something to build on for the Ports in midweek as they held second-placed Linfield to a 1-1 draw at Shamrock Park, bringing a run of defeats to an end.

With just one point separating the sides, both will see today’s meeting as an opportunity to kick-start their league campaign.

Kick-off: 3pm
Venue: Clandeboye Park

Carrick Rangers v Larne – 3pm

There is a big East Antrim encounter at Taylors Avenue as Carrick Rangers welcome unbeaten Larne.

Carrick are seventh with 10 points from seven games after taking a point from a 1-1 draw with Ballymena United on Tuesday night.

They face a Larne side enjoying an excellent start to the campaign.

Larne sit third with 13 points from only five matches and remain unbeaten, having won four and drawn one. They also have the best defensive record in the division so far, conceding just once.

Their latest victory came at Inver Park on Tuesday when they beat Cliftonville 2-0.

With Larne having games in hand on the two sides above them, this should be an intriguing test of Carrick’s credentials at Taylors Avenue.

Kick-off: 3pm
Venue: Taylors Avenue

Cliftonville v Glentoran – 3pm

Two Belfast rivals meet at Solitude with both looking for a response after disappointing midweek results.

Cliftonville are fourth with 12 points from seven matches, but their form has been mixed.

The Reds travelled to Inver Park on Tuesday and came away empty-handed following a 2-0 defeat to Larne.

Glentoran have also endured an inconsistent opening to the campaign and currently sit eighth with seven points from seven games.

The Glens were beaten 2-1 at home by league leaders Coleraine on Tuesday, leaving them with two wins, one draw and four defeats from their opening seven league matches.

With five points already separating the teams, Glentoran will be keen to prevent Cliftonville from extending that gap at Solitude.

Kick-off: 3pm
Venue: Solitude

Dungannon Swifts v Ballymena United – 3pm

Dungannon Swifts return to Stangmore Park looking to bounce back from a heavy midweek defeat.

The Swifts had made an impressive start to the season but were beaten 3-0 by Crusaders at Seaview on Tuesday.

They nevertheless remain sixth in the Premiership with 12 points from seven games, level on points with both Crusaders and Cliftonville.

Ballymena United arrive at Stangmore sitting 10th with five points from six games.

The Sky Blues drew 1-1 with Carrick Rangers at the Ballymena Showgrounds on Tuesday. They have one win, two draws and three defeats from their opening six matches.

Ballymena therefore have an opportunity to begin climbing away from the bottom three, while Dungannon will be aiming to re-establish the momentum that carried them into the top half.

Kick-off: 3pm
Venue: Stangmore Park

Linfield v Crusaders – 3pm

One of the standout fixtures of the afternoon takes place at Windsor Park as Linfield host Crusaders.

Linfield begin the day second with 16 points from seven matches, three points behind leaders Coleraine.

The Blues’ run of four consecutive league victories was halted on Tuesday night when bottom side Portadown held them to a 1-1 draw at Shamrock Park.

Crusaders, meanwhile, arrive at Windsor Park on the back of an emphatic result.

The Crues swept aside Dungannon Swifts 3-0 at Seaview on Tuesday, lifting them to fifth place with 12 points from seven games.

Linfield will be looking to keep the pressure on Coleraine at the top, while another victory for Crusaders could strengthen their position among the early-season chasing pack.

Kick-off: 3pm
Venue: Windsor Park

Coleraine v Limavady United – 6pm

The day’s Premiership programme concludes at the Coleraine Showgrounds, where the league leaders face a Limavady United side arriving with confidence after back-to-back victories.

Coleraine have set the early pace in the Premiership and sit top with 19 points from seven games.

The Bannsiders remain unbeaten, winning six and drawing one, and have scored 17 goals while conceding only five.

Their impressive run continued on Tuesday when they travelled to the BetMcLean Oval and defeated Glentoran 2-1.

But Limavady United have produced a notable turnaround of their own.

After losing their opening four league games, Limavady recorded a 2-1 victory away to Crusaders before following that up with a 3-1 home win over Bangor on Tuesday night.

Those results have lifted them to ninth with six points from six games.

Coleraine will therefore be attempting to protect both their unbeaten record and their place at the top of the table, while Limavady have an opportunity to test their recent revival against the division’s early pace-setters.

The match kicks off at 6pm and is being shown live on NIFL TV.

Kick-off: 6pm
Venue: Coleraine Showgrounds
Live: NIFL TV

You can follow the latest Northern Ireland football fixtures, results and Premiership table throughout the season in the Northern Ireland Online Football Hub.