Irish League Football

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Larne's post-split fixtures: Cliftonville (H), Saturday, 28 March, Coleraine (H), Tuesday, 7 April, Linfield (A), Saturday, 11 April, Glentoran (A), Friday, 17 April, Dungannon Swifts (H), Saturday, 25 April

Larne in pole position to win the Gibson Cup for a third time in four years as they currently hold a four-point lead over second-place Glentoran.

It is going to be a tough run-in for Gary Haveron's side, who meet Coleraine in successive games in the Irish Cup and in the league before that mammoth game at the Oval against Glentoran that could decide the destiny of the title.

The Inver side have only lost four league games all season and only one of those came against a fellow top six side - when they lost to Dungannon Swifts in October.

If they can continue to grind out big wins or ensure they at least do not lose, they should take full advantage of their pre-split head start and take home another title.

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Glentoran's post-split fixtures: Linfield (H), Saturday, 28 March, Cliftonville (A), Tuesday, 7 April, Dungannon Swifts (H), Saturday, 11 April, Larne (H), Friday, 17 April, Coleraine (A), Saturday, 25 April

Glentoran will keep fighting to win the Irish Premiership title in these last five games, but they will also firmly focus on ensuring they consolidate second place automatic European qualification.

They are only four points off Larne, who they face at home in mid-April before a final day trip to Coleraine and you imagine both games will be key in their quest to achieve their ambitions.

To stay in the race they must win their home games against rivals Linfield and against Dungannon Swifts and will also hope to beat Cliftonville, who they have a good record over this season.

They may be on the back foot in the title race, but if they can channel the hurt from losing the BetMcLean Cup finally properly they could still finish the season strongly, even if the title eludes them.

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Coleraine's post-split fixtures: Dungannon Swifts (A), Saturday, 28 March, Larne (A), Tuesday, 7 April, Cliftonville (H), Saturday, 11 April, Linfield (A), Saturday, 18 April, Glentoran (H), Saturday, 25 April

Coleraine still harbour hopes of lifting the Gibson Cup this year but, like Linfield, will need to rack up wins in the split and hope others falter to have a chance of doing so.

The Bannsiders are currently eight points off leaders Larne, but even if they miss out on the title they will hope to pip Glentoran to second place and qualify automatically for European football.

They missed out last year after losing the play-off final and will want to avoid a repeat this time out, although winning the Irish Cup is another possible route to European football too.

The meetings away to Larne and at home to Glentoran on the final day will be really intriguing in the battle for the title and second place.

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Linfield's post-split fixtures: Glentoran (A), Saturday, 28 March, Dungannon Swifts (A), Tuesday, 7 April, Larne (H), Saturday, 11 April, Coleraine (H), Saturday, 18 April, Cliftonville (H), Saturday, 25 April

It will be a tough ask, but Linfield's aim in these final five games will be to try retain the Gibson Cup.

It is a tall order for David Healy's side given they are 11 points off leaders Larne and down in fourth position.

With just 15 more available, they will have to be flawless and hope the sides around them falter, which again seems unlikely but they will at least try to get into second which would bring automatic European football.

With the BetMcLean Cup in the bag, Linfield have qualified automatically for the European play-off final, so you imagine if their title and second place hopes have faded away by the start of April, Healy will use the remaining league games to rest players for that huge game.

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Cliftonville's post-split fixtures: Larne (A), Saturday, 28 March, Glentoran (H), Tuesday, 7 April, Coleraine (A), Saturday, 11 April, Dungannon Swifts (H), Saturday, 18 April, Linfield (A), Saturday, 25 April

Cliftonville are back in the top six after dropping into the bottom half of the table last year which is already a goal ticked off for Jim Magilton's side.

They ended up winning the European play-offs despite finishing seventh last year and playing both games away from home and their aim in these last five games will be to consolidate fifth place and the potential benefit of home advantage that might bring.

Like Dungannon Swifts, that may not be necessary if they go on to win the Irish Cup which will take them into Europe automatically.

In their last five games the Reds will want to improve their league record against the other sides in the top six this season, which has only yielded two wins - one against Coleraine and one against Linfield.

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Dungannon Swifts' post-split fixtures: Coleraine (H), Saturday, 28 March, Linfield (H), Tuesday, 7 April, Glentoran (A), Saturday, 11 April, Cliftonville (A), Saturday 18 April, Larne (A), Saturday, 25 April

With back-to-back top half finishes achieved for Dungannon Swifts, they will hope to end the league season as strongly as possible as well as retain the Irish Cup.

Rodney McAree's men finished fourth last year, but are too far behind the top four to replicate that this time around.

Instead, they will aim to pip Cliftonville, who are a point ahead of them, into fifth place which may bring home advantage for the play-offs, but it will be a tough ask with their final three games away from home, including a game at Solitude.

That fifth place finish may not be necessary depending on if they keep hold of the Irish Cup and McAree will have to strike a balance between keeping players fit and firing and rotation with the semi-final of the competition against the Reds to come.

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Carrick Rangers' post-split fixtures: Crusaders (H), Saturday, 28 March, Portadown (A), Tuesday, 7 April, Ballymena United (H), Saturday, 11 April, Bangor (A), Saturday, 18 April, Glenavon (A), Saturday, 25 April

After a tough start to the season, it has been a great 2026 for Carrick Rangers, who will aim to add to their County Antrim Shield success by finishing seventh and getting in the European play-offs again.

They hold a seven point lead over Bangor behind them and given their tremendous recent run of form, it is hard to see anyone catching them, although they do have to play three of their five games away from home.

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Bangor post-split fixtures: Ballymena United (A), Saturday, 4 April, Crusaders (A), Tuesday, 7 April, Glenavon (H), Saturday, 11 April, Carrick Rangers (H), Saturday, 18 April, Portadown (H), Saturday, 25 April

Not being involved in a relegation fight in their first season back in the top flight will have been a pleasing surprise for Bangor fans this term.

Despite a recent run of poor results, Lee Feeney's men are far enough away from the drop zone and will be dreaming of arresting their tough run and sneaking into seventh, which would far exceed expectations set at the start of the season.

Like Portadown, the Seasiders are seven points behind Carrick Rangers, who they face in one of three consecutive home games to close out their campaign.

A much-needed win over Dungannon Swifts earlier in the month, their first league victory since 17 January will give them a boost and they have fared well in most league games against the other sides in the bottom six.

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Portadown's post-split fixtures: Glenavon (A), Saturday, 4 April, Carrick Rangers (H), Tuesday, 7 April, Crusaders (A), Saturday, 11 April, Ballymena United (A), Saturday, 18 April, Bangor (A), Saturday, 25 April

Like Ballymena United, Portadown face an uphill task to pip Carrick Rangers to seventh place and the European play-off spot in the split, but that must be their aim.

Niall Currie's side are not helped by the fact that all but one of their post-split games will be played away from home, starting with a tasty Mid-Ulster derby against Glenavon.

They are seven behind Carrick, who they host in their only home game and will need to win that one and hope the Gers slip up climb further up the table.

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Ballymena United's post-split fixtures: Bangor (H), Saturday, 28 March, Glenavon (H), Tuesday, 7 April, Carrick Rangers (A), Saturday, 11 April, Portadown (H), Saturday, 18 April, Crusaders (A), Saturday, 25 April

Ballymena United are in a four-horse race to clinch seventh spot and the final European play-off place in their last five games of the season.

Oran Kearney's side have an outside chance as they currently sit nine points behind Carrick Rangers.

Ballymena will have to be near flawless and win all three home games in the split and hope for Carrick to slip up to have any chance of sneaking in.

The Sky Blues are unbeaten in their last three league games and have only lost on three occasions in the league against the other sides that make up the bottom six.

As a result, Kearney will hope his side can make a late surge for the play-offs and end what has been an inconsistent campaign on a high note.

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Crusaders post-split fixtures: Carrick Rangers (A), Saturday, 28 March, Bangor (H), Tuesday 7 April, Portadown (H), Saturday 11 April, Glenavon (A), Saturday 18 April, Ballymena United (H), Saturday 25 April

Much like Glenavon, it is all about staying up for Crusaders in their final five games, but it currently looks a tall order given their poor form.

The Crues have dropped into the bottom six for the post-split fixtures for the first time since the split was introduced in the 2008-09 season, but their more immediate worry is addressing an alarming slide towards relegation.

Declan Caddell's young side are without a win since January 2 and recently lost to fellow bottom six sides Glenavon and Ballymena United.

With three home games they will really have to try and make Seaview a fortress once again as they look to avoid the drop with that Glenavon game at Mourneview Park looking pivotal in the run-in.

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Glenavon's post-split fixtures: Portadown (H), Saturday, 4 April, Ballymena United (A) Tuesday, 7 April, Bangor (A), Saturday 11 April, Crusaders (H), Saturday, 18 April, Carrick Rangers (H), Saturday, 25 April

Michael O'Connor has done a great job since coming in as Glenavon boss given they looked certain to go down when he took over in October.

While they may still be in 12th, they are just one point behind Crusaders and before their recent defeat by Larne, they went unbeaten in four league games.

One of those was a huge 3-0 victory at Seaview over the Crues that narrowed the gap.

Given they are playing teams around them and with their current good run of form, they have a good chance of avoiding the automatic drop and instead moving up to 11th and playing in the promotion/relegation play-off.

Survival is the key aim at the business end of the season and that 11 April fixture at home to Crusaders will be huge in the context of their quest to stay up.

Steven Crawford
BBC Sport NI

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It's the business end of the Irish Premiership campaign as the post-split fixtures get under way with plenty to be decided at either end of the table.

Not only is the destination of the Gibson Cup and a place in the Champions League qualifiers up for grabs, but also a place in the Conference League qualifiers for the runners-up and European play-off winners.

The top four are all still in with a shout of lifting the title with Larne in the box seat to secure a third Irish Premiership crown in four years after they extended their lead at the summit following their victory at Glenavon last time out.

Gary Haveron's side kick-off the first of their final five games at home to Cliftonville, aiming to maintain their four-point advantage over nearest challengers Glentoran.

It doesn't come any bigger for Declan Devine's side on Saturday as they host 'Big Two' rivals Linfield knowing they cannot afford any slip-ups in their bid to secure a first league title since 2008-09.

Third-place Coleraine are breathing down their necks with only four points separating themselves and the Glens in the table, with reigning champions Linfield in fourth still hoping they can overhaul the teams above them, although they are three worse off than the Bannsiders.

Irish Cup semi-finalists Cliftonville and Dungannon Swifts make up the top six and they will be jockeying for fifth position and the potential home advantage in the end-of-season play-offs that could bring in their remaining five games, with the Reds currently occupying fifth place.

In the bottom half of the table, there are four teams still in with a shout with securing the final spot in the European play-offs.

With the County Antrim Shield already in the bag, Carrick Rangers will be aiming to cap a great season by sealing seventh place.

But Bangor, Portadown and Ballymena United will be hoping they can reel in Stephen Baxter's side over the last five games.

It's all about survival at the foot of the table with one point currently separating Crusaders from bottom club Glenavon.

Both sides will be targeting 11th place to take on Championship opposition in the relegation/promotion play-off with 12th place automatically dropping out of the Premiership and into the second tier.

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Coleraine have confirmed that striker James Akintunde will undergo surgery after sustaining an ankle fracture-dislocation during Saturday's match against Glentoran.

Akintunde required medical attention during the first minute of the game at the Oval after a collision in the Glentoran box.

The 29-year-old joined Coleraine in January from Finnish side Haka and had previously played under Bannsiders boss Ruaidhri Higgins at Derry City.

"Following yesterday's match at The Oval where James Akintunde was stretched off early in the game, the club can now provide an update on James' condition," a statement on Coleraine's social media read.

"On arrival at hospital, a full x-ray and further assessments were carried out where it was confirmed that James suffered an ankle fracture-dislocation. This is a very significant and serious injury which will carry a long recovery time. James will now be transferred to Derry/Londonderry where he will undergo surgery in the coming days."

Akintunde has scored two goals since joining the club, who thanked the medical professionals, stewards, staff and fans for their support.

"Our thanks go to all of the medical professionals, stewards and staff both at The Oval and at the hospital for their care and attention to James," the statement continued.

"The focus of everybody at the club is on giving James the support he needs during this very difficult time for him.

"We would finally like to thank both sets of supporters for their support to James inside the stadium as he was taken from the field of play."