Linfield and Cliftonville made it two wins from their opening two Premiership games with victories on Saturday. Joel Cooper, Kyle McClean and Chris Shields scored as the Blues defeated Dungannon Swifts 3-1 at Windsor Park. Cliftonville edged Glenavon 2-1 with Joe Gormley and Shea Gordon on target for the Reds at Mourneview Park.
Niall McGinn struck in injury time to give Glentoran a 2-1 win at newly promoted Portadown while Loughgall enjoyed a 3-0 home victory over Carrick Rangers. Three goals in eight first-half minutes wrapped up all three points for Linfield. Just as the home fans were beginning to get restless, Linfield took the lead just before the half hour mark as Ethan McGee pulled the ball back across the box, where Cooper was on hand to neatly dispatch his left-footed strike back across goal and into the back of the net.
Only five minutes later the Blues had their second through a fierce McClean volley. Their third came moments later through Shields' long-range effort. His strike did take a deflection on its way towards the goal, which didn't help Declan Dunne in the slightest.
Just three minutes into the second half the visitors pulled one back through a powerful Adam Glenny strike from an acute angle, but it wasn't to be as the Blues made it back-to-back wins. Gormley ignited the contest at Mourneview Park with a sublime finish in the 16th minute, capitalizing on Peter Campbell's errant challenge. The ball fortuitously landed at Gormley's feet on the edge of the b.