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 box and he unleashed a precise strike past Gareth Deane, marking his fifth goal in four encounters against the Lurgan Blues.
The north Belfast side maintained their ascendancy into the second half, doubling their advantage in the 57th minute. Ronan Doherty delivered a sumptuous cross that found Gordon, who instinctively poked home from close range. However, Glenavon displayed commendable resilience, narrowing the deficit in the 71st minute.
A misplaced pass from Luke Conlan presented Davy McDaid with the opportunity to set up James Doona, who expertly slotted the ball low beyond David Odumosu. Despite the home side's resurgence, the visitors had several opportunities to extend their lead but failed to capitalize. In the dying moments, the Reds squandered their biggest chance to seal the victory when Ryan Corrigan's cross found Kris Lowe six yards out, only for the midfielder to inexplicably blaze over.
Despite the missed chances and Glenavon's late pressure, Jim Magilton's charges held firm. With expectations high amongst the Portadown crowd, they could not have feared for a worse opening, going behind after only nine minutes. After breaking from deep, Dylan Connolly slipped a lovely ball through to Jordan Jenkins, who drove down the right before slotting the ball through the legs of Aaron McCarey in goal.
The hosts grew into the game and ex-Glentoran man Shay McCartan had the best effort of the half for the Ports. A bustling run across the edge of the area led to a powerful drive but it was straight at keeper Danile Gyollai. Glentoran appeared to be content playing a counter attacking game and could have scored just before the break, when Jay Donnelly got on the end of a free-kick from the right, but his header was into the turf and allowed McCarey to parry away to safety.
The second half was a role reversal with Glentoran threatening and Portadown playing on the counter. Frankie Hvid went close for the visitors, rising well at the back post, but his goal-bound header rebounded off the legs of Jenkins and into the arms of McCarey. But it was to be the Ports who would grab an equaliser on 77 minutes.
Cameron Palmer cleared a corner, but the ball fell to Mayse on the right-hand corner of the six-yard box. He set the ball for himself before driving back across goal and into the net. However, Glentoran were not to be outdone and claimed a last-gasp win thanks to a looping deflected effort from McGinn to break home fans’ hearts.
Carrick started dangerously with Danny Gibson attempting one of his trademark 50-yard strikes on two minutes that had debutant keeper Nathan Gartside sweating. Meanwhile, on 10 minutes, Curtis Allen struck the foot of the post after being played in nicely by Nedas Maciulaitis. However, things started to go wrong shortly after with Andrew Hoey firing a warning shot with a diving header at the back post that was clutched by Ross Glendinning on 22 minutes.
Five minutes later, there was nothing the Carrick stopper could do when Jordan Gibson drifted to the front post and glanced home a corner from Jamie Rea. Stuart King would have been looking for a response from his side and, although their urgency increased, the quality decreased as their route-one balls were either overhit or easily read. Danny Gibson was starting to cut a frustrated figure and he and Seanan Clucas had a few heated words after getting in each other's way.
Just as the fourth official's board was going up for added time, everyone at Lakeview Park got a case of deja vu as Gibson again was left criminally unmarked by the usually-solid Carrick rearguard and he nodded home another Rea corner. The second half was devoid of any real clear-cut chances for either side, which suited the hosts. Paul Heatley was introduced at the break and was dangerous in spells but struggled to get on the ball with Rangers still disjointed.
Loughgall were doing well at dealing with any Carrick advances without doing much themselves. Pablo Andrade whistled one wide after excellent build-up play with Hoey before substitute Benji Magee cut in off the left and saw his shot saved by Glendinning at his near post. That would turn out to be but a warning shot as last year's Young Player of the Year made an almost-identical move and this time picked out the far corner with a beautiful finish to put the cherry on top of a very successful first home game of the season for the Villagers.
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