ST Stephen’s Day is the traditional day of derbies in the Irish League as scores are settled today around the North.
All the games were scheduled today to take place at 3pm, with some tasty duels lined up for the afternoon.
Glentoran hosted Linfield at the Oval in ‘Bel Classico’ with both sides having a man sent off as they played out a 0-0 draw and the North Belfast derby Crusaders and Cliftonville was a game of two halves, with both sides under-performing before the break.
Kieran Offord’s early brace for Crusaders proved to be the difference between the sides as Cliftonville fought to get back in the game late on.
Elsewhere, Coleraine and Ballymena United played out a festive classic as Ethan Devine scored a double for the visitors before Stewart and Shevlin clawed the game back for the Bansiders as it finished 2-2 at the Showgrounds.
Dungannon Swifts managed a 2-1 win against Loughgall to move them into second place in the Irish Premiership.
Glenavon overcame the challenge of mid-Ulster rivals Portadown at Mourneview Park, with the Lurgan blues taking the game 2-0 as the Ports lost goalkeeper Aaron McCarey.
Finally, reigning champions Larne struggled against East Antrim rivals Carrick Rangers, who are slowly climbing the table after a bad start to the campaign.
Carrick Rangers managed to secure a well-earned point with a 0-0 draw, despite two disallowed goals for the Invermen after a foul and an offside call denied the hosts.
The Invermen, who still haven’t been beaten on St Stephen’s Day in nine years, currently sit 22 points off the top spot in ninth place, with six games in hand against Linfield who currently look to be favourites to take the title.
Follow the action as it happened as all six derby pairings went head to head on St Stephen’s Day.
