Glens, Carrick and Ports win as Reds and Coleraine draw

Glentoran made it back-to-back wins to start the Irish Premiership season as they beat Bangor 1-0 at the Oval.

Early pacesetters Carrick Rangers also picked up a second successive victory as they defeated Glenavon 1-0 at Taylors Avenue courtesy of Danny Gibson’s goal.

Portadown got off and running with a thumping 4-1 win against nine-man Dungannon Swifts, who have lost their first two games.

After a slow start, Glentoran came within a whisker of opening the scoring midway through the first half.

Ryan Cooney latched onto Ciaran Coll’s cross-field pass and delivered a low cross into the area but the in-rushing Jordan Jenkins could only fire a shot off the underside of the crossbar from close range.

It took a brilliant save by Gareth Deane to prevent the home side going in front four minutes before the interval as he dived to his right to superbly turn away Jordan Stewart’s powerful header from Daniel Larmour’s cross.

Bangor spurned a glorious chance on 57 minutes after Tiarnan Mulvenna dispossessed defender Shane McEleney and cut the ball back across goal, but Michael Morgan’s effort was saved by the face of Glentoran goalkeeper Andrew Mills.

Glenavon stopper Jacob Carney was called into action early in the match to gather both Adam Lecky’s header and Danny Gibson’s effort before, at the other end, Davy McDaid sent an effort just wide after connecting with Paddy Burns’ throw-in.

Carrick broke the deadlock in the 37th minute when Paul Heatley’s cross from near the byeline was fired home by Gibson from close range, for his third goal in the opening two games.

Aidan Steele then tried to give the home side a more comfortable lead before the break, but the alert Carney denied his strong free-kick.

After the restart, the away side believed that Stephen Mallon’s set piece was handled in the box. However, referee Evan Boyce waved away their penalty appeals.

As Glenavon pushed for a late equaliser, Jimmy Callacher made a crucial clearance off the line to divert substitute Michael O’Connor’s strike away from goal.

Portadown made the breakthrough after just six minutes. Eamon Fyfe burst from midfield to meet James Teelan’s pass and finished coolly, sliding the ball through Alex Henderson’s legs.

The visitors struck again in the 19th minute. Fyfe’s corner was whipped towards the near post, and Josh Ukek rose highest to glance a clever header beyond the goalkeeper.

Dungannon responded swiftly as Tomas Galvin was clipped by Lee Chapman in the area, and Sean McAllister made no mistake from the spot, drilling low to Aaron McCarey’s left to halve the deficit.

Just when they looked to have a foothold in the game, captain Gael Bigiramana was dismissed late in the first half for a high challenge on Fyfe.

Leo Alves then picked up two yellow cards in quick succession after the restart, both for fouls on Ben Wylie to add to the Swifts’ uphill struggle.

The Ports then found a third in the 76th minute. Ukek powered forward before slipping in Jordan Gibson, who skipped past Cahal McGinty and saw his shot take a deflection off Danny Wallace that looped over Henderson.

The points were shared at Solitude as defences dominated in a scoreless draw.

Cliftonville started brightly and Rory Hale flashed a shot from distance narrowly past the far post in the opening minutes.

Former Cliftonville defender Levi Ives forced debutant goalkeeper PJ Morrison into a smart save moments later before Jamie Glackin passed up the best chance of the first half, failing to find the target following fine play by right winger Lewis McGregor.

Rhyss Campbell was forced off with an injury following a tussle with Charles Dunne just before the break and Jim Magilton’s woes were compounded moments after the restart when Luke Conlan was also forced off injured.

The introduction of Eric McWoods injected pace into the Reds’ attack and he presented Ryan Curran with the best chance of the game with 20 minutes remaining, but the striker steered his effort just the wrong side of the upright.

McWoods himself came close to breaking the deadlock in the closing minutes but his spectacular overhead effort lacked power and was comfortably dealt with by visiting goalkeeper Aidan Harris.

Declan McManus headed wide from a Ronan Doherty cross in the final minute of normal time but there was late drama to come.