Bangor beat Reds on return as Blues and Coleraine win

Bangor made a winning start to their first Irish Premiership campaign in 16 years as they beat Cliftonville 3-1 at Clandeboye Park.

Goals from Kyle Owens, Ben Arthurs and Michael Morgan helped the newly- promoted side to victory on the opening day.

Kieran Offord scored a second-half hat-trick as champions Linfield got the defence of the Gibson Cup under way with a 3-0 win against Irish Cup winners Dungannon Swifts.

It was a frustrating first half for Cliftonville, who were denied by the crossbar twice in the opening 30 minutes.

The first when Odhran Casey’s header from a Rory Hale corner crashed off the woodwork, before Casey was denied once again when his strong strike rattled the crossbar.

The home side grew into the half with Lewis Ridd forced to make a smart save to deny Reece Neale’s free-kick.

Bangor would break the deadlock just four minutes before the break after another free-kick from Neale was denied by Ridd.

However, this time Bangor recycled the danger through Stephen McGuinness, who played the ball back for the unmarked Owens to tap home from close range.

In the 51st minute Cliftonville levelled the game when Casey’s cross from the left flank was fired into the back of the net by Ryan Curran at the back post.

Bangor appealed that there was a foul on stopper Gareth Deane by Jonny Addis as they both battled to connect with Casey’s delivery, but referee Tim Marshall waved away the appeals.

Arthurs would give the Seasiders the lead once again with 20 minutes to go after he nodded home Jack O’Mahony’s well-timed cross.

The Reds were denied by the woodwork for a third and final time when debutant Adebayo Fapetu’s thunderous effort from 25-yards pinged off the crossbar.

The first half at Windsor Park was an open one, with both Linfield and Dungannon having a few chances.

The Blues thought they had broken the deadlock a few minutes before the break through the head of Matthew Fitzpatrick, but his goal was chalked off for offside.

Moments before the half-time whistle the visitors had their best opportunity when Andrew Mitchell found himself in acres of space at the back post, but he rushed his effort and headed wide of the far upright.

Just a few minutes into the second half, Offord broke the deadlock from the spot after Danny Wallace caught Fitzpatrick inside the box when attempting to clear the ball.

Linfield doubled their lead with 20 minutes remaining as Offord’s strike from the left-hand side had too much pace for Declan Dunne and flew through his legs.

Just a minute later Offord completed his hat-trick, this time with his head.

There was just four minutes left on the clock when Cooper, who had been well marshalled by the visitors’ defence up to that point, blasted home low past Rohan Ferguson to secure an opening day win for Ruadhri Higgins.

In a low-key first half, last season’s golden boot winner Matthew Shevlin had Coleraine’s best chance after the half-hour mark.

Put through by Levi Ives, the striker crashed a left foot shot off the base of the post with just Ferguson to beat.

At the other end, Daniel Bent tested Coleraine debutant goalkeeper Aidan Harris with a low shot, while Benji Magee flashed an effort into the side netting after racing clear.

Coleraine upped the tempo after the break and Larne had Ferguson to thank for two fine saves in quick succession, first to deny Jamie Glackin and then a 30-yard piledriver from Charles Dunne.