Irish League Football

Image source, Pacemaker

Glentoran kept up their pursuit of Women's Premiership leaders Cliftonville as they came from a goal down to defeat Linfield 4-2 in Monday's game at the Blanchflower Stadium.

The victory moves the Glens to within five points of the pacesetters as the league enters the series of three sets of post-split fixtures.

Eva Myles had Linfield ahead after 13 minutes but goals from Faye Loughran and Nadene Caldwell in the opening five minutes of the second half put Glentoran in front.

Cora Chambers equalised for the Blues on 55, but Kelly Crompton was on target and Naomi McLaughlin found the net in stoppage time to secure the win for the Glens.

With the regular 14-game season complete, the league splits into top and bottom halves for the remaining weeks of the campaign.

Linfield and Lisburn Rangers complete the Section A line-up, with Section B made up of Derry City, Crusaders Strikers, Lisburn Ladies and Larne Women.

Attention switches to the Women's Challenge Cup semi-finals on Friday night as Lisburn Ladies face Glentoran and Crusaders play Cliftonville.

Women's Premiership post-split fixtures

Section A

Friday 18 September

Cliftonville Ladies v Lisburn Rangers (20:00 BST)

Glentoran Women v Linfield Women (19:45)

Friday 25 September (19:45)

Glentoran Women v Lisburn Rangers

Linfield Women v Cliftonville Ladies

Sunday 4 October(18:00)

Cliftonville Ladies v Glentoran Women

Lisburn Rangers v Linfield Women

Section B

Friday 18 September

Crusaders Strikers v Larne Women (20:00)

Derry City Women v Lisburn Ladies (19:45)

Friday 25 September

Derry City Women v Larne Women (19:45)

Lisburn Ladies v Crusaders Strikers (20:00)

Sunday 4 October (18:00)

Crusaders Strikers v Derry City Women

Larne Women v Lisburn Ladies

Image source, Pacemaker

Last year's beaten finalists Cliftonville will host Glentoran in the quarter-finals of this season's ToalsBet Senior Shield.

The other last-eight ties which emerged from Monday night's draw were Dundela against Larne, Crusaders against Ballymena United and Ards at home to Bangor.

The four ties are scheduled to be played on Tuesday 13 October.

The draw was also made for the semi-finals of the competition, with Dundela or Larne drawn to face Crusaders or Ballymena and Cliftonville or Glentoran at home to Ards or Bangor.

ToalsBet Senior Shield quarter-finals

Cliftonville v Glentoran

Dundela v Larne

Crusaders v Ballymena Utd

Ards v Bangor

Semi-finals

Dundela/Larne v Crusaders/Ballymena

Cliftonville/Glentoran v Ards/Bangor

Image source, Pacemaker

Carrick Rangers forward Paul Heatley has been named August's player of the month by the Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association.

The 39-year-old, who u-turned his retirement decision at the end of last season, made a superb start to the new campaign.

Heatley netted three times as Carrick won all but one of their opening Irish Premiership fixtures.

"I think it's more a reflection of the team rather than me, to be honest," Heatley said.

"It's a really good strong start by the team and everyone's just hit the ground running this year again.

"It's really important we focus on getting a really good start to the season because early points on the board are a massive help down the line."

Sean McAllister of Dungannon Swifts was second, and Linfield's Adam Frizzell was third.

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Coleraine have signed Crusaders striker Adam Brooks on a long-term deal for what is believed to be a six-figure sum plus add-ons.

Brooks came through Celtic's academy and played for Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Queen of the South before making the move to Crusaders in 2025.

He played a key role in the Crues securing their Premiership status when they won their promotion/relegation play-off against Annagh United and scored seven goals last campaign.

The 22-year-old - who has been capped for Scotland at under-19 level - has made a strong start to the Irish Premiership season, scoring a hat-trick in the 3-2 win over Portadown.

"Adam is a natural centre-forward and he's a different player to Matthew (Shevlin)," said Coleraine boss Ruaidhri Higgins.

"When you look at our squad, Matthew was probably our only option as a natural number nine. We felt that we needed to add to that department and thankfully we've got a really good one in Adam.

"We've invested in this signing but we feel it is a worthy investment because he's only 22-years-old, he's signing a long-term contract and I think he can go to another level.

"We would like to think we can make this his home now."

Brooks is Coleraine's second deadline day signing after Joe Thomson's move from Glentoran, a deal which saw Conor McMenamin make the switch to the Oval just two months after signing for the Bannsiders.

Coleraine top the Irish Premiership table with three wins and a draw from four matches and face Crusaders on Saturday in their next Premiership fixture.