Football: Post-split Irish Premiership fixtures confirmed

The post-split fixture schedule in the Sports Direct Premiership is now confirmed following tonight's final two matches.

Reigning champions Larne maintained their two-point lead over second-placed Linfield after an Andy Ryan double gave them a 2-0 victory over Cliftonville at Solitude, wile Linfield saw off Carrick 3-2 at Taylor's Avenue.

The destiny of the Gibson Cup, the race for Europe and the battle to avoid relegation all remain up for grabs

There are just five rounds of fixtures left in the Sports Direct Premiership, with reigning champions Larne taking a narrow lead over Linfield into the final fixtures of an enthralling season.

The final lucrative European place is still an unknown, with many clubs still jockeying for pole position for the end-of-season European Playoffs and at the bottom end of the table, the battle to avoid relegation is perilously tight, with only two points separate Ballymena United and Newry City.

The ‘split’ format sees the twelve Sports Direct Premiership teams separate into two sections after 33 rounds of fixtures with both groups of clubs playing each other one more time. The venues for the split fixtures have been determined automatically by the venues of the preceding three regular season games between opponents.

The campaign will conclude with the final round of fixtures all played the evening of Saturday April 27th, with all games kicking-off concurrently at 5.30pm.

Sports Direct Premiership Split Fixtures

Section A

Saturday April 6th (3pm)

Coleraine v Cliftonville

Glentoran v Linfield (5.30pm)

Larne v Crusaders

Friday April 12th

Crusaders v Linfield (7.45pm)

Saturday April 13th (3pm)

Coleraine v Glentoran

Larne v Cliftonville (5.30pm)

Tuesday April 16th (7.45pm)

Crusaders v Cliftonville

Glentoran v Larne

Linfield v Coleraine

Friday April 19th (7.45pm)

Linfield v Larne

Saturday April 20 (3pm)

Cliftonville v Glentoran

Coleraine v Crusaders

Saturday April 27 (5.30pm)

Glentoran v Crusaders

Larne v Coleraine

Linfield v Cliftonville

Section B

Saturday April 6th (3pm)

Dungannon Swifts v Carrick Rangers

Glenavon v Newry City

Loughgall v Ballymena United

Saturday April 13th (3pm)

Carrick Rangers v Ballymena United

Loughgall v Glenavon

Newry City v Dungannon Swifts

Tuesday April 16th (7.45pm)

Ballymena United v Glenavon

Dungannon Swifts v Loughgall

Newry City v Carrick Rangers

Saturday April 20th (3pm)

Ballymena United v Newry City

Carrick Rangers v Loughgall

Dungannon Swifts v Glenavon

Saturday April 27th (5.30pm)

Dungannon Swifts v Ballymena United

Glenavon v Carrick Rangers

Newry City v Loughgall