Double-header of BBC live-streamed games on first weekend of Sports Direct Premiership

It’s almost time for the race to begin. Twelve clubs line up to start their Sports Direct Premiership campaigns and BBC Sport NI will kick-off its live coverage with the first game of the season featuring derby rivals Coleraine and Ballymena on Friday 4 August.

The derby is the first in a double header of live-streamed BBC games on the opening weekend.

Linfield host Belfast rivals Cliftonville on Saturday evening (August 5) at 5.30pm in what will be Jim Magilton’s first league game in charge against David Healey’s men.

The following weekend, Friday 11 August, Champions Larne travel to Glentoran as the Invermen seek to retain the Gibson Cup.

Glentoran will be back in action on Tuesday 15 August as they make the journey to newly promoted Loughall who are back in the top flight for the first time since 2007.

BBC Sport NI will have 12 live game in total from the start of the season until October’s big Belfast derby between Linfield and Glentoran on Friday 6 October. That derby will be one of two live games on BBC Two NI television with 10 live-streamed matches across BBC iPlayer and on the BBC Sport NI website bbc.co.uk/sportni .

The other live game on BBC Two Northern Ireland will see Larne up against Linfield on Friday 15 September. That will be another double-header weekend of live action with the north Belfast derby between Crusaders and Cliftonville streamed live on Saturday 16 September.

Friday 4 August

Coleraine v Ballymena United