All 12 teams in the Irish Premiership will be in action on December 26th, providing a day of excitement and tradition for fans. Key matchups include Ballymena vs. Coleraine and Crusaders vs. Cliftonville, both looking to reignite their struggling seasons.
For Irish Premiership fans the traditional derby games on 26 December are almost as exciting as Christmas Day itself. A rare matchday where all 12 teams are playing at the same time and with nearly all games sold out, it is truly a festive highlight for Irish League supporters.In addition to radio coverage on Sports ound on BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Sounds, the BBC Sport website will have live text updates, a report, reaction and highlights on one of the most anticipated days of the season.
Suspensions have hampered Ballymena boss Jim Ervin's preparations ahead of their game away to Coleraine. Key men Ben Kennedy and Josh Carson will sit this one out as both were sent-off in Ballymena's 3-2 win against Loughgall on Saturday.The Sky Blues will be desperate to get a first victory of the season against the Bannsiders, who won 4-2 when the sides met at Ballycastle Road in August and 1-0 at the Showgrounds in October. Coleraine manager Dean Shiels has had longer to prepare his side for the game as they were not in action on Saturday, and the hosts will hope to end a run of three games without a win in the league.Two sides that have struggled for results lately, both will be looking for a win at Seaview that could reignite their stuttering seasons. The north Belfast rivals played out a 1-1 draw in their first derby of the season in August before the Reds claimed a narrow 1-0 win in November. Injuries and suspensions have decimated both squads. The Crues are currently missing eight first-team players, while Cliftonville are without the suspended Jonny Addis and Odhran Casey. 'The quicker I get injured players back the better, but we can't feel sorry for ourselves,' Crues boss Declan Caddell said after his side's 1-0 defeat at Portadown. 'Both teams are going through a tough spell at the minute with a few defeats in a row and it's two teams that will look to put things right,' Cliftonville assistant manager Gerard Lyttle reflecte
Irish Premiership Derbies Christmas Day Football Season
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