Soccer

Cliftonville handed trip to Coleraine on first day of Danske Bank Premiership

Cliftonville defeated Coleraine in a thriller at Solitude to reach the Europa League play-off final in May Picture by Pacemaker
Cliftonville defeated Coleraine in a thriller at Solitude to reach the Europa League play-off final in May Picture by Pacemaker Cliftonville defeated Coleraine in a thriller at Solitude to reach the Europa League play-off final in May Picture by Pacemaker

Danske Bank Premiership

THE meeting of Europa League play-off rivals Cliftonville and Coleraine is the pick of the bunch on the opening day of the Danske Bank Premiership for 2019-20, the full fixture list for which was released yesterday.

The Reds and Coleraine played out a 5-3 thriller in the play-off semi-final at Solitude in May, which saw Paddy McLaughlin’s side advance to a final with Glentoran and this week’s Europa League preliminary round. This time around, Clifonville will travel to the north-west to take on the Bannsiders on Saturday, August 10.

Champions Linfield will begin their title defence at home to Institute, while newly-promoted Larne start their campaign in the top flight with a home tie against Warrenpoint Town.

The other side to come up from the Championship last season, Carrick Rangers, visit Irish Cup holders Crusaders on their first assignment, while Dungannon Swifts will face Ballymena United and Glentoran visit Glenavon in the other matches on the opening day.

David Healy’s champions will take on last season’s title rivals Ballymena at the Showgrounds three days later on Tuesday, August 13, while the first north Belfast derby of the season is at Solitude on Saturday, August 17.

Danske Bank Premiership (Saturday, August 10): Coleraine v Cliftonville, Crusaders v Carrick Rangers, Dungannon Swifts v Ballymena United, Glenavon v Glentoran, Larne v Warrenpoint Town, Linfield v Institute