Top three take wins in festive Premiership games

Ben Hall scored Linfield's opening goal against Glentoran

The top three in the Irish Premiership, Linfield, Larne and Cliftonville, all secured derby wins on Boxing Day to consolidate their league positions.

The Blues lead Larne by one point, with the Reds three further points behind.

Ballymena United defeated Coleraine 3-1, Glenavon won 4-0 at Newry City and Loughgall saw off Dungannon Swifts 2-1.

Noah Stewart was on target twice as the Sky Blues belied their lowly league position to come from a goal behind to beat Coleraine, who had Conor McKendry sent-off late on.

Benji Magee's late strike proved enough for Loughgall to seal their success, while Newry remain rooted to the foot of the table as Glenavon returned to winning ways.

Blues surge past Glens

A goal in either half from Ben Hall and Matthew Fitzpatrick respectively gave David Healy's side Boxing Day bragging rights over their Big Two rivals.

Linfield had the chance to break the deadlock from the penalty spot midway through the first half, as Glentoran goalkeeper Aaron McCarey failed to gather Kirk Millar's corner, fouling Rhys Annett who had nipped in to steal the ball.

Annett was the one who then stepped up to take the penalty, with McCarey making amends by saving well to his right.

Eight minutes later and the Blues had their goal. Kirk Millar's free-kick from the right-hand side was met on the head by Hall, who directed his effort beyond a helpless McCarey and into the bottom corner.

Linfield secured the three points by doubling their lead 15 minutes into the second half, with summer signing Fitzpatrick getting on the end of Kyle McClean's through ball, cutting back onto his favoured right foot, before firing low and hard into the back of the net from the edge of the box.

Larne see off Carrick

After an abrasive opening spell at Taylor's Avenue, it was the visitors who went in front on 27 minutes. Aaron Donnelly crossed from the left and Leroy Millar took a touch to spin an opponent before firing a right-footed shot past Ross Glendinning.

In a game in which clear-cut chances were few and far between, Carrick's best effort came when David Cushley threaded a through ball which put Danny Purkis in behind the Larne defence but his left-footed shot clipped the top of the crossbar on its way over.

The visitors grabbed a second on 76 minutes when Millar's low cross from the left was poked home at full stretch by Andy Ryan.

But within two minutes Carrick had halved the deficit when Curtis Allen ran onto a flick-on from a free kick and went around Rohan Ferguson to slot into an unguarded net.

Ballymena come from behind to beat Bannsiders

Ballymena United secured just a fourth league win of the season and their first victory in 10 outings as they got the better of Coleraine at Warden Street for the second time this season.

Trailing 1-0 at the break to Dean Jarvis's 33rd minute header, two goals from 'supersub' Noah Stewart and one from Johnny McMurray sealed a famous derby day win.

Defender Dean Jarvis opened the scoring for the visitors just the half hour with his second goal of the season.

Conor McKendry's inswinging corner caused panic in the home defence and Jarvis nipped in to head home at the near post.

That was how it stayed until two minutes into the second half when Johnny McMurray levelled for the home side.

Steven McCullough delivered an inviting free-kick into the heart of the Coleraine penalty area and McMurray did the rest, powering home a header from close range.

And the comeback was complete in the 74th minute when half-time sub Noah Stewart escaped the attentions of his marker to blast home past Gareth Deane from a narrow angle.

He still had time to score his second and Ballymena's third with virtually the last kick of the game.

And the day went from bad to worse when Coleraine winger McKendry was shown a straight red card by referee Ian McNabb in the closing minutes.