Irish Premiership Programme Halted by Storm Darragh

Saturday’s entire schedule of six Irish Premiership matches has been cancelled due to adverse weather conditions brought by Storm Darragh. All six games were called off. The fixture between Coleraine and Portadown, originally set for a 17:00 GMT start, was the final game to be affected by the strong winds. Its cancellation occurred approximately one hour and 10 minutes before the scheduled kick-off. The match involving Dungannon Swifts and league leaders Linfield was postponed just over an hour prior to its scheduled 15:00 GMT kick-off. This decision followed the earlier postponement of Cliftonville’s home game against Carrick Rangers. On Saturday morning, several other fixtures were also called off: Glentoran versus Ballymena United at the Oval, Glenavon against Crusaders at Mourneview Park, and Loughgall versus Larne at Lakeview Park. The game between the Glens and the Sky Blues was postponed after a pitch inspection conducted at 10:30 GMT, with the cancellations of the matches between the Lurgan Blues and the Crues, and the Villagers and the Invermen, occurring subsequently. Additionally, it was announced on Friday that the Ulster Club Intermediate Football Championship final, scheduled for Saturday between Arva and Ballinderry at Healy Park, had been postponed. Cavan’s Arva and Derry’s Ballinderry were slated to compete in Omagh at 17:00 GMT. However, Ulster GAA issued a brief statement on Friday evening, confirming the match’s postponement “due to the amber weather warning”. The game has since been rescheduled for Saturday, 14 December, at the same venue, with a 17:00 GMT throw-in. An amber wind warning was in effect for Northern Ireland from 01:00 GMT on Saturday until 21:00 on Saturday.