Who can stop Larne? - New season Irish Premiership talking points

After a summer of transfers, preparation and uncertainty, the start of the Irish Premiership 2026-27 season has finally arrived. A full 104 days after Larne lifted the Gibson Cup in style, a north Belfast derby between Cliftonville and Crusaders will kick start what looks set to be another exciting year in the Irish League. It has been a far from simple summer, with plenty of talking points off the field and even this week the threat of the season being delayed. However, with that crisis averted and the opening round of matches now just days away, BBC Sport NI takes a look at some of the talking points around the league this season. Can Larne make it four from five? Now that red and white ribbons have been attached to the Gibson Cup once again, Gary Haveron and his Larne players will be determined to hold on to their crown this time around. It was the Inver Reds third Irish Premiership in four years and was a campaign built upon resilience and determination. Star striker Andy Ryan's departure leaves a significant hole to fill and, despite many valiant performances in Europe this campaign, how they can replace the goals scored by the Scot remains a question mark. As for last season's runners-up Coleraine, their summer window has impressed once again as they push for what would be just their second ever Gibson Cup. After the considerable coup of signing Joel Cooper last summer, they have once again made transfer splashes by adding Northern Ireland international Conor McMenamin and Derry City left-back Ben Doherty. One concern will be that their injury list is already considerable, especially in defence, with club captain Mark Coyle sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] problem and Aidan Wilson, Ryan Schofield and Cameron Stewart also injured. The title favourites have had differing experiences in Europe this summer with Larne still in the third qualifying round of the Europa League, while the Bannsiders bowed out of the Europa Conference League qualifiers after an 8-0 aggregate defeat by HJK Helsinki. Where do the 'Big Two' stand? It has not been the busy summer that both sets of fans across Belfast's great divide would have been hoping for. Indeed, Linfield and Glentoran have combined for just seven summer signings in the window so far. The Glens finished third last year after occupying second for majority of the season and there was a sense of frustration at the end of the season when the campaign concluded with no silverware. After taking their league challenge to the penultimate day, and losing the BetMcLean Cup final for the second year in succession, manager Declan Devine will know another season without a trophy will not go down well with the east Belfast faithful. Pat Hoban hit the ground running during his first season in the Irish Premiership and was the league's top goalscorer last time around, but adding to their attacking threat would still have been a priority this summer. That, however, has not come to fruition as yet. As for Linfield, last season was a big contrast to the previous year when they won the league in such convincing fashion and, despite beating Glentoran to that trophy in March, it was a season which prompted more concern than excitement. After losing talisman Cooper to Coleraine last summer, the Blues failed to fill the big gap that he left behind and scored at least 12 fewer goals than the rest of the top four. This year, they will be hoping that Kieran Offord's return from injury and new signing Kobei Moore can help David Healy's side, who will be keenly aware of the money spent by clubs around them. Can Seasiders avoid 'second season syndrome'? Avoiding 'second season syndrome' will be the main goal for Bangor after finishing 10th last campaign. Despite a comfortable season where they stayed largely above the relegation scrap, it will be of concern that they only won one of their final 14 games. They have also had the quietest summer in the league with just three new signings while the teams who finished either side of them, Ballymena United and Crusaders, have had considerably busier windows. Limavady will take confidence in how the newly promoted teams have performed in recent years during their first season back in the top flight. Paul Owens has recognised the step up to the Premiership and has strengthened in the window. If striker John Butcher can quickly make the step up to Premiership football, he figures to be key up front for the Roesiders if they are to avoid a relegation battle. Lowry brothers, Philip and Stephen, are no strangers to the Irish League and will aim to use their experience to help the side remain in the Premiership. Big year for Irish League legends David Jeffrey, Stephen Baxter and Oran Kearney have 58 years of managerial experience in the Irish League between them, but this year is a big one for all three Irish League stalwarts. After three years out of management, Jeffrey returns to the dugout at Portadown. The 63-year-old has brought in six new players during the transfer market and despite this being his first season back, Portadown fans will have high expectations of what can be achieved under the former Linfield boss. Kearney's tenure so far at Ballymena United has been a turbulent one after finishing a lacklustre ninth last season, just three points clear of the promotion/relegation play-off spot. However, his first summer market at the Sky Blues has been busy with 10 new faces, including five players from Linfield, and 17 departures. Kearney has evidently attempted to put his own stamp on the side, but he will know that there must be vast improvements this year. This season will be Baxter's second full campaign at Carrick Rangers and his first was certainly one to remember after the side secured silverware for the first time since 1993 through the County Antrim Shield and also collected a record points tally in the league. Building on their consistency will be a big aim for Carrick as the season gets up and running for another campaign.