When will Portadown and Limavady United's seasons ignite?

Two teams who entered the 2026-27 season with lots of excitement, optimism and plenty to prove still await their first points of the season . For Portadown, the arrival of David Jeffrey was supposed to signal the start of a new era, with the Irish League veteran making plenty of changes in the off season. As for newly promoted Limavady United, the return to the top flight ended an 18-year wait for Premiership action. The Roesiders have scored just once, while the Ports have struggled to find consistency at both ends and have conceded goals the most so far. But what has gone wrong so far? BBC Sport NI explores some of the early warning signs within both clubs. 'I've never lay down in my life, and I'm not going to start now' It was always going to take time for Portadown to settle after a change in the dugout as well as seven new signings. But the experienced Jeffrey would have undoubtedly hoped for a smoother start to the season. Four consecutive defeats left the Ports searching for answers and there were signs of Jeffrey attempting to find the right formula before their trip to Solitude. Portadown made a flurry of changes to the starting XI with Ben Kennedy the only new signing who began against Cliftonville and, without regular starting stopper Aaron McCarey, they also opted to move from a back three to a back four. However, his changes did not have the immediate effect that he would have hoped for as they found themselves 3-0 down at the hour mark. The lively Eamon Fyfe pulled a goal back for the Ports, but it wasn't enough in north Belfast. "We have had a really, really challenging start to the season," Jeffrey told BBC Sport NI. "After what was a most encouraging pre-season, the season itself thus far has been pretty disappointing. "You go onwards, or you lie down. I've never lay down in my life, and I'm not going to start now." Limavady struggle during top flight return After a dream season in the Championship secured their return to the Premiership, Paul Owens' side have now discovered just how unforgiving the top flight can be. Five of Limavady's forwards are under 23, so it is maybe no surprise that it is taking them time to adjust. Owens' side have shown moments of positivity in their opening defeats, but the 43-year-old will know they will have to be more clinical and convert promising moments into goals as the season progresses. The Limavady fans will be hoping that the arrival of Jamie McGonigle from Coleraine will be significant and help the young side in front of goal. The experienced forward went straight into the starting side for Saturday's 2-0 defeat by Dungannon and immediately added more threat in the final third. But, once again, Limavady could not add to their poor goalscoring tally for the season so far. "It is a ruthless league, and we are finding ourselves on the wrong end of it at the minute," Owens told BBC Sport NI. "It's got to the point now I'm sick of giving pats on the back. The boys are positive and so am I. Probably the staff are a bit more positive than me. "I'm just getting a little bit bored of losing games of football. I've never lost four back-to-back before this season." Plenty of time to find form remains In the last few years, slow starts have not automatically meant relegation battles follow. Last season, the two teams who had the most challenging starts to the season, Glenavon and Dungannon Swifts, had much contrasting fortunes after 38 games. Glenavon failed to register a point in their opening 11 matches, with their poor start leading to a switch in management and a mass change in players in the January window. However, despite coming close to avoiding the automatic drop, the Lurgan Blues were eventually relegated for the first time in 21 seasons and are now competing in the Championship. As for Dungannon, they lost their opening five games before an impressive run catapulted them up the table and they finished in sixth. Another positive for Limavady United will be how the newly promoted sides have performed in recent years with the last side relegated during their first season back in the Premiership Newry City in 2019-2020. Despite there being no need for major alarm bells this early on in the season, neither Portadown nor Limavady can afford to ignore the early season warning signs which have been displayed. The Ports have a tough next fixture as they welcome defending champions Larne, while Limavady travel to Seaview to face Crusaders as both sides aim to end their wait for their first points of the season. Saturday's results Cliftonville 3-1 Portadown Limavady United 0-2 Dungannon Swifts Linfield 1-0 Carrick Rangers Bangor 2-2 Ballymena United Coleraine 4-1 Crusaders