- Larne have won four of their last five games in all competitions.
- Coleraine are unbeaten in their last five, winning four and drawing one.
Championship Group 2026 title rivals clash
The two top sides in the Premiership Championship Group 2026 meet on Tuesday when table-topping Larne host third-placed Coleraine FC in a clash that may have a big bearing on who wins the title.
Larne have been the class of the division this season, picking up 76 points from 34 matches while Coleraine have been consistent in third spot on 68 points.
The Red and White Side have won 12, drawn five and lost only one of their 18 home games in the competition and have won each of their last two matches at home.
No love lost between these two rivals
There was no love lost between these sides in the Northern Ireland Cup 2025/2026 just one day ago when Coleraine came out on top in a 2-1 extra-time thriller.
So, with the stakes high again, this should be a real clash with plenty of intensity as Coleraine arrive on the back of a two-game winning streak after their cup win over the leaders.
The Bannsiders have a solid away record in the PCG2026, winning eight, drawing four and losing six of 18 trips, scoring 1.50 and conceding 1.11 goals per game.
Oran Kearney has found his feet at Coleraine
Oran Kearney has done a great job at the club since taking over in 2019 and his teams play an ambitious style that relies on width and pace.
Coleraine’s front three and wide players have been in fine form recently, stretching the defences and creating enough chances to win games, as they did in the recent cup tie.
Larne are a much more structured side under Nathan Rooney, who has had the job since June 2025 and is already making his mark on the squad.
Andy Ryan has been a star man for the Inceptors with four goals in the last five matches, accounting for four of Larne’s seven goals in that run of games.
Rooney’s solid Larne side should get a win
Rooney sets his teams up in a disciplined 4-4-2 system with a focus on keeping the structure, transitioning to attack in numbers and managing the game.
Coleraine’s 4-2-3-1 system is more open and they will attack Larne at every opportunity on Tuesday, so we are likely to see a battle between pragmatism and ambition.
The odds of 67/100 for both teams to score are quite short and only represent a slight return, which seems a little low considering the stakes of the game.
Larne have a fearsome home record and should get the win, but after Coleraine’s victory in the cup, we think this game could be a close-run affair.
The hosts are a slight favorite at 13/10 and Coleraine are 9/5 to snag the points.
