Just three weeks ago, Carrick were thrashed 7-0 by Glentoran. However, since then, they are unbeaten in five games and lifted the County Antrim Shield for the first time in 33 years.

We will never know what was said after that heavy defeat at Taylors Avenue, but something seems to have clicked for Carrick and their 5-1 win over Dungannon Swifts at the weekend was their second league match in a row in which they have scored more than four goals.

Stephen Baxter's side have leapfrogged Crusaders and Ballymena and now sit ninth in the table.

Forwards Danny Gibson, Paul Heatley and Adam Lecky have all found form in recent weeks with the latter netting four crucial goals this week alone.

Trophies increase confidence and Baxter will be hoping their shield success can boost the last few months of their league season and help them advance in the Irish Cup as well.

After a knee injury, Andy Ryan made his first league start of the season in Larne's 2-1 victory over Bangor and, once again, he stole the headlines after hitting the ground running with two goals in the first half.

Ryan looked like he was going to take home the match ball, only for the woodwork to deny him.

Inver Reds manager Gary Haveron praised the returning striker after the match and his ability to score "all types of goals".

Larne sit eight points clear at the top of the Irish Premiership table and are in a strong position to clinch the trophy for a third time in four seasons.

With every other club near the top watching their every move and hoping the Inver Reds slip up, the return of the Scot has given Larne a welcome boost as they aim to push further ahead before the split.

Oran Kearney has certainly had a far from simple return to management with two more matches postponed this week at the Ballymena Showgrounds.

Those two delayed fixtures mean that four games have been postponed this month at Warden Street.

Ballymena United sit tenth and, with games racking up, the former Coleraine boss will be hoping that no more matches fall victim to failed pitch inspections, or it will be an even more hectic schedule before the split.

Despite great efforts from those at the club, it seems the pitch at the Showgrounds is proving hard to maintain during the winter.

This isn't a new problem either with the surface also causing issues last season despite the pitch being re-laid in 2018 and is something that the club will have to rectify sooner rather than later.

There were multiple players handed starting debuts this weekend and some impressive performances throughout the league.

Ronan Doherty made a good impression during his first start for Larne after signing from title rivals Coleraine.

Doherty looks set to be a great replacement for the injured Mark Randall and already has experience playing alongside fellow midfielder Chris Gallagher at Cliftonville.

For Linfield, defender Darragh Leahy made his debut and looked cool and composed against Crusaders.

As for the Crues, it was evident that they lacked leadership during their loss and, after Jarlath O'Rourke and Ross Clarke made the switch across Belfast to Glentoran, they will need to bring in some experienced faces before deadline day.

The Premiership table is not a relaxing read for fans of the Lurgan Blues at the minute.

Their loss at the Coleraine Showgrounds is their fourth consecutive league defeat and, worryingly, they have only scored one goal during these games.

There is still plenty to play for, but Glenavon are 12 points adrift of Crusaders in eleventh and 13 behind Ballymena in tenth.

Performances have certainly improved since Michael O'Connor has taken over at the helm, but they continue to fail to impress in the final third.

That was evident against the Bannsiders with the Lurgan Blues having spells of possession but hardly testing Ryan Schofield and conceding avoidable goals.

A waterlogged pitch led to the postponement of Glentoran's Irish Premiership game against Cliftonville as the Reds looked to bounce back after their County Antrim Shield final defeat.

It is the second time a fixture between the pair has fallen victim to the weather this season after the game in October at Solitude was postponed due to Storm Amy.

Jim Magilton's side and the Glens have played the least number of games in the league and are both still in the Irish Cup, with the east Belfast side also in the semi-finals of the League Cup.

Any more postponements, and both sides could struggle to squeeze the needed fixtures in before the split.