Coleraine FC are looking to win the Gibson Cup for the second time in their history, with a strong squad and recent form suggesting they have a good chance of success. The Bannsiders have enjoyed a financial boost in recent times, which has made many fancy their chances of taking the trophy. Their derby rivals, Ballymena United, have been big spenders too, but they're still outsiders, and the Braidmen becoming the 14th different Irish League champions would be a major shock. If they did win that would make for a 93rd title for Antrim clubs - the aforementioned Linfield's 57, plus Belfast Celtic (14), Crusaders (7), Distillery (6) Cliftonville (5), and Larne (3). Perhaps the title will go to county Down for a 26th time. Glentoran account for 23 of those 25 previous successes - with Ards in 1957-58 and Queen's Island (1923-24) the other two. But, barely believably, the Oval has not hailed men's champions since 2009. That quartet of Coleraine, Glentoran, Larne, and Linfield are the most likely to provide the 2026/27 NIFL Premiership winners. The Gibson Cup came to north Belfast five times in the 2010s, thrice to Crusaders and twice to Cliftonville. Those two old rivals meet in the Premiership opener at Solitude tonight, but unless there's a takeover there soon, and an injection of funding, neither of them will be in the chase for the crown. Indeed the Crues only stayed up after a serious sweat in the promotion/relegation play-off against Annagh United. Glenavon - three-time winners, albeit most recently in 1960 - dropped out of the top flight. Their mid-Ulster/county Armagh rivals Portadown have appointed the managerial great David Jeffrey, but even he can only achieve so much. Lower down the table, Dungannon Swifts have been punching well above their weight. Irish Cup winners in 2025 and finalists (beaten by Coleraine) last season, they also reached the European play-off final, but were well beaten by Linfield. Securing another top six finish would be another remarkable achievement by Stangmore Park manager Rodney McAree. Carrick Rangers, under the wily former Crusaders chief Stephen Baxter, will be setting their sights on the top six too. His former Seaview charges, re-building under Declan Caddell, will surely be happy just to avoid the play-off, with the same going for Bangor. Newly-promoted Limavady United - to utilise a 'Jeffreyism' - will be 'delighted' simply to stay up, one way or the other. The real drama should be at the top end of the table though. Last season was a three-horse race towards the end, before Larne finished ahead of Coleraine FC in the league standing: 2nd in Premiership, 3 pts, 1W-0D-0L from 1 games, recent form W.