Ballymena United have secured a loan signing and fought back for a point in a busy week for the Premiership club. Manager Oran Kearney moved to bolster his defence with a short-term deal, while the team showed resilience to snatch a late draw against Bangor on Saturday.
Who is Ballymena United's new loan signing?
Oran Kearney has brought in defender Kodi Lyons-Build on a loan deal from derby rivals Coleraine until the January transfer window. The Ballymena United boss told the Belfast News Letter that the 29-year-old "ticks all our boxes" as cover for the injured Jonny Addis. Lyons-Build, who has previous Irish League experience with Glentoran and Coleraine, is viewed as a ready-made solution for the immediate term.
The player himself expressed his excitement about the move, citing the atmosphere at the Ballymena Showgrounds and the quality of the squad as key factors. "Some of the additions that have been made are really exciting," Lyons-Build said to the News Letter. He aims to help the team pick up points until his loan concludes at Christmas. The club finished 10th in the final 2025 Premiership table with 34 points from 33 games, and strengthening the backline will be important as they conceded 50 goals last campaign.
How did Ballymena United fare against Bangor?
Ballymena United were involved in a dramatic 2-2 draw with Premiership newcomers Bangor on September 5th. According to the Belfast News Letter, the Sky Blues raced into a 2-0 half-time lead through goals from Josh Archer and Matthew Clarke. However, Bangor mounted a strong second-half comeback to salvage a point with a late equaliser from Tiarnan Mulvenna.
Bangor star Mulvenna admitted his side "had to show a lot of bottle" to get back into the game. The result leaves Ballymena United with a recent form record of one win, one draw, and three losses from their last five matches. You can review the team's full schedule and recent results on our fixtures page.
What is the context of Ballymena United's season?
The late draw with Bangor is part of a mixed start for Ballymena United, who ended the 2025 season 39 points behind champions Larne. Their overall record last term was 9 wins, 7 draws, and 17 defeats. The team scored 39 goals but had a negative goal difference of -11, highlighting areas for improvement this season.
Adding a player of Lyons-Build's experience is a direct response to those defensive concerns. The club's current standings position and statistical profile show why such a move was a priority for Kearney. The manager will be looking for more consistency as the new season develops.
What's next for Ballymena United?
Attention now turns to a significant derby clash away to Coleraine on September 11th. This fixture presents a immediate test for the new loan signing against his parent club. Coleraine finished 3rd in the table last season, making this a tough assignment for the Sky Blues.
Preparing for such a match will be a key focus for Kearney and his squad. Fans can check the latest team news and availability on our squad page ahead of the short trip. The outcome of this local fixture could provide early momentum in the new Premiership season.
