Champions Linfield begin defence at Ballymena

Presseye Northern Ireland - 07th May 2012 Mandatory Credit - Photo-William Cherry/Presseye

Linfield walk out with the Gibson Cup and the Irish Cup with Rangers before Monday afternoons friendly at Windsor Park, Belfast. The game was organised as a gesture by Linfield to financially help Rangers Football Club. — Presseye Northern Ireland - 07th May 2012 Mandatory Credit - Photo-William Cherry/Presseye Linfield walk out with the Gibson Cup and the Irish Cup with Rangers before Monday afternoons friendly at Windsor Park, Belfast. The game was organised as a gesture by Linfield to financially help Rangers Football Club.

Lisburn Distillery, who survived the dreaded play-off to remain in the top flight, have a tough opener away to Portadown.

The first home tie for the Whites on August 18 sees them face newly promoted Ballinamallard United.

Linfield’s first home game is against Coleraine on August 18 and the first Big Two clash is scheduled for the Oval on September 1.

The full list of fixtures is as follows:

Saturday, 11 August, 2012

Ballinamallard United v. Dungannon Swifts

Ballymena United v. Linfield

Cliftonville v. Glenavon

Coleraine v. Crusaders

Glentoran v. Donegal Celtic

Portadown v. Lisburn Distillery

Saturday, 18 August

Crusaders v. Ballymena United

Donegal Celtic v. Portadown

Dungannon Swifts v. Cliftonville

Glenavon v. Glentoran

Linfield v. Coleraine

Lisburn Distillery v. Ballinamallard United

Saturday, 25 August

Ballinamallard United v. Ballymena United

Cliftonville v. Glentoran

Glenavon v. Dungannon Swifts

Linfield v. Donegal Celtic

Lisburn Distillery v. Crusaders

Portadown v. Coleraine

Saturday, 1 September

Ballymena United v. Lisburn Distillery

Coleraine v. Cliftonville

Crusaders v. Ballinamallard United

Donegal Celtic v. Glenavon

Dungannon Swifts v. Portadown

Glentoran v. Linfield

Tuesday, 4 September

Ballinamallard United v. Glentoran

Cliftonville v. Ballymena United

Donegal Celtic v. Coleraine

Glenavon v. Portadown

Linfield v. Crusaders

Lisburn Distillery v. Dungannon Swifts

Saturday, 8 September

Ballymena United v. Donegal Celtic

Cliftonville v. Ballinamallard United

Coleraine v. Lisburn Distillery

Dungannon Swifts v. Glentoran

Glenavon v. Crusaders

Portadown v. Linfield

Saturday, 15 September

Ballinamallard United v. Portadown

Ballymena United v. Dungannon Swifts

Crusaders v. Donegal Celtic

Glentoran v. Coleraine

Linfield v. Cliftonville

Lisburn Distillery v. Glenavon

Saturday, 22 September

Cliftonville v. Portadown

Coleraine v. Ballymena United

Donegal Celtic v. Ballinamallard United

Dungannon Swifts v. Crusaders

Glenavon v. Linfield

Glentoran v. Lisburn Distillery

Saturday, 29 September

Ballinamallard United v. Glenavon

Ballymena United v. Glentoran

Cliftonville v. Donegal Celtic

Coleraine v. Dungannon Swifts

Linfield v. Lisburn Distillery

Portadown v. Crusaders

Saturday, 6 October

Crusaders v. Glentoran

Donegal Celtic v. Dungannon Swifts

Glenavon v. Coleraine

Linfield v. Ballinamallard United

Lisburn Distillery v. Cliftonville

Portadown v. Ballymena United

Saturday, 13 October

Ballinamallard United v. Coleraine

Ballymena United v. Glenavon

Crusaders v. Cliftonville

Donegal Celtic v. Lisburn Distillery

Dungannon Swifts v. Linfield

Glentoran v. Portadown

Saturday, 20 October

Ballinamallard United v. Crusaders

Cliftonville v. Dungannon Swifts

Coleraine v. Linfield

Glentoran v. Glenavon

Lisburn Distillery v. Ballymena United

Portadown v. Donegal Celtic

Saturday, 27 October

Ballymena United v. Ballinamallard United

Crusaders v. Coleraine

Donegal Celtic v. Glentoran

Dungannon Swifts v. Lisburn Distillery

Glenavon v. Cliftonville

Linfield v. Portadown

Saturday, 3 November

Ballinamallard United v. Lisburn Distillery

Coleraine v. Portadown

Crusaders v. Glenavon

Donegal Celtic v. Linfield

Dungannon Swifts v. Ballymena United

Glentoran v. Cliftonville

Saturday, 10 November

Ballymena United v. Crusaders

Cliftonville v. Linfield

Glenavon v. Donegal Celtic

Glentoran v. Dungannon Swifts

Lisburn Distillery v. Coleraine

Portadown v. Ballinamallard United

Saturday, 17 November

Ballinamallard United v. Donegal Celtic

Ballymena United v. Cliftonville

Crusaders v. Portadown

Dungannon Swifts v. Coleraine

Linfield v. Glenavon

Lisburn Distillery v. Glentoran

Saturday, 24 November

Cliftonville v. Lisburn Distillery

Coleraine v. Glentoran

Donegal Celtic v. Crusaders

Glenavon v. Ballinamallard United

Linfield v. Ballymena United

Portadown v. Dungannon Swifts

Saturday, 1 December

Coleraine v. Glenavon

Crusaders v. Dungannon Swifts

Donegal Celtic v. Ballymena United

Glentoran v. Ballinamallard United

Lisburn Distillery v. Linfield

Portadown v. Cliftonville

Saturday, 8 December

Ballinamallard United v. Linfield

Ballymena United v. Portadown

Cliftonville v. Coleraine

Dungannon Swifts v. Donegal Celtic

Glenavon v. Lisburn Distillery

Glentoran v. Crusaders

Saturday, 15 December

Ballinamallard United v. Cliftonville

Coleraine v. Donegal Celtic

Crusaders v. Lisburn Distillery

Glenavon v. Ballymena United

Linfield v. Dungannon Swifts

Portadown v. Glentoran

Saturday, 22 December

Coleraine v. Ballinamallard United

Crusaders v. Linfield

Donegal Celtic v. Cliftonville

Dungannon Swifts v. Glenavon

Glentoran v. Ballymena United

Lisburn Distillery v. Portadown

Wednesday, 26 December

Ballymena United v. Coleraine

Cliftonville v. Crusaders

Dungannon Swifts v. Ballinamallard United

Linfield v. Glentoran

Lisburn Distillery v. Donegal Celtic

Portadown v. Glenavon

Saturday, 29 December