Glenavon FC News

Two changes today for Glenavon, Sammy Stewart got his first start since re-signing for the Club and Adrian Harper came in for Ryan Harpur who dropped to the bench.

Marty Quinn’s Post-Match Interview (Audio)

Glenavon's Sammy Stewart and Glentoran's Jimmy Callacher. ©Russell Pritchard / Presseye

There weren’t too many clear cut chances in the first half as both sides matched formations and cancelled each other out for large spells. Daryl Fordyce had the first decent effort in the 8th minute when he picked up a throw in and turned inside to shoot left footed from 25 yards but he failed to hit the target. Johnny Black’s 22nd free kick from just outside the box took a nick off a defender and curled just past the far post.

Adrian Harper and Richard Clarke were never far apart all afternoon. Photo ©Russell Pritchard / Presseye

Kyle Neill’s 24th minute free kick was into a dangerous area but no-one in a Glenavon shirt made a run across the line of the ball and Elliott Morris was able to gather it easily.

On the half hour mark a good ball over the top by Colin Nixon picked out the run of Fordyce but Andrew Plummer came out to the edge of his area to intercept the ball. In the wet conditions he failed to hold the ball and had to react quickly to kick it clear as it rolled out of the box.

On the stroke of half time Jimmy Callacher crossed for Ciaran Martyn but his initial header and the follow up shot were both blocked.

Andy Waterworth replaced Peter Steele for the Glens at half time and he was straight into the action seconds later as he burst into the Glenavon box and Neill put in a vital tackle to dispossess him. Trevor Molloy went close with a left foot shot  in the 53rd minute as he cut in from the right wing and evaded three challenges before letting fly from the edge of the box. Moments later it looked as though Neal Gawley had to score as a great cross to the far post from Jamie McGovern caused total confusion in the Glenavon defence but the former Glenavon player contrived to blast his shot wide when it seemed easier to score.

Glentoran's Ciaran Martyn Scores. Photo ©Russell Pritchard /Presseye

The visitors went ahead 20 minutes into the second half when Ciaran Martyn powered in a header from Johnny Black’s in-swinging corner.

Glenavon almost replied in the 73rd minute when only a brave block by Sean Ward denied Conor Walsh’s shot from 8 yards and Trevor Molloy’s follow up was also blocked. Black then fired a low free kick inches wide with Plummer relieved to watch it fly past his left hand post. As Glenavon piled bodies into the box Morris dropped Neill’s cross in the final minute but he just managed to grab the ball as Miskimmin was winding up a shot.

Teams:

Glenavon: Plummer, Shannon, Neill, Magee, McDonagh, Stewart (Harpur 70), Walsh, Grant (Miskimmin 75), King (Lavery 88), Harper, Molloy. Subs not used: Grieve, Haughey

Glentoran: Morris, Nixon, Black, Clarke, Ward, Martyn, Gawley, Steele (Waterworth 46), Fordyce, Callacher (Gardiner 74), McGovern. Subs not used: Burrows, Taylor, Hill

Referee: Dessie Loughery

Man of the Match Sponsor Jonathan Swift presents Willo McDonagh with his champagne. Photo by the Webmaster.

Glenavon Director George Swift thanks Peter McGeown of National Windscreens for their generous Match Sponsorship. Photo by the Webmaster.

Greetings today to Adam Monkman from Calgary, Alberta, Canada who has started supporting Glenavon since he attended the Coleraine game with Glenavon supporter Billy Fyffe.

If you have a friend who supports Glenavon from afar that you would like us to give a mention to, please email

GLENAVON’S Reserve side suffered an agonising early exit from the Bob Radcliffe Cup on Saturday when they were beaten by Armagh City on penalties.

The Ladbrokes.com Championship Two side had raced into an early two goal lead but were pegged back thanks to a second half revival by Glenavon’s second string. Unfortunately for the Blues, that was to make no odds as City went on to wrap up the tie on penalty kicks.

Mark Gracey, who took charge of the team in boss Gerard McMahon’s absence, was disappointed to go out but was even more upset at the poor first half display that ultimately cost them the tie. “They went 2-0 up because we didn’t really get started in the first half,” he said.

Despite the defeat, the former Glenavon defender enjoyed his first taste of managerial duty and Gerard McMahon’s assistant says it is something that he is becoming increasingly interested in. “I enjoyed it to be honest with you. I’d be one of the guys who would go mad on the sideline, a bit like Marty (Quinn). Gerdie’s the quiet one and I do all the mouthing! When Marty asked me to become involved I didn’t think I would but I really have enjoyed it and I probably could see myself getting into it more in the future. It would be good to get my coaching badges done.”

Gareth Hanna

Glenavon moved up to second place in the Carling Premiership thanks to a hard fought win against Mid-Ulster neighbours Dungannon Swifts.

Marty Quinn made no changes to the Glenavon starting line-up from Friday’s defeat to Ballymena United.

Glenavon manager Marty Quinn, centre, pictured with his two new signings, Sammy Stewart, left, and Gary Hamilton before Tuesday night's match at Mourneview Park. Photo by Presseye

In tonight’s post-match interview Marty Quinn reviews the game, looks ahead to Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash with leaders Glentoran and talks about today’s signing of Gary Hamilton. Click for the Audio.

Glenavon almost paid the penalty for some slack marking in the 6th minute when Swifts right back Fergal McAliskey was left in acres of space on the right wing and slotted the ball into Timmy Adamson. He swivelled at the near post and fired over a low cross-shot that went right across the goal area just a yard or two out with, fortunately for the home side, no-one in a yellow shirt there to get a touch. Moments later Trevor Molloy cut in from the right and hit a left foot shot narrowly wide from just outside the box with Swifts keeper Sean O’Neill diving to his left.

Kyle Neil battles with Dungannon's Jonny Topley. Photo by Presseye.

Ryan McIlmoyle’s 11th minute free kick picked out Ryan McCluskey at the far post but he could only put his header back across goal and out for a goal kick. Five minutes later Tony Grant laid the ball back to Stuart King and he put over a tempting cross that dropped at the feet of Ryan Harpur but his attempted lob from 10 yards flew over the bar. The same player was the recipient of an excellent cross from Kyle Neill in the 19th minute but this time Harpur put a header a yard or two wide of the near post.

In the 38th minute Mark Miskimmin almost broke through with a run but after he was tackled on the edge of the area Swifts broke quickly and McIlmoyle crossed from the left with Michael Ward not far away from making contact with a diving header at the far post.

Four minutes from the break King made it to the bye-line and cut a great ball back to Miskimmin but his mis-hit shot failed to test O’Neill.

Tony Grant celebrates with Mark Miskimmin and Trevor Molloy after scoring to make it 1-0. Photo by Presseye.

Tony Grant gave Glenavon the lead five minutes into the second half with his 3rd goal of the season when he powered home a header from 6 yards from a pinpoint Stuart King driven cross after the ball ended up back with him after he had taken a corner that Willo McDonagh chipped back into the mix.

Dungannon’s main threat had been coming from set pieces so it was no surprise when Adamson equalised with a powerful back post header from Jonny Topley’s deep free kick in the 79th minute.

Glenavon responded positively and Grant restored the lead just two minutes later. Swifts carelessly gave away possession to substitute James Costello and he poked the ball through to Molloy in the box. O’Neill could only push his powerful drive from 12 yards up into the air and Grant simply nodded it over the line from practically under the bar for his fourth goal in five games.

It still took a brilliant save from Andrew Plummer in the 83rd minute to keep out another powerful header by Adamson in what was almost a carbon copy finish from yet another free kick by Topley and Craig McClean’s back post header from a deep cross in the final minute was gratefully gathered by the Glenavon keeper.

Glenavon's Man of the Match Conor Walsh comes away with the ball despite the pressure from Dungannon's Ryan McCluskey. Photo by Presseye.

Teams

Glenavon: Plummer, Shannon, Neill, Magee, McDonagh, Harpur (Johnston 80), Walsh, Grant, King, Miskimmin (Costello 75), Molloy. Subs not used: C. Lavery, Harper, Haughey.

Dungannon Swifts: O’Neill, McAliskey (S. Lavery 46), McMinn, McCaffrey, McClean, Fitzpatrick, McCluskey (Murphy 85), Topley, Ward, McIlmoyle (Coney 67), Adamson. Subs not used: Ferguson, Forker.

David Watterson (L) and Joel Best (R) representing the Man of the Match sponsor Greiner Packaging handed over the champagne to Conor Walsh.

Glenavon Director Trevor Harper thanks Julie Harvey of the Model Newsagent Bessbrook for sponsoring tonight's match.

Best wishes to Lee, Neil and Gaz from Cannock near Birmingham who have adopted Glenavon as their Irish League team thanks to being indoctrinated after they met up with Director George Swift Jnr. whilst on holiday a couple of years ago!

Marty Quinn’s Post-Match Interview (Audio)

Gary McCutcheon gave the visitors the ideal start in the 8th minute when he looped a header beyond Andrew Plummer from 6 yards as Gavin Taggart’s shot spun up off Stuart King’s block and dropped for the Scottish striker who found himself totally unmarked thanks to the deflection.

In the 15th minute Trevor Molloy latched onto Tony Grant’s flick on but Dwayne Nelson rushed off his line to save, though an off-side flag would have spared the visitors anyway. Four minutes later Michael Surgenor was claiming for a penalty as he ran onto Taggart’s free kick and tangled with Kyle Neill.

Tony Grant challenges for a high ball with Denver Gage. Photo by Stephen Greenaway.

United defender Denver Gage put a back post header narrowly wide in the 23rd minute as he found himself unmarked from Nathan Hanley’s corner. The big centre back diverted Mark Miskimmin’s 20 yard shot out for a corner in the 27th minute.

Glenavon upped the pace and put United under a lot of pressure in the final 20 minutes of the first half. Miskimmin’s flicked header from King’s 38th minute cross flashed across the goal but a real chance to equalise was gifted to Glenavon five minutes before half time. Nelson rushed out of his penalty area to clear a through ball but sliced it straight to Grant. He brought the ball down and fired a shot from 35 yards that curled a couple of feet wide of the post. On reflection the striker probably had more time than he thought and will be disappointed not to have scored.

Three minutes from the break Willo McDonagh headed King’s cross onto the top of the bar with Nelson unable to get finger tips to it.

In the final seconds of the half  Grant headed King’s left wing cross and the ball was heading for the net when Gage got his head to it and put it out for a corner.

Trevor Molloy showed all his tricks but Glenavon couldn't produce the finishing touches. Photo by Stephen Greenaway.

Five minutes into the second half  McCutcheon went close to doubling his tally with a clever back heel from Hanley’s excellent free kick into the box but Plummer held onto it. Just before the hour a touch of brilliance out on the right wing by Molloy saw him spin inside and deliver a peach of a cross right onto Grant’s head but he put his header straight into Nelson’s chest from 8 yards. Moments later Neill’s cross from the left was met by a pwerful diving header from Conor Walsh but it flew a couple of yards over the bar. As Glenavon continued to dominate Molloy got on the end of a flowing move only to see his rasping drive fly just over the bar

Ballymena manager Roy Walker responded to the continued Glenavon pressure by replacing his play maker Hanley with the more defensivley minded Gary Haveron and he brought on Lee Colligan for winger Mo McDowell.

The home side continued to push for the equaliser and Miskimmin was inches away from getting his head to Grant’s flick header across the goal from King’s cross. The Dubliner’s header can’t have been far from going in and would only have needed the slightest touch from his strike partner.

As full time approached Glenavon pressed hard for an equaliser but ex-Glenavon striker Richard Gibson secured the points three minutes from time as he got a near post flick with his right boot to Michael Smith’s low cross.

In the last minute of normal time Costello nutmegged left back Stewart and slotted over a low cross that Miskimmin back-heeled wide of the far post and Nelson made an excellent save to push Jay Magee’s long range effort wide with Smith clearing the resulting corner off the line.

Glenavon battled hard throughout but in the end failed to get what would have been at least a deserved point for their efforts.

Man of the Match Brendan Shannon receives his champagne from Sponsor Ross Follis. Photo by Stephen Greenaway.

Teams:

Glenavon: Plummer, Neill (Costello 76), Magee, McDonagh, Shannon, King, Harpur (Harper 72), Walsh, Molloy, Grant, Miskimmin. Subs not used: Johnston, Lavery, Haughey.

Ballymena Utd. : Nelson, Watson, Stewart, Taggart, McCutcheon, Gage, Surgenor, McDowell (Colligan 67), Smith, Carson (Gibson 46), Hanley (Haveron 62). Subs not used: Murray, Young.

Referee: David Malcolm

Glenavon Commercial Manager Ian Irwin, Match Sponsor Gordon Irwin, with special guests Brian Magee European Super Middleweight Champion and ex Waringstown Cricket Club, Ulster Country and Irish International Roy Harrison who sponsored the ball. Photo by Stephen Greenaway.