DOMINANT GLENAVON WINS BOXING DAY DERBY

DOMINANT GLENAVON WINS BOXING DAY DERBY 696239

Glenavon 2 Portadown 0 6e3d6e

Sports Direct Irish Premiership 452l4e

Mourneview Park, Lurgan

Thursday 26th December 2024

Glenavon defeated Portadown 2-0 in the big Boxing Day derby. It was the Lurgan Blues’ third home success against the Ports this season.

Peter Campbell (28 mins) and Niall Quinn (90 mins) scored the goals on an afternoon when Paddy McLaughlin’s side dictated the play for long periods.

Portadown rarely showed the form which has catapulted it into the top four places in the Sports Direct Premiership table.

Glenavon might have gone in front as early as the 9thminute. Matthew Snoddy and Michael O’Connor cleverly worked the ball into the path of right-winger Chris Atherton. He burst into the penalty area and picked out Campbell with a slide rule . However, the Richhill man’s weak shot was blocked by a defender and the danger was cleared.

At the other end Ryan Mayse shot wide after good work by Lee Chapman.

Ten minutes later Steven McCullough let fly from a free kick wide on the right. Mark Byrne, well positioned at the near post, saved easily.

Glenavon took the lead with the best move of the match. Len O’Sullivan found Atherton with a neat . The 16-year-old cleverly pushed the ball into space for the overlapping left back. The former Bohemians defender picked out Peter Campbell and he beat McCarey with a lot shot from 7 yards. It was a brilliant build-up and emphatic finish.

The home side, boosted by the goal, pushed forward in search of a second. Atherton shot from the edge of the penalty-area, but the ball struck a defender and McCarey saved easily.

Portadown threatened when Josh Ukek broke clear on the right. When the 25-year-old picked out Ryan Mayse, David Toure made a brilliant tackle to recover possession.

Five minutes later Toure made a penetrating run on the right. He was stopped when Gary Thompson made an interception.

Then Glenavon had three corners in succession. Atherton almost scored with the second. His penetrating cross was cleared off the line at the back post by McCullough. The home team appealed for handball, but Lee Tavinder waved play on.

When Toure and Campbell exchanged es on the right, the Dublin-based full back elected to pull the ball back rather than shoot and the chance was gone.

In a rare attack Portadown striker Ryan Mayse pounced on a loose ball but his weak attempt did not trouble Byrne.

Davy McDaid, a tireless worker throughout, shot widewith an ambitious effort from distance.

Glenavon won two free kicks in dangerous positions early in the second half. The first was on the left; the second was on the right. Peter Campbell took both but hit the defensive wall on each occasion.

Portadown slowly began to gain a foothold in midfield. Nonetheless, the Shamrock Park side rarely threatened.

In the 69th minute substitute Shay McCartan shot wide from a free kick on the left.

A minute later Michael O’Connor headed home from Davy McDaid’s cross, but his celebrations were cut short by an offside flag.

Another long-range attempt by McCartan flew high and wide.

In the 78th minute Peter Campbell just failed to get a touch to James Doona’s cross from a free kick on the left touchline.

The excellent O’Sullivan won the ball on the left and released McDaid, but the former Coleraine striker’s right foot attempt was cleared.

Campbell, later named Glenavon ‘Player of the Match’, picked out Doona with a brilliant forward . However, with only McCarey to beat, the Dubliner dragged a weak right foot shot wide of the post.

As the minutes ticked by, the threat posed by the visitors diminished and the home side looked more and more likely to score a second. When Davy McDaid was upended on the edge of the Portadown penalty area, Doona took the free kick but shot wildly over the crossbar.

The decisive moment came in the 90th minute, McDaid found Campbell in the centre circle. The number ten sent O’Connor clear through the middle. Aaron McCarey raced out of his goal and upended the striker outside the penalty area. Immediately referee Tavinder produced a red card.

Jamie Ray took over in goal but could only stand and watch as Niall Quinn skilfully shot over the defensive wall and into the net off the inside of a post. It was a brilliant free kick.

Overall, a top-class display by Glenavon and a well-deserved three points.

GLENAVON: Byrne, Toure, O’Sullivan, McKeown, Quinn, Snoddy, Malone, O’Connor, McDaid, Campbell, Atherton, SUBS: Fry (not used), Marshall for Malone (74 mins), Doona for Atherton (74 mins), Lynch (not used), Ward (not used), Doran (not used), McGovern for O’Connor (90 mins).

Yellow Cards: Malone (21’), Byrne (68’).

PORTADOWN: Carey, D. Wilson, MacKinnon, McCullough, Chapman, Mayse, Wylie, Ukek, Fyffe, Thompson, Obhakhan, SUBS: Ray for Thompson (90 mins), McCartan for Ukek (60 mins), McElroy for Mayse (67 mins), Henderson (not used), Riley (not used), Traynor (not used), Mullan (not used).