GLENAVON V CRUSADERS, A LOOK AHEAD 1s601u

On Saturday 22nd February 2025 Glenavon faces Crusaders at Mourneview Park. The contest with the Crues comes barely two months after the clubs met at the same venue in Paddy McLaughlin’s fourth game in charge. On that occasion, the Lurgan Blues conceded the first goal but battled back to win 3-1. In the clubs’ only other meeting this season, Glenavon triumphed 1-0 at Seaview. 486x2z

The North Belfast men have won four of their last five league matches and next weekend face Cliftonville in a Clearer Water Irish Cup quarter final.

Paddy anticipates a tough 90 minutes.

“The Crues, like us, are in really good form,” he said. “They have had some big wins and will be full of confidence. Declan Caddell has done a fantastic job in his first season in charge. It is going to be difficult.”

McLaughlin hopes that the Seaview side might have one eye on the forthcoming cup clash with its Belfast neighbour. “Perhaps they will rest the entire team,” he said with a chuckle. “But seriously, if there are any injury doubts, they might veer on the side of caution. Whatever happens, we have prepared to face a full strength eleven.”

Paddy was delighted with his team’s performance against Larne at Inver Park. “It was a game of two halves,” he said. “During the first period there was a strong wind, and the play lacked any flow. We made one or two changes at half time and after that were dominant. We retained possession better, moved the ball more quickly and got players forward faster. In the end it was great to score a late goal and take a point. Yet if we had converted one or two of the many chances we created, we might have won the game.”

McLaughlin was pleased with the players’ commitment and determination not to lose. “The lads showed great resilience and character,” he continued. “Going into the last ten minutes we were staring at defeat. But they didn’t give up, battled right to the end and got an equaliser.”

Paddy was particularly satisfied with the contribution made by Glenavon’s substitutes. “The lads who came on, except probably Rhys who had to come off again due to injury, had a big impact,” he continued. “After a hard match against Cliftonville three days earlier, the bench was always going to be very important. Chris Atherton, Peter Campbell and Paul McGovern all made a difference. To be fair, it is not the first time the players we have introduced have turned a game. It is a measure of the quality of the squad that we have boys who can do that.”

McLaughlin revealed that young central defender Harry Murphy’s repeated forays into the final third of the pitch during the second half were made on his own initiative. “We encourage all of the players to step in when they think it will benefit the team,” the boss added. “Harry is technically very good. He is well capable of getting forward and causing problems. It is a measure of his confidence in his own ability that he is prepared to do that. He is also a big threat at set pieces because he is so physically strong and aggressive. He proved his worth by getting on the end of the cross which led to D.T.’s equaliser.”  

The Glenavon boss is thrilled with the rapid progress made by January g, Sean Carlin. “He has done exceptionally well but it is no surprise to me,” he said. “I have watched him repeatedly over the last eighteen months to two years. What we have seen so far is only a glimpse of the talent he has. But we need to that he is still barely out of his teens and has started just two senior matches. He is still finding his feet. He needs time and space to develop.”

McLaughlin revealed that Isaac Baird and Rhys Marshall will not be fit to face Crusaders. “Isaac felt his hamstring tighten and had the presence of mind to let us know so we were able to get him off the pitch more or less immediately,” he said. “It doesn’t look too bad, but we must manage him carefully. He is an important player and has been out for a long time. We won’t take any chances.”

“Rhys collided with Jack Malone and later got a knock,” Paddy continued. “He was in a lot of pain at half time but still went out for the second half. Losing him is a blow because he has made a big contribution to our unbeaten run.”

McLaughlin is delighted with the progress made in the last three months. “There is a great buzz in the dressing room and around the club,” he added. “The fans have turned up in numbers and given the team lots of encouragement. But as well as we are doing we want to pick up as many points as possible between now and the split.”

The match against Crusaders is sponsored by D.M. Laser Fab Ltd., a firm of metal fabricators which specialises in laser cutting, catering fabrication, commercial kitchen extract canopies, ventilation and dust extraction. It has impressive workshop facilities at Lissue Industrial Estate West, Lisburn.

The match ball sponsor is Mrs. Carla Lockhart.

The McCracken’s Brewery “Player of the Match” sponsors are Mr. Gareth and Mrs. Elaine Lough.

There will be a bucket collection by Glenavon ers Stephen and Geoffrey Greenaway who plan a long hike in the Giant’s Causeway area to raise money for Macmillan Cancer in memory of their late father, David Greenaway. Please give generously.

Glenavon v Crusaders, Last Season
Date	Result
23/09/23	Crusaders 2 Glenavon 0
23/12/23	Glenavon 1 Crusaders 3
24/02/24	Crusaders 2 Glenavon 0

Other Glenavon teams in action this weekend:

(Free ission)

• Monday 24th February 2025 – Glenavon Reserves v Loughgall Reserves, Mourneview Park, 1945 k.o.
• Friday 21st February 2025 – Glenavon U-18s v Ballymena United U-18s, Lurgan Junior High School 3G, 2000 k.o.
• Saturday 22nd February 2025 – Ballymena United U-16s v Glenavon U-16s, Ballymena Showgrounds 3G, 1100 k.o.
• Saturday 22nd February 2025 – Glenavon U-15s v Dungannon Swifts U-15s, Lurgan Junior High School 3G, 0930 k.o.