RESILIENT GLENAVON SUFFERS NARROW DEFEAT 1w44h

Glenavon 0 Larne 1 421b45

Sports Direct Irish Premiership 452l4e

Mourneview Park, Lurgan

Saturday 22nd March 2025

Glenavon suffered a third successive 1-0 home defeat against Larne. The match followed the pattern of the previous contests with Crusaders and Coleraine. The hosts were in control for long periods but were unable to find the net. This time Tiarnan O’Connor, a half time substitute, scored the only goal in the 74th minute.

Larne’s Mark Randall had the first goal attempt of the game in the opening minute. Tadhg Ryan, back between the posts, made a comfortable save.

Davy McDaid, one of the best players on the pitch during the opening 45 minutes, cut in from the right and unloaded a shot which Rohan Ferguson did well to palm away.

In the 14th minute Michael O’Connor rose well to head Peter Campbell’s cross from a free kick on the left into the net. However, the assistant referee raised his flag for offside.

Jordan McEneff, in a rare Larne attack, shot well wide.

Just past the midway point of the half, Glenavon forced a succession of corner-kicks. When the third set piece was played short for Campbell to deliver a brilliant curling cross to the back post, Harry Lynch headed across goal for the onrushing Harry Murphy but somehow Aaron Donnelly managed to kick the ball off the goal-line.

In the 33rd minute Peter Campbell’s cross cum shot from near the touchline evaded everyone and went past a post.

When Len O’Sullivan pulled the ball back from close to the corner flag, Jack Malone headed goalward, but Ferguson made a comfortable save.

Whilst Glenavon was dominant during the first half, the second period was a more even affair.

Ten minutes after the break the home side had a second shot cleared off the goal-line.

Campbell released McDaid on the left with a slide rule and the former Coleraine striker cut in before shooting from no more than 6 yards out. Shaun Want stretched to stop his effort and Sean Graham made a partial clearance. Although Harry Murphy bundled the loose ball into the net, the assistant referee raised a flag for offside.

When Larne was awarded a free kick on the edge of Glenavon’s penalty area, Aaron Donnelly fired over the crossbar.

Sean Graham shot just past a post from distance.

After Chris Gallagher crossed from a long way out on the right, Paul O’Neill got his head to the ball but Tadhg Ryan gathered well.

Ryan’s poor clearance allowed Graham to make a penetrating run. Although he left O’Neill in space with a clear sight of goal, the former Derry City goalkeeper recovered to make a comfortable save.

Larne made the breakthrough courtesy of an error by Glenavon captain Barney McKeown. When Chris Gallagher launched the ball forward, the Newry man failed to make an interception and O’Neill cut in from the right. Tiarnan O’Connor bundled his low cross despite Ryan’s desperate efforts to keep the ball out.

Larne substitute Tiarnan O’Connor celebrates after scoring the winning goal.

Peter Campbell had a chance to equalise from a free kick on the edge of the penalty area. However, the winger’s curling attempt did not trouble Rohan Ferguson.

In added time Glenavon created the most clear-cut scoring chance of the 90 minutes.

When substitute Aaron Prendergast was fouled close to the touchline on the left, Campbell took the free kick. The Richhill man’s cross reached the back post where Harry Lynch was waiting to first control the ball with his chest and then shoot over the crossbar from seven or eight yards. How did he fail to hit the target?

A disappointing result, but another creditable display by Paddy McLaughlin’s men.

GLENAVON: Ryan, Toure, O’Sullivan, Lynch, McKeown, Murphy, Malone, Carlin, McDaid, M. O’Connor, Campbell, SUBS: Byrne (not used), Marshall (not used), Snoddy for Malone (86 mins), Prendergast for McKeown (89 mins), A. Heaney (not used), Allen (not used), J. Heaney (not used).

Yellow Cards: Murphy (56’), Toure (90+1’).

LARNE: Ferguson, Want, Donnelly, Randall, Graham, McEneff, Nolan, Cosgrove, O’Neill, Ryan, Gallagher, SUBS: Graham (not used), T. O’Connor for Ryan (half time), McKendry (not used), Bayode for Randall (64 mins), Devlin for McEneff (79 mins), Wallace (not used), Simpson (not used).

Yellow Cards: Ryan (39’), O’Neill (42’).

REFEREE: Michael McKenna.