MID ULSTER DERBY ENDS IN A DRAW

MID ULSTER DERBY ENDS IN A DRAW 5hr2l

Portadown 1 Glenavon 1 3r3k4v

Sports Direct Irish Premiership 452l4e

Shamrock Park, Portadown

Tuesday 1st April 2025

Despite playing the better football, Glenavon had to settle for a draw in the final Mid-Ulster derby of the season.

Ahu Obhakhan (21 mins) scored for Portadown; Harry Murphy (36 mins) equalised for Paddy McLaughlin’s men.

The home side made the better start. In the opening minute Josh Ukek tested Mark Byrne with a shot from the edge of the box. The Newry man got both hands to the ball and pushed it wide of his goal. It was one of the few occasions in the game when he was extended.

Aaron Traynor shot high and wide from Portadown’s first corner.

Then Glenavon settled and began to dominate possession.

When Peter Campbell picked out Davy McDaid on the edge of the penalty area, he shot against a defender’s body.

David Toure’s quick throw-in found Campbell in space, and he let fly from 20 yards. Aaron McCarey dived to his left to make a fine save.

The left winger took the resultant corner-kick and delivered a dangerous cross. McCarey got both hands to the ball but did not hold onto it. A defender intervened before either Harry Murphy or Barney McKeown could deliver the coupe de gras.

After David Toure’s cross from the right was partially cleared, Jack Malone shot over the crossbar from the edge of the box.

Glenavon forced several more corner kicks before, completely against the run of play, Portadown took the lead.

Ben Wylie crossed from the right, Ukek stretched with his right foot making with Byrne and the ball fell to Ahu Obhakhan who shot into an unguarded net. The scorer hesitated before celebrating as he looked towards the referee, but Shane Andrews did not penalise Ukek for his challenge and the goal stood.

For five or ten minutes Glenavon lost the poise and control which it had enjoyed earlier.

Eamon Fyffe shot over the crossbar from distance.

When Lee Chapman fouled Chris Atherton on the right, Andrews awarded a free kick. Peter Campbell took it with his left foot. The Richhill man delivered a brilliant cross to the far post for Harry Murphy to head powerfully past McCarey.

Jack Malone congratulates Harry Murphy after the 21 year old central defender scored Glenavon’s equaliser.

After Ukek crossed from the left, Fyffe shot against the post from inside the six yard area.

Glenavon started the second half well. Jack Malone had two opportunities to hit the target from free kicks on the left. His first, a curling attempt was much too high, and his second. although closer, also failed to test McCarey.

Between those efforts, Portadown won three corner kicks in succession. Toure blocked Divin Isamala’s shot from the first and Byrne got his body in the way of Obhakhan’s attempt from the second.

Atherton delivered a penetrating cross from the left, but Toure was unable to connect with the ball as McCarey closed the space.

When Campbell and substitute Matthew Snoddy combined on the left, Malone, slightly off balance, had a chance to shoot but his attempt went well wide.

Shay McCartan almost opened the door for James Teelan but Toure made a vital interception on the edge of the six-yard area.

Good work by Len O’Sullivan and Snoddy left Malone with a clear sight of goal 12 yards out. The former Derry City midfielder’s shot went inches past the far post.

In the closing seconds McCartan threaded a to Ukek who’s cross from the right was not taken cleanly by Byrne. Teelan got his head to the loose ball, but the goalkeeper recovered to make a vital save.

A battling display by both teams on a difficult pitch and probably a fair result.

PORTADOWN: McCarey, Chapman, McCullough, Isamala, Traynor, Wylie, Thompson, Ukek, Fyfe, Obhakhan, McCartan, SUBS: Williamson (not used), D. Wilson (not used), McElroy (not used), McCawl (not used), Mayse for Obhakhan (74 mins), Teelan for Wylie (79 mins), Minzamba for Thompson (28 mins).

Yellow Card: Wylie (57’).

GLENAVON: Byrne, Toure, O’Sullivan, McKeown, Murphy, Carlin, Malone, Atherton, McDaid, O’Connor, Campbell, SUBS: Ryan (not used), Marshall (not used), Snoddy for McDaid (64 mins), Lynch (not used), A. Heaney (not used), McGovern for Atherton (77 mins), B. Wilson (not used).