GLENAVON SUFFERS DISAPPOINTING DEFEAT 313xq

Glenavon 0 Loughgall 1 1f5h2b

Sports Direct Irish Premiership 452l4e

Mourneview Park, Lurgan

Saturday 5^th April 2025

Glenavon suffered a disappointing home defeat against bottom club, Loughgall. The result ended the Blues’ chances of securing a berth in the Europa Conference League Qualification Playoffs. Despite the win, the Villagers are relegated from the Sports Direct Premiership.

Although the match was played in glorious Spring sunshine, it proved to be a turgid affair devoid of good football.

Kirk McLaughlin scored the winner in the 60^th minute.

Glenavon almost took the lead during the opening ten minutes. Peter Campbell crossed from the left and Harry Lynch headed inches wide of a post.

Jordan Gibson’s deflected effort was saved by Tadhg Ryan.

Campbell had a chance to test Nathan Gartside from a free kick on the edge of the penalty area. However, he shot wildly over the crossbar.

Ben Wilson, making his first start for the home side, also shot over from distance.

Just before the break, Kirk McLaughlin had the best opportunity of the first half. Adam Towe found him with a neat inside the penalty area, but he shot over from 12 yards.

Glenavon made no fewer than four substitutions at the half time interval.

James Heaney, one of the young players to the fray, let fly from a free kick on the right side of the Loughgall penalty area. His shot took a deflection and went over the bar.

McLaughlin gave the visitors the lead when he broke on the right from what seemed to be an offside position, dribbled the ball past James Heaney, cut into the penalty area and beat Ryan at his near post.

Atherton, McDaid and Malone combined with the former Derry City midfielder shooting against the body of a defender from 7-8 yards.

Davy McDaid’s shot from the edge of the 18 yard box was deflected over the crossbar.

Moments later the former Coleraine striker forced Gartside to make a fine diving save after he let fly from 20 yards.

Matthew O’Brien shot wide from distance.

In the closing minutes the visitors failed to consolidate their lead when Benji Magee burst through the middle. Ryan denied the striker, on loan from Larne, with a fine save.

Glenavon, despite having plenty of possession during the second period, was unable to put the Loughgall defence under sustained pressure.

GLENAVON: Ryan, B. Wilson, McKeown, Lynch, Murphy, Snoddy, Malone, McGovern, O’Connor, Carlin, Campbell, SUBS: Byrne (not used), Toure (not used), Marshall for Carlin (70 mins), McDaid for O’Connor (half time), Atherton for Murphy (half time), A. Heaney for Campbell (half time), J. Heaney for Snoddy (half time).

Yellow Card: Malone (50’).

LOUGHGALL: Gartside, Murdock, Towe, T. Kelly, Francis, McLaughlin, Andrade, Waide, Magee, Gibson, Norton, SUBS: Turker (not used), Brogan (not used), McCloskey (not used), McMenemy for McCaffrey (81 mins), O’Brien for T. Kelly (71 mins), McCaffrey for Waide (63 mins), D. Kelly for Gibson (63 mins).

Yellow Cards: Murdock (34’), Towe (53’), Andrade (64’).

REFEREE: Mark Dillon.