GLENAVON WINS MID ULSTER YOUTH CUP 44q6f

Dungannon Swifts U-18s 2 Glenavon Under-18s 3 3p4c3f

after extra time 1x5r61

Mid Ulster Youth Cup Final

Stangmore Park, Dungannon

Wednesday 30^th April 2025

Glenavon Under-18s won the Mid Ulster Youth Cup for the second time in three seasons with an impressive display against Dungannon Swifts Under -18s.

Harry O’Neill (64 mins), Brody Moore (86 mins) and Charlie Gault (106 mins) scored the goals for Tim Lennon’s side.

Callum St. Ledger (28 mins) and Adam Kee (90+4 mins) were on target for the Swifts.

Glenavon made the more positive start without creating many clear-cut chances.

Calum Cope shot straight at Dungannon goalkeeper Dylan Glass and Daire Trainor hit the defensive wall from a free kick.

Dungannon took the lead with its first shot on goal. St. Ledger played a one-two with Daniel O’Connor and shot low from 12 yards. Glenavon goalkeeper Lucas Fry made a fine diving stop, but the ball squirmed under his body and crossed the goal-line.

The concession set Glenavon back on its heels. St Ledger and centre forward Enda Smyth combined well twice before half time. First, Smyth shot over the cross bar and, second time, Smyth forced Fry to make a brilliant diving save.

Harry O’Neill, one of Glenavon’s most influential performers, found Cope with an accurate cross and the 16 year old shot low across the face of goal but the attempt went wide.

At half time Glenavon brought on Matthew Brady for Harry Gough.

Five minutes into the second period Jack Cowden crossed for Dungannon Swifts defender Luke McAllister to send a header crashing against the crossbar.

St. Ledger found O’Connor, but Fry made a comfortable save.

Ciaran Finnegan headed wide from Glenavon defender Reiss Neill’s free kick.

The introduction of substitutes Brody Moore and James Robinson had a decisive impact.

Midway through the half Moore hit a fabulous cross from a corner kick for O’Neill to send the ball crashing to the net with his head.

Robinson burst clear on the right and produced a fine cross, but Trainor headed straight at Glass from 6 yards.

Charlie Gault, the Glenavon captain, had a shot blocked following a good move on the left.

With four minutes remaining, Moore scored the Lurgan men’s second goal with an accurate low right foot shot after a clever by O’Neill.

Another Glenavon substitute, Matthew McAdam, had a chance to seal victory but he shot wide when well placed.

Dungannon was not entirely spent as an attacking force. In the fourth minute of injury time substitute Adam Kee let fly from 20 yards. Although Lucas Fry was well positioned to make the save, he allowed the ball to slip through his hands into the net.

Despite conceding with virtually the final kick of the 90 minutes, Glenavon retained its composure and continued to dominate during the 20 minutes extra time.

O’Neill turned sharply and found McAdam. The striker shot across the face of goal but Glass fingertipped the ball away.

Twice early in the second period of extra time, Matthew Brady turned quickly on the edge of the Dungannon penalty area. First, his shot was blocked and, second time, he was fouled as he prepared to test Glass.

In the 106^th minute Glenavon scored the winner. McAdam’s cross from a corner kick was headed goalward by Harrison Crooks. Although a combination of Glass and a defender blocked the ball, Gault was on hand to shoot home from close range.

It was a well deserved winner.

DUNGANNON SWIFTS: Glass, Keenan, Johnston, McAlister, Cowden, Crowe, O’Connor, Callan, Smyth, St. Ledger, McQuitty, SUBS: Kee for Smyth (81 mins), Hughes for Keenan (98 mins), Painter for McQuitty (half time), Bayne (not used), Hepburn for O’Connor (89 mins)

GLENAVON: Fry, Snodgrass, Neill, McShane, Finnegan, Gault, Hawthorne, Gough, Cope, O’Neill, Trainor, SUBS: Moore for Snodgrass (58 mins), McAdam for Hawthorne (65 mins), Brady for Gough (half time), Robinson for Cope (58 mins), Crooks for Trainor (90+4 mins).

REFEREE: Luke Carvill.