GLENAVON V DUNDELA, A LOOK AHEAD 2g4k3s

On Tuesday 14th January 2025 Glenavon faces Dundela in the 5th round of the Clearer Water Irish Cup. The match kicks off at 7-45 pm. It will be played to a finish with extra time and penalties, if needed. 4h5y4q

Dundela is presently t third in the Playr-Fit Championship with 12 wins, 4 draws and 6 defeats from 22 matches. The East Belfast club is eleven points behind the runaway leader Bangor and two points behind second-placed Limavady United. It has twogames in hand on both. Duns’ striker Michael McLellan is the top scorer in the division with 21 goals.

Glenavon assistant manager Colin Coates is expecting a tough match. “We have watched Dundela on two or three occasions and have been impressed each time,” he said. “They are a strong, physical team with lots of good players. Michael McLellan has been scoring goals for fun. But Mark Patton and David McMaster, who I know well, have been chipping in as well. They will be full of confidence and will expect to do well.”

Coates feels that if there was any danger of complacency in the home dressing-room, the results of the fifth round ties at Annagh, Ballymena, and Limavady will have dispelled it. “I don’t think our lads would fall into a trap like that, but if you want to know about the threat posed by a Championship club, just look at what happened to Portadown, Ballymena and Larne,” he continued. “Those ties demonstrated just how difficult it will be to get through to the sixth round. We will have to be at are very best. If we are 5% or 10% off it, we will struggle.”

Nonetheless, the former Northern Ireland international expects Glenavon to produce another competitive display. “We have been playing well, both defensively and offensively,” he added. “If we pick up where we left off at the Ballymena Showgrounds, we should be hard to break down and offer a threat at the other end of the pitch. The lads have been exceptional since Paddy, Marty and I arrived. Hopefully, the two week break has done them good and they maintain the standards which they have set.”

The players who were doubtful for the postponed Sports Direct Premiership fixture against Coleraine remain touch and go. “Mark Haughey and Calum Birney are unlikely to make it,” continued Colin. “There is still a question mark about Jack Malone. His injured foot continues to cause him discomfort. There is also a bit of uncertainty about Rhys Marshall. He has been struggling since we arrived, and we have been trying to manage him. We will probably, as we have been doing, make a late decision.”

The match against Dundela is sponsored by Glenavon’s er Luke Foster.

The matchball sponsor is Combat Stress, a mental health charity which s veterans.

The McCracken’s Brewery “Player of the Match” sponsor is Jayden Smith in memory of his grandfather, Danny McArdle. Danny, who sadly died during the Covid19 pandemic, was a lifelong Glenavon er.

There will be a minute’s silence prior to kick-off in memory of Adrian Teer, Michael Newberry, Michael Downey and Joe McLaughlin. In addition, there will be a minutes applause at the 79 minute for Adrian.

There will be a collection by the Ancre Somme Association in aid of the Northern Ireland Purple Poppy Memorial Fund. Please give generously.

Season tickets are not eligible.