RESILIENT GLENAVON HOLDS ON TO TAKE A POINT AT SOLITUDE 5m1s2s

Cliftonville 0 Glenavon 0 21265i

Sports Direct Irish Premiership 6p2b29

Solitude, Belfast

Saturday 19th October 2024

Despite the absence of warrior centre half Barney McKeown and the loss of Rhys Marshall to a second yellow card, Glenavon battled gamely to take a valuable point against Cliftonville at Solitude.

Although the Reds hit the post with a Ryan Markey header deep in second half added time, and created one or two other openings, the Lurgan men were solid at the back throughout and could have won the game in the final ten minutes when James Carroll went close with a fine header.

The first half was largely devoid of goalmouth action. The most significant incident occurred in the 30th minute when Shaun Leppard fell awkwardly after challenging for possession with David Toure. The Cliftonville defender was carried off the pitch following a six-minute delay.

Cliftonville’s best effort of the opening 45 minutes came in injury time when Michael Newberry headed wide at the far post from Ronan Doherty’s excellent cross.

Less than sixty seconds later Jack Malone shot inches past a post after a fine ing move involving Peter Campbell and Rhys Marshall.

The only other noteworthy efforts were a Shea Kearney header and a Keith Ward free kick which both went close.

Cliftonville started the second half on the front foot. Joe Gormley headed over from Doherty’s cross. Then Doherty shot inches over from 20 yards.

Niall Quinn found Campbell on the edge of the penalty area. The Richhill man took a touch and unloaded a fierce drive which Odumosu did well to tip over the crossbar.

Ryan Corrigan had a clear-cut chance when Doherty picked him out with another deep centre. However, the defender headed over from 8 yards.

Paul McGovern replaced Ward in the 61st minute. The Newry teenager, playing on the right side of the visitors’ attack, constantly harried opponents and made lung-burst runs.

When McGovern crossed low from the right, Odumosu mishandled but Jack Malone was unable to reach the loose ball.

In the 71st minute Glenavon was reduced to ten men. Rhys Marshall, who had been booked late in the first half for a foul on Reds’ skipper Rory Hale, brought down Sean Stewart. Referee Tim Marshall issued a second yellow card but patted the unfortunate defender on the back as he left the field.

Stephen McDonnell introduced Harry Lynch and re-organised an already makeshift defence.

Paul McGovern made a fine run from his own half but elected to shoot rather than to Lynch standing only eight yards out. His effort was blocked by a defender.

Substitute Micheal Glynn failed to connect with Hale’s dangerous corner-kick. Then Gormley headed wide from Glynn’s cross.

In the 82nd minute Glenavon almost snatched the lead. McGovern won a corner-kick on the right. The unmarked Carroll rose to make a clean connection with Jack Malone’s cross. However, a defender kicked his goal bound header off the line.

Moments later Malone shot over the crossbar from a free kick in a promising area.

Substitute Johnny Addis headed wide from Hale’s cross.

In the second minute of injury time Markey headed Stewart’s cross against the base of a post.

Ten-man Glenavon held on to deservedly share the spoils.

CLIFTONVILLE: Odumosu, Pepper, Stewart, Addis, Newberry, Kearney, Hale, Donnelly, Leppard, Doherty, Corrigan, SUBS: Ridd (not used), Pettifer (not used), Curran for Corrigan (65 mins), Piesold (not used), Gormley for Donnelly (half-time), Markey for Pepper (74 mins), Glynn for Leppard (36 mins).

Yellow Cards: Pepper (49’), Hale (90+4’).

GLENAVON: Deane, Toure, O’Sullivan, Marshall, Carroll, Snoddy, Malone, Ward, O’Carroll, Campbell, Quinn, SUBS: Byrne (not used), Doona (not used), Lynch for O’Connor (74 mins), Atherton (not used), Doran for Campbell (83 mins), McGovern for Ward (61 mins), Wilson (not used).

Yellow Card: Marshall (45+5’).

Red Card: Marshall (71’).

REFEREE: Tim Marshall.