GLENAVON V LOUGHGALL, A LOOK AHEAD j73y

On Saturday 5th April 2025 Glenavon faces Loughgall at Mourneview Park. 1z522f

On Tuesday night the Lurgan Blues held Portadown to a 1-1 draw at Shamrock Park. Paddy McLaughlin was pleased with the outcome. “We went there to win, and I felt that we played on the front foot for most of the game, but a point was a decent result. The pitch was very difficult. Despite that I felt that we ed the ball as well as we could have done in the circumstances. I couldn’t have asked for much more from the players.”

The Northwest native was disappointed with the goal which Glenavon conceded. “It was a borderline decision,” he added. “Perhaps Mark should have done better but equally he may have been fouled. Another time it might have been disallowed. But we responded well and thoroughly deserved the equaliser when it came.”

The draw and Carrick Rangers’ defeat at home to Cliftonville made relegation a mathematical impossibility. “It is nice to have that situation resolved but we need to where we have come from and what we have achieved,” he said. “At the end of November, we were four points off the bottom and level on points with Carrick. In fact, they had a better goal difference and a match in hand. It was no position for a club of Glenavon’s stature to be in. The staff and the players rolled their sleeves up and worked extremely hard to get us out of trouble. Now we have 22 points more than Loughgall and 13 more than Carrick. But there was no one celebrating in our dressing room on Tuesday night. We have been looking up the table since January and that is still our focus.”

McLaughlin expects his players to maintain their good work ethic for the remaining four matches. “No one is taking his foot off the pedal,” he said. “We want to pick up as many points as we can between now and the end of the month. It is important that we carry a positive momentum into next season. There are players desperate to get into the team, so no one can afford to rest on his laurels.”

Nonetheless, the Blues’ boss intends to blood some of the club’s emerging talent. “I know I have said it before, but it bears repeating,” he continued. “We have a fantastic Academy and there are teenagers ready to come into the side. I want to see what some of these lads can do. They are the future. When the time is right, I won’t hesitate to play them.”

Although Loughgall seems certain to be relegated, Paddy is not making any assumptions about Saturday’s contest. “They have just appointed Darren [Murphy} as manager,” he added. “He will do a fabulous job for them. Mathematically they can still stay up so they will be as determined as ever. Plus, they will want to impress the new man in charge. It will be a hard match, but it is one we are good enough to win.”

McLaughlin reports no new injuries and no suspensions. However, there are plenty of sore bodies. “Tuesday night’s game was tough, and we have a few knocks but nothing that should prevent anyone from playing,” he explained. “Chris [McLoughlin] and Zara [McCleary] have worked hard to fix the bumps and bruises and get one or two of the lads onto their feet again.”

Incidentally, Tadhg Ryan was fit on Tuesday night. “We have three top goalkeepers,” added Paddy. “I have no concerns about rotating them when I feel it is in the team’s best interests.”

The fixture is sponsored by The Bluebell Cottage, Moira, and Lurgan Mechanics Institute. The Bluebell Cottage is located in Rawdon Court, Moira. It sells a wide variety of high quality furniture and giftware. The Mechanics Institute, found in Lurgan town centre, is a faithful Glenavon sponsor.

The matchball sponsors are David Haire and The Hanna Family in memory of Derek Hanna.

The McCracken’s Brewery “Player of the Match” sponsor is Paul Rankin.

There will be a bucket collection for Knitted Knockers of Northern Ireland, a charity which provides practical help to breast cancer survivors. Please give generously.

Glenavon has met Loughgall three times this season. The teams drew 2-2 at Mourneview Park in September 2024. The Villagers won the next contest at Lakeview Park 3-0. The Lurgan Blues defeated the County Armagh men 2-0 at the start of March.

 

Glenavon v Loughgall, Last Season
Date Result
25/11/23 Loughgall 2 Glenavon 2
18/11/23 Glenavon 2 Loughgall 0
23/03/24 Glenavon 1 Loughgall 2
13/04/24 Loughgall 3 Glenavon 1

 

Other Glenavon teams in action this weekend:

(Free ission to all games)

  • Monday 7th April 2025 – Larne Olympic v Glenavon Reserves, Inver Park, 1945 k.o.
  • Friday 4th April 2025 – Warrenpoint Town U-18s v Glenavon U-18s, Milltown, 2000 k.o.
  • Saturday 5th April 2025 – Glenavon U-16s v Warrenpoint Town U-16s, Saint Patrick’s, Banbridge 3G, 1115 k.o.
  • Saturday 5th April 2025 – Glenavon U-15s v Larne U-15s, Subway Under-15 Cup Semi-final, Lurgan Junior High School 3G, 1115 k.o.