GLENAVON WINS FRIDAY NIGHT THRILLER 3s6p2
Dungannon Swifts 2 Glenavon 3 4l7v
Sports Direct Irish Premiership 6p2b29
Stangmore Park, Dungannon
Friday 17th January 2025
Glenavon made it five wins in six matches with a deserved 3-2 success against high-flying Dungannon Swifts at Stangmore Park.
Davy McDaid (27 mins) and Jack Malone (45, 80 mins) scored the goals for Paddy McLaughlin’s side. John McGovern (pen., 47 mins) and Andrew Mitchell (65 mins) found the net for the East Tyrone club.
Ironically, in view of the drama which was to follow, the match started at a sedate pace. Matthew Snoddy’s 20th minute shot just over the crossbar was the first noteworthy attempt.The visitors, looking well organised and focused, gradually took control in midfield.
Two minutes after Snoddy’s speculative drive, Davy McDaid’s cross cum shot went narrowly wide.
Leo Alves had the Swifts’ first effort. Mark Byrne stood up well at his near post to block the winger’s right foot drive.
Davy McDaid and Peter Campbell combined on the left, but Danny Wallace cleared the Richhill man’s cross. When Chris Atherton took the corner kick, his initial cross was cleared. Nonetheless he regained possession and picked out Matthew Snoddy. The Belfast man’s header from 6 yards was brilliantly saved by Dunne. However, Davy McDaid nodded the ball over the line from close-range after Snoddy’s second attempt had been blocked on the goal line.
Glenavon continued to push forward. Yet Dungannon occasionally threatened from breakaways. Keelan Dillon shot wildly over, and Brandon Bermingham attempt was easily saved by Byrne.
Steven Scott moved quickly to clear Peter Campbell’s clever through as Michael O’Connor looked poised to strike. From the resultant corner kick, Len O’Sullivan split the Swifts defence with a right foot forward punt. McDaid, with only Dunne to beat, hit the inside of the far post. Peter Campbell latched onto the rebound, but Gael Bigirimana blocked his shot.
In the 44th minute McGovern had two chances to equalise. His first attempt was headed away by a prostrate Barney McKeown. His second effort was saved by Byrne with his legs.
On the stroke of half time Glenavon doubled its advantage. McDaid attempted a through , but Bigirimana got his body in the way. When the ball dropped to Jack Malone 16 yards out, he hit a sweet right foot half volley which arrowed to the top corner of the net.
Dungannon attempted to pull a goal back straight from the kick off. Alves picked out Bermingham just inside the penalty area. However, Toure made a vital interception. McGovern drilled the loose ball over the crossbar. Moments later Bermingham’s close range effort was stopped by Byrne.
The home side pulled a goal back immediately after the restart. Barney McKeown seemed to win the ball after Danny Wallace’s long released McGovern. Nevertheless, when the centre forward fell to the ground, referee Tony Clarke pointed to the penalty spot. McGovern confidently shot past Byrne from 12 yards.
Moments later McKeown almost restored Glenavon’s two-goal lead with a header from Peter Campbell’s corner kick. However, the ball crept the wrong side of a post.
Jack Malone also went close with a brilliant shot from 18 yards. It needed the touch of a defender to send it inches wide.
Adam Glenny looked poised to equalise when he dribbled the ball through a gap in the visitors’ defence. But, with only Byrne to beat, he shot wide.
The home side drew level through substitute Andrew Mitchell. James Knowles worked the ball to Steven Scott on the right and the full back produced a fabulous cross for the Waringstown man to head powerfully past Byrne.
Devine saved easily from Malone’s weak shot after Paddy McLaughlin’s side was awarded a free kick 25 yards out.
In the 80th minute Glenavon restored its lead. Michael O’Connor headed the ball into the path of Paul McGovern. The 17-year-old went past Bigirimana and crossed low for Malone to skilfully side foot past Devine from 10 yards.
Dungannon pushed forward in search of a third goal and in the process left gaps at the back. After Rhys Marshall won the ball on the edge of his own penalty area, O’Connor released Campbell with an accurate . However, with Malone poised to complete his hat-trick, the left winger allowed Dean Curry to intercept his .
The home side almost equalised when Scott pushed Boyd’s cross field into the path of substitute Tomas Galvin. The striker turned sharply and let fly with his left foot. Byrne dived full length to save. Toure cleared the loose ball.
In the 90th minute Peter Campbell shot just over the bar following a Glenavon free kick on the right.
When Wallace clipped Dunne’s long kick into the penalty area the ball fell perfectly for Mitchell. However, with only Byrne to beat, he miscued his left foot shot and the excellent Marshall cleared the danger at the far post.
Overall another excellent Glenavon performance and valuable three points.
DUNGANNON SWIFTS: Dunne, S. Scott, Glenny, Curry, Dillon, Bigirimana, Knowles, Alves, J. McGovern, Bermingham, SUBS: Grogan (not used), King, Boyd for Bigirimana (83 mins), Galvin for Knowles (75 mins), Hutchinson for Alves (83 mins), McAleese for Bermingham (56 mins), Mitchell for Dillon (56 mins).
Yellow Cards: S. Scott (54’), Bigirimana (68’), Alves (77’), Curry (89’), McAleese (90+4’).
GLENAVON: Byrne, Toure, O’Sullivan, Quinn, McKeown, Snoddy, Malone, Atherton, McDaid, O’Connor, Campbell, SUBS: Ryan (not used), Marshall for McDaid (58 mins), Doona for P. McGovern (90+3’), Lynch (not used), Baird for Malone (90+3’), Carlin for Snoddy (69 mins), P. McGovern for Atherton (69 mins).
Yellow Cards: McDaid (35’), Malone (79’), Campbell (90+3’).
REFEREE: Tony Clarke.
