GLENAVON UNDER-18s PREPARE TO FACE DUNGANNON IN CUP FINAL 1y1ul

On Wednesday 30th April 2025 Glenavon’s Under-18s face Dungannon Swifts Under-18s in the Mid Ulster Youth Cup Final at Stangmore Park. Kick-off time is 7-45 pm. The match will be played to a finish with, if necessary, extra-time and penalties. 71262r

This is the third successive season when the young Blues have reached the final. Two years ago, Dylan Alexander and Jadon Morgan scored in a 2-0 victory against Portadown U-18s at Mourneview Park. Last year they lost 2-1 after extra time to this week’s opponents on Annagh United’s 3G surface.

“It will be very difficult,” itted U-18s’ manager Tim Lennon. “Dungannon has a strong Academy. They always produce good players and good teams. Like us, they try to play football the right way.”

Tim has been part of the Academy coaching staff for the last four years. Before getting involved, he regularly sat in the grandstand at Mourneview Park, cheering on the Lurgan Blues. He feels privileged to be helping to nurture and develop the Glenavon first team players of the future. “There is something very special about volunteering in the Academy of your own club,” he reflected. “It has been great working alongside the other coaches and spending so much time with the lads. They are great young people and very talented footballers.”

The Magheralin man has almost completed his UEFA “A” Licence. He and Under-20s’ coach Jack Ross have spent the last two years working towards the qualification. “All my coursework has been submitted. I just have a video assessment to do, and I will be finished,” he explained. “The club has been tremendously ive of both Jack and I. We have both thoroughly enjoyed it. It has undoubtedly improved us.”

Tim managed the Under-16s for two years. Last summer he moved up to the Under-18s. “Many of the lads in our squad have been with me for a couple of seasons,” he explained. “I have got to know them very well. It has probably helped me and helped them.”

Glenavon scored no fewer than 20 goals en route to the final and conceded just two. It defeated Warrenpoint U-18s 7-0 at Milltown in the first round. Calum Hamilton claimed a rapid fire hat-trick. Daire Trainor, Tom Hawthorne, Harrison Crooks and Callum Snodgrass scored the other goals. It overcame Lurgan Town 9-1 in the second round. Luke McGerrigan netted twice. The other scorers were Harry Gough, Calum Hamilton, Callum Snodgrass, Tom Hawthorne, Brody Moore, Charlie Gault and Calum Cope. Then the young Blues defeated Portadown U-18s 4-1 at Kernan Playing Fields in the semi-final. Daire Trainor and Tom Hawthorne both scored two goals.

Dungannon has had a more understated journey to the decider. It defeated Loughgall U-18s 4-0 in the quarter finals and Banbridge Town Youth 3-1 in the semi-finals.

Ben Wilson, Matthew Allen and Luke McGerrigan, who have played for the first team in recent weeks, are young enough to start against Dungannon. However, Ben and Matthew miss out because they have signed professional contracts whilst Luke has not recovered from the ankle injury he sustained in the build up to the Premiership fixture against Carrick Rangers. Calum Hamilton, who has been one of the team’s best performers in the competition, is suspended. “We are all disappointed for Calum,” said Tim. “He picked up a couple of bookings in the earlier rounds and is out.” Another striker, Michael Emerson, is also ineligible. “There is a lower age limit and unfortunately Michael is just too young,” added Tim.

The Under-18s’ goalkeeper on Wednesday night will almost certainly be Lucas Fry. He has played for the Under-18s and the Under-20s throughout the season. Last summer he was involved in some of the first team’s friendly fixtures. “Lucas has been very solid for us,” said Tim Lennon. “He is a safe pair of hands.”

Charlie McShane, Harrison Crooks, Ciaran Finnegan, Reiss Neill and Calum Snodgrass are likely to feature at the back. “We are quite strong defensively,” said Tim. “Those five lads have all been very consistent.”

Midfield is the department where the absence of Wilson, Allen and McGerrigan might have an impact. However, Tim reckons that the lads who will replace them are almost equally talented. “Although we have lost Ben, Matthew and Luke, I have a lot of confidence in the lads who will come into the side,” said Tim.

Harry O’Neill has been a stand-out performer. “He has been brilliant for both the Under-18s and Under-20s. He is very gifted and has a great attitude.”

Harry Gough, a Northern Ireland international at Under-16 level, is also likely to feature in midfield. “Harry has been playing with us for three or four months,” Tim continued. “He is very young and lacks experience at this level, but he has loads of ability. He could play a big role on Wednesday.”

Charlie Gault and Matthew Brady will also compete for starting places in the centre of the pitch. “Charlie and Matthew are also very promising players,” added Tim.

Strikers Tom Hawthorne and Daire Trainor have each scored almost 20 goals. James Robinson has also been amongst the goals and Calum Cope has begun to break through. “We are capable of being creative and taking chances,” said Tim. “Tom and Daire have done particularly well.”

Only a handful of Tim’s squad is ineligible to play at Under-18 level next season. “We have a young group,” he added. “That is always the way we work. When a player gets comfortable playing in his own age group, we push him up a level and challenge him to get better. That is how we develop players and ultimately get them ready for the final transition from Under-20s football to the senior team.”

Glenavon Under-18s have played Dungannon U-18s once this season. The match, at Lurgan Junior High School last October, finished in a 1-1 draw. “It was hard fought,” said Tim. “They missed a penalty and were very strong. But we competed well too. It was a good game to watch.”

The Under-18s, many of whom were at Hull City at the weekend, plan to hold a light training session on Tuesday night ahead of the big game on Wednesday.

“We are trying to treat it, as far as possible, like it is simply another 90 minutes,” added Tim. “We desperately want to win but what happens on the night will not define any of my players. Whatever happens it will be a learning experience and will help them to develop.”

Tim will be assisted on the touchline by Robin Carson and Wayne Ewart. “They have been a great help and ,” he said. “The three of us have worked well together.”

Win or lose against Dungannon, Tim reckons that it has been a memorable season.

“The fact that Mattie Allen and Ben Wilson have signed professional contracts and Luke McGerrigan and Calum Hamilton have broken into the first team means that whatever happens on Wednesday, we have had an excellent nine months,” he said. “But the exciting thing is that there are more Mattie Allens, Ben Wilsons, Luke McGerrigans and Calum Hamiltons coming through. The Glenavon Academy has never been stronger than it is now.”