
Glenavon	v	Carrick Rangers

It’s the biggest game of the year so far at Mourneview Park with Glenavon and Carrick Rangers going head-to-head in a battle to reach the showpiece Final of one of Irish League football’s major trophies on February 18th.

The game kicks off on Tuesday night at 7:45pm and will be played to a finish with extra time and penalties if required.

Admission is £10 and £7 concession, pay at the turnstile (no tickets required) and season tickets are not valid.

Andy McGrory celebrates after making it 3-1 against Cliftonville in the Quarter Final. Photo by Alan Weir.

Gary Hamilton is urging all supporters to come, get behind the team and create a proper cup atmosphere. “The fans really can make a big difference to us so I hope they’ll be here in big numbers on Tuesday night and cheer us on to a victory.”

Speaking after Saturday’s league victory against Coleraine Gary said it was important for the team to go into Tuesday’s semi-final with a win under their belts. “We have been playing well, putting in good performances but we haven’t been getting the results. Sometimes in football it goes like that and you don’t always get what you deserve and a lot of times this season we certainly haven’t got what we deserved but they’ve got the win today, they deserved that, and hopefully they can take confidence from that and hopefully bring their finishing boots on Tuesday night!

“If they play the same way as they did today and create the same chances then hopefully they put a few more away and get into the final. If they do, and that’s what we’re aiming for, it’ll be a great achievement for this group of boys and it will be brilliant if we can do it.

“Aaron (Callaghan) has come in and they haven’t lost too many games since he took over. We played them in his first game in charge, which is something I always hate doing, against a team with a new manager, and it finished 0-0 and he had them well organized and since that he’s had more time with them and they’ve been getting good results. They beat Coleraine 2-0 a couple of weeks ago and anybody that gets a result against them is a decent team and well-organized because Coleraine, in my opinion are a top, top team and probably the one to push Cliftonville for third place.”

It’s also a big game for Carrick who no doubt will be going all out and giving it everything to try to make it into the final.

Our Sponsors

The match is being sponsored by a group going by the name “The Ex-Directors” so we’ll leave you to work that one out!

The Ball Sponsor is Roy Harrison MBE who needs no introduction especially to those of you who take an interest in cricket. Roy was awarded his MBE in the 2016 New Year Honours list for his voluntary service to cricket in Northern Ireland.

The Glenavon Man of the Match sponsor is Glenavon’s newest official supporter’s club the Spirit of 2014 GSC who recently premiered their excellent documentary video “Tandragee Road: Beyond the Terrace” at Craigavon Omniplex.