It’s #DanskeDay at Mourneview Park on Saturday as Glenavon welcome Glentoran for Match 31 of the Danske Bank Premiership.
Glenavon has teamed up with Premiership sponsors Danske Bank and Cool FM to promote local football so why not come along and enjoy the unique atmosphere of the Danske Bank Premiership this Saturday as Glenavon take on Glentoran at Mourneview Park, kick-off 3pm.
As well as enjoying what we hope is an exciting game of football, supporters in attendance will receive special giveaways and there’s also prizes for the best photos taken on the day by using the hashtag #DanskeDay on social media.
We also have a Fundraising Breakfast in the Bedeck Suite tomorrow morning from 9am to 12 noon with proceeds going to our charity partner Addiction NI and we’ll be welcoming the 2007 and 2008 boy’s teams of Blackburn United FC who will provide the half-time entertainment with our own Academy boys.
Photo by Maynard Collins
Since taking over as temporary manager of Glentoran Ronnie McFall has steered his side to two consecutive victories, defeating Cliftonville 1-0 in his first game in charge before hammering Warrenpoint Town 5-0 on the day Matthew Tipton announced he was quitting to become manager of Ronnie’s old side Portadown.
The games between the two sides are usually closely contested and in the previous game at Mourneview this season it took a late equaliser from Josh Daniels on his debut to earn the Lurgan Blues a point in a 2-2 draw. In the return fixture at The Oval Glenavon came away with a 3-1 victory, Andrew Mitchell equalising a Robbie McDaid opener before two penalties from Sammy Clingan sealed the victory for the away side.
All three of Glentoran’s goals against Glenavon this season have come from ex-Lurgan Blues striker McDaid but it’s been veteran Glens frontman Curtis Allen who has been grabbing the headlines recently, his nine goals in February earning him the NIFWA Player of the Month award.
Glenavon’s leading scorer Andrew Mitchell has scored in both the games against Glentoran this season and he’ll be hoping to add to his tally of 16 goals in all competitions when he takes on the Glens defence tomorrow.
Photo by Maynard Collins
Andy Hall and Joel Cooper are both likely to miss out tomorrow again with injuries but Simon Kelly is available before he starts a suspension following his dismissal from the bench during the Irish Cup defeat by Loughgall.
Gary Hamilton will start a five game touchline ban from next Monday for his post-match comments following the 1-1 draw with Coleraine but he was cleared of an alleged offence under section 18.14 of the IFA Disciplinary code that would have resulted in a 6 month ban had the allegation not been found ‘not proven’ by the Disciplinary Committee. “I’d like to go on record and thank Stephen Atherton from JJ McNally Solicitors and Michael Ford the barrister in the case and also thanks to Oran Kearney, Scott Young and Steven Douglas for coming as witnesses, when they were under no obligation to do so. It’s very much appreciated and I think justice was done at the end of it. I’ve got five games but they were for after match comments and came from the frustration that built up in me from getting sent off that day. I didn’t challenge that because I did do it and you accept your punishment and move on. I’m just happy that the other part has had the right outcome.”
Looking forward to the game tomorrow the Glenavon boss is aiming to get back to winning ways but he knows it won’t be easy. “We never get it easy against them and if I remember correctly, before I took over we hadn’t beaten Glentoran in something like nine years. That was a ridiculous stat but it’s improved in the last 4, 5 or 6 years and hopefully we can go out tomorrow and give a good account of ourselves and get a win.
“It’ll be difficult. Ronnie’s come in and given them a new lease of life and they’ve obviously won their last two games, the last result being a convincing win against Warrenpoint so we know that it won’t be an easy game and we all know that whenever you get a change of manager it gives a team a lift and it’s worked that way with Glentoran.
“We need to be up for it tomorrow, get out of the blocks early, close the ball down, not give them time on the ball and we need to do what we do well that has got us to the position that we’re in. What we’re looking for now is s strong finish to the season to try and stay in that third position and see where that takes us.”
Form Guide
Last 5 League Games
Glenavon: D W W W L
Glentoran: L W L W W
Head to Head (All Competitions)
Glenavon: P10, W3, D5, L2, F14, A12
Average goals per game: 2.6
Match Officials
- Referee: Arnold Hunter
- Assistant 1: David Anderson
- Assistant 2: Paul Robinson
- 4th Official: Ken Gibbons
Matchday Sponsors
- Match Sponsor: Box-It
- Ball Sponsor: Crewe Nurseries Loughgall
- Glenavon MOM Sponsor: Clifford Dennison, Paul Adamson, Ian Perry
