APRIL 2005

28th April 2005: BRING IT ON!

Tommy Kincaid was upbeat following a training session at Mourneview Park tonight (Thursday). “It was a good session and everyone worked hard. The spirit in the camp is first class. The boys know that they have to face a premiership side and to be honest we’re ready!

“We’re disappointed for the fans about they way we played against Bangor on Tuesday night. We let ourselves down, but you know the lads had been playing two games a week for a while and Friday night’s cup final obviously took more out of us than expected.

“We’ve put that behind us. Armagh are worthy champions and we intend to be in the premier division with them next season.”

Garth Walsh is carrying a slight groin strain; Derek Delaney got a knock on the thigh on Tuesday against Bangor, and Johnny Wright’s ankle is worrying him. All three rested from training tonight but are expected to join the squad in a light session on Saturday afternoon. “Alan Quinn doesn’t expect any problems with them so, with the exception of Gareth Murray, I’ll have a full squad to select from for next Tuesday night’s play off at Mourneview. We trained on the pitch tonight and we’re out on it again on Saturday. Afterwards plan to relax in the Broomhill Suite. The club is laying on a bite to eat and we’ll watch some TV and talk about who we have to face. We’ll be fresh. We’ll be ready. Bring it on!”

Club chairman, Roy Ferguson appealed for fans to turn out to support the team in next Tuesday night’s play off match. “I’ve watched the boys train and have spoken to Tommy. I should be nervous but to be honest everyone’s really looking forward to a football match next Tuesday. I want to thank the manager and the team for all their work this season. I’d like to thank our very loyal supporters too. There’s a real ‘buzz’ about the place and I want every possible Glenavon supporter to be part of it and to encourage the players next week.”

26th April 2005: IT'S THE PLAYOFFS

A nervy and disjointed Glenavon side lost the final League fixture to a Bangor side that looked relaxed and confident. The opening goal came thanks to a bizarre decision from the assistant referee when he awarded a throw in to Bangor after the ball clearly came off Ryan Brown. Brown reacted quickly and threw the ball to Morrow who skipped past several defenders before slotting the ball past the despairing dive of Andy McDonald.

The Glenavon midfield had been disrupted by the suspensions of Gareth Murray (two games) and Kieran O'Connor (one game) and their absence was only too apparent.

Glenavon was unlucky not to equalize at the start of the second half but a brilliant save by Ryan Brown (1) denied Delany when he threaded his way into the box and struck a powerful shot from close range.

Any chance of making a winning comeback effectively evaporated in the 54th minute when Johnny Montgomery inexplicably ducked under a long ball from Cleary the left back and Verner nipped in to chest the ball down and slot it left footed past a helpless McDonald.

Johnny Topley gave the home side some hope ten minutes later when his inswinging left foot cross went over Brown, who was unsighted by Delany's jumping in front of him, and the ball ended up in the net.

Seconds later Delany almost grabbed the equaliser when he turned smartly on the edge of the box and fired a left foot shot inches over the cross bar.

Glenavon maintained the pressure for a time but Bangor continued to look dangerous and Verner hit the inside of the post in the 78th minute. In the end, with Armagh City winning 1-0, the result at Mourneview became academic but it wasn't the ideal preparation for the crucial playoff games in a week's time.

Report

The playoffs will take place on Tuesday 3rd May and Friday 6th May with Glenavon having home advantage in the first leg. The opponents will be determined by the results of the Premier Division games on Saturday, with either Ards or Crusaders being the opponents.

TK salutes Armagh (and aims to join them!)

“I was very disappointed in the first half. I thought we performed better in the second and were more positive. We had to change our personnel again tonight, something we’ve had to live with all season and it’s hard to keep changing and keep continuity going. But if we’re going to feel sorry for ourselves then we may forget it right now.

“But at the end of the day it wasn’t for us. Armagh won tonight and I wish the best of luck to them. Any team that goes unbeaten deserves to win the league. I hope they do well in the premier division - and I hope we join them.

“Everybody loves a winner and we’ve proved ourselves to be winners, with two cups sitting up in the boardroom right now, and we’ll be aiming to keep being winners in the play-offs to get ourselves back into the premier league.”

APRIL PLAYERS OF THE MONTH

April's player of the month award has two recipients: young keeper Stephen Carroll who so ably stepped into the boots of Andy McDonald and kept four clean sheets in six games as Glenavon continued a superb run of ten games unbeaten. Meanwhile Derek Delany was banging them in at the other end and has also been rewarded with a P.O.M. award from sponsors Forsythe Electrical.

23rd April 2005: STEWARDS' ANNUAL  DINNER

22nd April 2005: ANOTHER TROPHY!

Blues Win Intermediate Cup

It's almost a century (94 years to be precise) since Glenavon last won the Intermediate Cup but it almost felt like destiny when this game went to penalties after an exciting and entertaining game finished 2-2 after extra time. Glenavon had to win two penalty shoot outs in earlier rounds, against East Belfast and Moyola Park, on the way to the final so it was maybe inevitable that the Lurgan Blues would lift the trophy thanks to another shoot out.

DC took the lead in the 27th minute when Paul McDonald headed Noel Cardwell's cross past Stephen Carroll but two goals in the final five minutes of the half gave Glenavon a half time lead. The equaliser came in the 40th minute when Aidan McVeigh, making a welcome return after two games out with a leg injury, stabbed home the rebound after Brown could only parry his initial effort.

A great right foot strike from 22 yards by Garth Walsh dipped over Brown to give Glenavon a half time lead.

An error by Johnny Montgomery presented the ball to Daniel Lyons just outside the Glenavon box and he lobbed the stranded Carroll to restore parity in the 69th minute.

With no further scoring in extra time despite efforts by Duff and Corrigan for DC and Montgomery and Gawley for the Blues, the game ended with the scores level. DC were first to take a penalty, with Man of the Match Sean Fox rather fortunate as his effort hit the underside of the bar and went in off Carroll's back. McVeigh scored with a well taken kick to level at 1-1 before Corrigan put his spot kick high over the bar. Walsh, Montgomery and Murray all scored with excellent penalties, as did Lyons and Annesley for Celtic. With the score at 4-3 to Glenavon, McMenamin knew he had to score with Celtic's fifth but Glenavon's young keeper made a splendid save diving to his left to clinch the trophy for the Lurgan side.

Report

Cup Final Photo Album

TK: we play just one game at a time, but we play to win it!

Glenavon lifted a second trophy of the season by beating Donegal Celtic in the final of the Belfast Telegraph Intermediate Cup at Dungannon.

“I’m ‘over the moon’. We’d eight players out or not eligible to play and all the players brought in did their job on the night. They’re a fantastic squad to work with.

“Some people were quoted in the media having a go at Glenavon over Andy McDonald’s suspension and the young lad Carroll has come in and done a great job, including saving a penalty tonight so I’m really delighted for him.

“I’m happy for Andy McDonald too because I do think he was hard done by and I know the burden of responsibility he carried, and yet he has served his suspension and it hasn’t cost us anything.

“I’m so pleased for everyone associated with the club - supporters and directors. Roy Ferguson and Cecil Geddis in particular deserve praise for all the work they’ve done. And this is what it’s all about at Glenavon – silverware!

“Both DC and us have been criticised but I think anyone watching that game tonight would have to agree that both teams showed the competition and each other the utmost respect. That was a fantastic game of football for spectators. It had everything – entertainment, goals, extra time and penalties. You couldn’t ask for anything more and I think it was a credit to both clubs.

“That’s another game out of the way and hopefully we’ve only one more game ahead of us this season, at home to Bangor next Tuesday night. I have to say though, the way the boys have grinded out results all season and showed so much character, I think they’re up for it if it goes to a play-off. As I’ve said, we knew going into these last games that they were ‘must win’ situations and that’s all we can do. Win each game and see where that takes us.

“I told the players before the game tonight that the Bangor game meant nothing to me. We play just one game at a time, but we play to win it!”

19th April 2005: WALSH THE WINNER

A superb 42nd minute strike with the outside of his right boot by Garth Walsh was enough to give Glenavon the three points at Tillysburn Park and move the Lurgan Blues to top spot in the table, at least until Saturday evening.

The Welders' chief threat was the long throw-ins of Ian Maitland which were as good as corners but only once did one result in an attacker having a free header and that sailed over the bar. Glenavon had numerous other chances, including McMahon in a one-on-one with the keeper in only the third minute which Rutherford saved well.

The second half chances fell to the visitors but no-one in a blue shirt could find the finish to kill the game off as the Welders ran out of ideas and kept thumping the ball forward. In the final minute this almost produced a goal for substitute Ryan Marsh but Stephen Carroll pulled off a great save to ensure the points went home to Lurgan. Report

TK Enjoys “interesting times”

“The boys showed a lot of character to work and get the result tonight. It puts a bit of pressure on Armagh for Saturday because they know that if they don’t get the win then we’ll be top of the league and then it’s all down to the last game.

“Armagh have got to go to Moyola on Saturday and not get beaten. We know from experience that it’s not an easy place to get anything from. Then they’ve got to face Ballymoney and they still have something to play for.

“I think up to now Armagh have thought that they’re ‘home in a boat’, but we’re still right in there and we won’t give up. 9 wins, 23 for and just 1 against – you can’t argue with that! The boys have been outstanding.

“We knew going into these last games that they were ‘must win’ situations to put Armagh under pressure, and we’ve been doing that. And that’s all we can do. Win each game and see where that takes us. It’s tight – but it’s interesting!

“We turn out attention now to Friday night and the Intermediate Cup Final. This is our third final of the season and again, the boys deserve credit. But don’t think that we’ll be easing up. We’ll be missing McMahon, Delaney, O’Connor, Walker and McDonald, but it’s a cup final and if you’re a footballing man, you want to be in cup finals and challenging for leagues. That’s been our game this season and I can tell you that we’re really looking forward to Friday!”

16th April 2005: DELANY HITS THREE

Glenavon fans may have been worried prior to the game that the absence of the injured Aidan McVeigh and Garth Walsh may have hampered the goal scoring today but any possible fears were assuaged as Derek Delany stepped to the fore with an excellent hat trick. He was ably supported by the rest of the team, with Gerard McMahon and Neil Gawley outstanding.

Delany opened the scoring in the fourth minute when his bicycle kick into the ground seemed to totally deceive Pollock in the visitor's goal as it crept inside his left hand post. McAlinden's towering back post header doubled the lead from Gawley's 16th minute corner.

A lack of communication at the back allowed Beck to nip in and score three minutes later but Gawley settled the nerves in first half injury time when he smashed the ball past Pollock from a narrow angle after McMahon had laid the ball off to him inside the box.

Topley's solo effort was denied by a miraculous clearance  by Calderwood in the 62nd minute and McAlinden was unlucky not to score again from the resulting corner when his header came back off the post. Pollock then made an outstanding save to deny Gawley a second goal following more excellent work by McMahon.

Delany did grab his second minutes later when that man Gawley played him in with a delightful defence splitting ball and the striker made no mistake one-on-one with Pollock. He completed his hat trick two minutes from time with another cool finish into the bottom corner from an assist by McMahon. Delany turned provider in injury time as he flicked the ball into the run of 80th minute substitute, Tony McShane, and he showed great composure to place the ball past the exposed keeper. Match report.

The win today ensured Glenavon of finishing no worse than second place and the scoreline boosted the goal difference, should Armagh City slip up in either of their two remaining matches. Table

TK gives credit to the players

“We haven’t been able to field the same team for two weeks in a row and for us to go out and score six goals and win in such an emphatic way reflects the players’ hunger and appetite, and I think they deserve a lot of credit.

“I’m pleased for the young lads who have come into the team, Neal Gawley, Stephen Carroll and Stephen McAlorum. They’ve come in and done their job. It’s a learning experience for them and will stand them in good stead. Youngsters will always give you energy and effort and those youngsters of mine have deservedly played their part in the team this season. They put a wee bit of pressure on the more experienced players too.

“Derek Delaney has to travel a long way to play for us and it’s tiring for him, especially the mid-week matches, so to play the way he did today and get the hat trick is fantastic. I’m glad for him because he’s showing people the sort of player I always knew that he is.

“I had problems over team selection for this game after the way Tony McShane and Johnny Topley, who were brought in for the match against Ballyclare, performed. And they kept their place in the panel today. But that’s nothing compared to my problem in picking the team for Tuesday night. We scored six goals today and we were without Garth Walsh and Aiden McVeigh! We’ll start planning for Tuesday night’s game tomorrow and we’ll pick a team, no matter who it means leaving out, that we think will beat the Welders. We’re guaranteed second place in the league, but Armagh aren’t guaranteed first place yet!”

MARCH P.O.M AWARD

12th April 2005: SPONSORSHIP DEAL EXTENDED

Glenavon's Commercial Director, Ian McCollum, has informed glenavonfc.com that Iveagh Movie Studios, Banbridge has renewed and extended its sponsorship with the club for another season. This lucrative deal builds on a successful partnership and indicates the confidence of the sponsors in Glenavon's work and progress this season, as well as laying the foundation for continuity and progression next year.

Roy Ferguson said, "Iveagh Movie Studios has been very generous and we have established a good working relationship over the past year. We are delighted that Iveagh has decided to extend this partnership and look forward to enjoying further success next season."

NICE & REIDY DOES IT!

Barry Reid's 26th minute goal, his first in the League for Glenavon, ultimately proved enough to secure the points in a scrappy match of few chances played out on a bumpy Dixon Park pitch. With Aidan McVeigh out with a leg injury sustained on Saturday, the winner came from perhaps the least likely source. The former Welders man was playing at left back and the goal came when his attempted low cross rebounded to him and his low right foot strike found the far bottom corner of the net.

Barry Reid's first Glenavon League goal sealed a vital win to help keep the pressure on Armagh City.

In the first minute Carroll had made a good save from Craig's 20 yard free kick but he didn't really have another save to make in the game. Delany went close in the 13th minute when Walsh picked him out and, though he placed the ball past Huxley, the Comrades' keeper was rescued by a goal line clearance from one of his defenders. Delany tested Huxley again minutes later when he back heeled Walsh's low cross back towards the opposite corner of the net but the home side's keeper made an excellent save diving to his left to concede a corner. In injury time Dean Doherty flashed a shot just wide of the Blues goal from a back post knock down by Craig.

The second half was as scrappy as the first with 59th minute substitute Johnny Topley bringing some control on the left when he replaced Neil Gawley. Fifteen minutes from time Ballyclare's midfielder, Ricky Higgins, must have thought he had scored when a well struck volley seemed destined for the top corner only to curl away in the last yard of its flight. In the closing stages McMahon did well in the box to cut a ball back from the bye line for Topley at the far post but the Comrades' right back managed to get a block in and the ball was cleared.

This win takes Glenavon to within 3 points of leaders Armagh City, with both sides now having three League games remaining. League Table

Get in. Get a 1-0 win. And get out!

TK reflected on Glenavon’s result against Ballyclare Comrades and sets his stall out for the remaining games of the season:

“It was a very hard game. We knew that before we came down. They gave us a hard game at our place and so I expected nothing else. We started the first half poorly and it ended up with us having a couple of chances we could and maybe should have put away. We defended really strongly and I don’t think they had an awful lot of clear-cut chances to trouble Stephen in our goals. The young lad didn’t have a lot to do but what he had to do he did as if he’d been doing it all his life!

“To be fair to Ballyclare they tried to push the game on us and went for the game. They tried their best to beat us tonight so I thought a 1-0 result was a great result. That puts a bit of pressure back on Armagh.

“Hyndes, McAlinden and McVeigh return on Saturday against Coagh United and that’s a nice problem for me to have. Tony McShane came in tonight and did a job at right back. I thought he did really well. Obviously we’ll have to look at that. Johnny Topley came on tonight and work very hard. He showed so much effort and that’s what its all about at this stage. As the man says, “Get in. Get a 1-0 win. And get out!”

“That’s seven wins in a row and seven clean sheets so we’ve got to be confident. We’ve three games left in the league and we’ve set our stall out to win all three. We’ll see where that takes us at the end of the season.”

9th April 2005: AIDAN McVEIGH

Striker Aidan McVeigh looks set to provide the stimulus for Glenavon as the First Division Championship race enters its final critical phase. The 21 year old has hit a rich vein of form just when it seemed that the Lurgan men were set to lose out in the promotion contest. "We are in good form at the moment and other results have been going in our favour so everyone at Mourneview Park is feeling positive about the last three weeks of the campaign," said the Portadown man. "We are still six points behind Armagh, but have a match in hand. Although most people reckon that they have one hand on the title, for the first time in months we are putting them under real pressure at the top of the table. It will be interesting to see how they cope during the run-in."

McVeigh played in the Glenavon side that defeated Loughgall 1-0 at Lakeview Park on Tuesday to win the Mid-Ulster Cup. He scored the two goals that took the Lurgan Blues through to the final of the Intermediate Cup a fortnight ago and hit a hat-trick in last Saturday’s impressive 3-0 victory against Dundela at Wilgar Park. "The team has rallied superbly after our back-to-back defeats away to Carrick Rangers and Armagh in the middle of March," added McVeigh. "We were written off in some quarters after those two results. However, we have won five on the bounce since then so everything is looking positive again."

Capped by Northern Ireland at U-18 and U-19 international level, McVeigh made his senior debut for Glenavon as a 16 year old. He joined Ayr United in May 2000 and had a brief spell with Ards when he returned to the Province. However, now back at Mourneview, he is totally committed to helping steer Tommy Kincaid’s side back to the top flight. "I love playing for the club," he added. "That’s despite the fact that I have been out of the team on occasions and have had to bite my lip and be patient. Now I just want to continue scoring goals. Although it has been a difficult season for us, we are back in with a shout of getting up. It is important that we make the most of that opportunity between now and the end of April."

8th April 2005: SIX IN A ROW!

Glenavon won it's sixth game in a row tonight (Friday) and kept a sixth consecutive clean sheet in the process with a comfortable 3-0 win over Carrick Rangers. All the goals came in the first half with the home side playing the best 45 minutes of football seen at Mourneview Park this season.

The opener came from Aidan McVeigh who forced his way through a tackle and slammed the ball in from close range after Walsh had touched on McAlinden's cross. Two minutes later the former Ayr United striker turned provider when Barry Reid played a ball down the inside left channel and his low cross found Delany in the middle. Delany picked up the ball on his right foot but turned his man and finished with a great left foot shot into the top corner.

Glenavon could easily have been further ahead but for some fine saves by Hartley. He denied Gawley in the 40th minute with a great save diving to his left but from the resulting Walsh corner the ball dropped to the edge of the 18 yard box and the young winger's impressive volley this time gave the Rangers keeper no chance.

Carrick raised their game in the second half and Glenavon seemed to lose the neat passing that had proven so fruitful in the first 45 minutes. Gawley went close twice with Hartley denying him again and another fine strike came off the top of the bar.

Glenavon's other Under 18 player, Stephen Carroll had a fine game in the nets and showed good confidence throughout. He pulled off a good save in the 60th minute when Barry Rooney fired a low shot across his body and the youngster held it well with Andrew McKnight waiting for a tap in if he should spill the ball.

One worrying aspect was the sight of McVeigh limping off in the 76th minute with what looked like a serious leg injury.

Manager's programme notes

Match report

Voting form

Post-match Reactions

Meeky wouldn’t like to have to face us!

“It was important that we started well. We’ve been telling them all season to get in early with a goal or two and then show the sort of football that we know they’re really capable of. To be honest we saw a terrific performance in the first half. Entertaining football. Two early goals. Kept a clean sheet. What else could you ask for? We were getting the ball down and passing it well – at times the other team was chasing at shadows!”

Glenavon has a number of teenagers breaking into the first team. “Wee Neil Gawley’s just been immense for us. He gives you so much energy. He passes people and when he’s running at them, I’ve yet to see a defender take the ball off him.

“Another youngster is Stephen Carroll who has come into goals. Anything you ask of him, he does well. You can see the confidence in how he gathers the ball and is immediately looking for the full backs, left and right. I thought he commanded his area well. Andy McDonald has taken him ‘under his wing’, coaching him and warming him up. The lad’s doing a fantastic job and the defenders feel comfortable with him.

“The whole way through the team everyone’s working hard and pulling together. Everyone’s focussed and we’re just ‘clicking together’ at the right time. The atmosphere’s great and it’s a matter now of keeping the confidence high.

“We lost Aidan tonight and we’ll know more about the extent of his injury tomorrow. He has worked hard to get back into the team and is starting to score goals. Hopefully he’s fit to play against Ballyclare next Tuesday night because we’ll be without Stephen Hyndes and Davy McAlinden through suspension.

“Tuesday night will be another tough game – they’re all tough – and we have to break up our back five. But we’re confident because we’re scoring goals. We’re capable of scoring goals from anywhere. Up front, Aidan, Derek and Walshy are all scoring and leading the line. It’s hard to cope with. I wouldn’t like to play in defence against our goal scorers!”

Here we go again!

Roy Ferguson has further expressed his frustration at the organisation of the league’s First Division. For the second time in a week, Glenavon has had scheduled fixtures meddled with.

“Here we go again. Two clubs have agreed a date for a football match and a league committee has over-ruled them to impose another date. How are we to plan this most important period of our season? We have sponsors lined up for games and supporters’ dinners organised around published fixtures, and then a committee wades in to destroy all the good work that ordinary fans and the club are doing to promote the game!

“In its recent ruling, an ad-hoc league committee decided that Glenavon would have an unfair advantage if they played Bangor on the final Saturday of the league, 30 April, since the Bangor goalkeeper would be away on international duty. Accordingly that fixture was moved forward to Tuesday, 26 April – the date previously agreed between the two clubs for Glenavon’s game against Ballyclare Comrades - which then had to be moved forward again to next Tuesday!

“Armagh City will also lose out financially since their scheduled home match on the last Saturday of the season has also been brought forward to the Tuesday night, ‘in the interests of fairness’.

“Glenavon is left to consult with sponsors. Glenavon is left with two supporters’ clubs dinners that will now be ruined. Glenavon is left struggling to put a team together at just five days notice!

“Glenavon, Ballyclare, Armagh and Ballymoney are all affected by this ruling. And Bangor? Bangor has yet to invoke the international rule on behalf of their goalkeeper because… the international panel hasn’t been announced yet!”

6th April 2005: FORMER GOALIE DIES

Glenavon learned with sadness of the passing of former goalkeeper Roy Rea in Toronto General Hospital and would wish to pass on condolences to his daughters Elaine and Tracey. Roy played for Glenavon during the 1950s and was capped by Northern Ireland in 1957. He won two Irish Cup medals, a league championship accolade and other medals from the various Northern Ireland domestic competitions. He played eleven times on Irish League representative sides.

Another great Glenavon goalkeeper of the past, Walter Durkan, himself now resident in America, paid tribute to Roy:

“It is very sad indeed to hear of the unexpected death of Roy (RIP). We remained very good friends throughout the years even though we were always competitive for that number ‘one’ position on those great Glenavon teams of the 1950s. He is a great loss to his own family and also to our great game of football (soccer). He will be greatly missed, but also remembered for his many wonderful contributions.”

5th April 2005: CUP FINAL VICTORY!

Glenavon brought home the first silverware of the season with a thoroughly well deserved victory over Loughgall  in the Rushmere Shopping Mid Ulster Cup Final at Lakeview Park tonight. The Lurgan Blues played all the football with Loughgall's one-dimensional long ball game coming to naught thanks to a solid performance at the centre of Glenavon's defence by skipper Johnny Wright and Davy McAlinden.

Glenavon would have taken the lead in the 16th minute when McVeigh touched Walsh's through ball past the keeper but the striker slipped just as he was about to apply a finishing touch to the ball as it rolled goal wards, giving Wallace the chance to clear it.

Man of the Match Derek Delaney got the winner in the 52nd minute with a clinical right foot strike into the opposite side of the net after Walsh wove a path through the Loughgall defence and picked him out with a measured low cross.

Loughgall's overly physical approach resulted in three yellow cards and one red with Wallace being dismissed in the 74th minute for a head butt on McAlinden. Gareth Murray was the recipient of a number of disgraceful challenges that eventually saw him limp off in the 80th minute.

In the dying seconds Glenavon's 16 year old rookie keeper Stephen Carroll pulled off a brilliant close range save to ensure that the Mid Ulster Cup made a welcome return to the Mourneview Park Trophy cabinet for the first time since 1999. 

Report. Voting

Post-match Reactions

Young goalkeeper Stephen Carroll was ecstatic after receiving his Mid Ulster Cup Winners’ Medal. He was full of praise for his defence, which made sure he was well protected, but he still had to ‘be on his toes’ and collected well under pressure with only a few minutes to go. “They were excellent and won everything.” Asked if he was looking forward to Friday night’s league game against Carrick Rangers his enthusiastic response was, “Definitely!”

TK was satisfied with the result. He has always had confidence in his players and his players are playing with the sort of confidence, and results, that repay him. “I’m really pleased personally and I’m really pleased for everyone associated with Glenavon Football Club. Playing in the First Division this year has been a culture shock and we’re fighting hard to get out of it. I’m hoping that tonight’s win will give the boys the self-belief to go on and make the final push for promotion.

“The players had to dig deep tonight because they were playing against a premier league side. Everybody looked hungry. Everybody did their job. Everybody worked hard. We scored a good goal and with a bit of luck could have scored one or two more. We stood up to the physical battle and we played good football. I thought we deserved to win the game.

“The defence was tight and let nothing past them. They shielded the young goalkeeper but at the same time he didn’t make any mistakes and made a wonder save at the end, showing a lot of maturity in collecting the ball. That took the pressure off us and seen the game through to the end.

“Delaney’s goal was a great wee through ball from Walshy and Derek took his goal the way I know he can take goals and that’s the reason I brought him to the club. I’d just like him to score a couple more!

“Looking forward to Friday night’s game against Carrick we have to be aware of the possibility of tired legs but we’ll look after the players. We’ll not train between now and then and give the boys a deserved night off for a bit of rest.

“At the end of the day - at the end of this day - winning the Mid Ulster Cup will give them the confidence and the hunger for more. I think that they now want to play in the premier league because that’s where we should be.

4th April 2005: NO APPEAL

After consulting widely and considering all options, it has been decided that Glenavon will not appeal the six match ban handed out to Andrew McDonald by the IFA Disciplinary Committee.

McDonald's ban comes into effect today and means that he will not return to action before the last match of the season, against Bangor at Mourneview Park.

2nd April McVEIGH HAT TRICK SEALS POINTS

A brilliant second half hat trick from in-form striker Aiden McVeigh ensured Glenavon returned from the Hen Run with all three points. Gary Clifford, who missed a golden opportunity in first half injury time, made amends with a great cross in the 65th minute that McVeigh side footed in at the back post. Seconds earlier McDonald had saved brilliantly with his legs to deny Davies an opener for the Duns. Derek Delaney had squandered a number of good chances but in the 75th minute he squared the ball to McVeigh and he made no mistake to double the lead. Two minutes later the win was beyond doubt when he completed his hat trick with the easiest of the three finishes as he tapped in from close range a great low cross fizzed across the 6 yard line by Neil Gawley who had hit the post in the first half.

The win took Glenavon into second place in the table, with Donegal Celtic surprisingly losing 1-3 at home to Coagh United who come to Mourneview in a fortnight's time..

Match report. Votes

Post-match with TK

Tommy Kincaid was delighted to win at Dundela today and to keep the pressure on league leaders, Armagh City. “We’ve just got to concentrate on ourselves and keep winning our games. If City slips up somewhere hopefully we can peg them back. At the end of the day they know we’re hot on their heels and that’ll not be too comfortable for them.

“I was pleased for everyone today. The team look as if they have a hunger about themselves. Maybe the defeat at Armagh was a wake up call, but they look like nobody’s going to beat us. The people I see on the pitch at the minute are winners.

“I thought young Neil Gawley was outstanding today and of course I’m pleased for Aiden to get his hat-trick. I’ve always told Aiden that I believe in him and that he is a goal scorer. He gets himself in the box where he should be when the ball comes in and all he had to do was believe in himself. I’m really pleased for him.

“We’ve created chances in front of goal all season. The difference now is that we have the confidence to put them away. That takes a lot of pressure off the defence and the rest of the team.

“We can go and enjoy ourselves in the final of the Mid Ulster Cup on Tuesday night. We are playing a Premier League side and so we are the underdogs. No one will be expecting us to win - but I’ll tell you, we’re a good side. We’ve got the winning habit and we’ll go out on Tuesday to win it.”

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