JANUARY 2005

29th January 2005: DONEGAL CELTIC - HONOURS EVEN

Glenavon remain unbeaten in the League but will feel this was a missed opportunity to close the gap at the top of the table, though Donegal Celtic were worthy of a share of the spoils today. Paul McKnight gave the home side the lead in the 35th minute when he netted from Walsh's excellent cross. Earlier Lyons had looped a header over McDonald and off the Glenavon bar. In the second half McKnight almost doubled the lead when his overhead kick crashed off the post, with Walsh again supplying the cross.

The Hoops earned a point through full back Kieran McGourty's 70th minute strike. He drove a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area after Glenavon's defence had failed to clear a deep cross from the left wing.

Match report

TK'S REACTION

Tommy Kincaid remained positive despite missing the chance to make up ground on the First Division leaders:

“We made hard work of today’s game. I don’t think we did enough to win the game and I think a draw was a good result. Donegal Celtic is a good side. They put us under pressure but nobody said that this would be easy. They came here to win the game and fair play to them; they’ve gone away with a point. We now know why they’re at the top end of the table with us.

“We just didn’t work hard enough as a team. We didn’t play as a unit. We played as individuals. As a result they were able to play round us and through us and we’ll have a good look at that with the players on Monday night.

“We had the chance to make up ground on Armagh but the status quo is unchanged. Let’s look at the positive - we’re still unbeaten. And as far as I’m concerned, it’s all about us. It’s in our hands. We got a point today and look forward to hosting Armagh in a fortnight’s time. I’ve told the players that the next three months is probably the most important in Glenavon’s history. The solidarity in the changing room will be crucial. Those not selected have to wait their chance and when they get it, they’ve got to give everything they have. I expect nothing less from those on the park.”

25th January 2005: MID-ULSTER CUP - REVENGE IS SWEET

Glenavon 5 - 1 Banbridge Town

In Tuesday night's Rushmere Shopping Mid-Ulster Cup quarter final tie against Banbridge Town, Glenavon were seeking to erase the memory of an embarrassing 1-6 defeat in the Bob Radcliffe Cup in October. A debut goal from the spot for Derek Delaney opened the scoring after Gerard McMahon was felled by Quinn. Town replied 19 minutes later with a glancing header by Rees but Walsh restored the home side's lead within a minute. In first half injury time Walsh scored his second when he robbed Ally Evans and, though the keeper stopped his first effort, he was able to nod in the rebound.

Dessie Gorman almost pulled a goal back for Town at the start of the second period but he was denied by a fine fingertip save by McDonald. Havern, the Banbridge keeper, was surely the visitor's man of the match as he pulled off a succession of fine saves to deny McMahon, Delaney, Walsh, Topley and McCloskey, including an audacious back heel by the lanky winger. He was helpless to prevent Jimbo scoring in the 70th minute when he drilled a low shot into the opposite corner as Glenavon broke in numbers. Goal number 5 was a simple tap in for substitute Aiden McVeigh with Walsh supplying the precision low cross after Topley's diagonal ball had set him away down the right touchline.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable game, with the visitors contributing fully to the entertainment, playing an attractive brand of football which has earned them the leadership of the Second Division and a place in the 6th round of the Irish Cup.

Report

The other quarter final results were ...

22nd January 2005: McCLOSKEY HEADS WINNER

Jim McCloskey's 74th minute back post header from Johnny Topley's cross was enough to see Glenavon through to the last eight of the Intermediate Cup. The hosts, Fivemiletown United, put up a good battling display and had a second half 'goal' ruled out for offside. Glenavon's performance was professional, with Topley and McCloskey both hitting the woodwork in the first half, with Glenavon dominating for most of the match.

Glenavon will now travel to face East Belfast who defeated Dunmurry YM 4-1 today.

Report

19th January 2005: CANDLISH ENDS PLAYING CAREER

Neil Candlish has decided ‘hang up his boots’ and retire from playing the game. The 36 year old has been plagued by injury almost since his arrival at Glenavon but did not take this decision lightly. He spoke to the manager about his intentions before Christmas and finally took his decision last week. Candlish has enjoyed a colourful and varied career since signing professional terms at 16 years of age. He had his most successful spell at Portadown and also played for Ballymena United, Glentoran and Larne.

Not only has he won many medals in Northern Ireland, he met his wife here and has settled and set up home with his family in Ballymena.

Glenavon manager Tommy Kincaid paid tribute to Candlish. “Neil has been there and done it throughout a sparkling career. He is an accomplished player and I hope to be able to use his experience in our scouting team. I want to thank him for his service to the club and to me personally.”

Candlish said, “I have struggled and Glenavon has not seen the best of me. It’s been very frustrating because I damaged both achilles in early games and so it has been difficult to train. When I do train hard, I struggle for the Saturday. If I play on the Saturday then really it’s Wednesday before I can train again. It’s a vicious cycle.

“I had hoped to be part of getting Glenavon back up into the premier league. I’ve no doubt that that will happen. The club has a great squad of players and in Tommy Kincaid, one of the best managers I have worked with – and I’ve worked with a few! Glenavon will go up, but unfortunately I won’t be able to help any further on the park. This is an important season for Glenavon and I have struggled but I hope I’ve made a small contribution.”

Neil has enjoyed his short spell at the club and doesn’t want to leave completely. “Glenavon is like a family and I have been made to feel very much at home, so I can’t just walk away. The club is going in the right direction – you just have to look around you – and I want to play a part in that.”

He has been working on his coaching badges and starts his “B licence” in February. At Larne he spent 6 months as assistant manager and feels he knows both sides of the game. “While I’m moving away from the playing side of it, I still have a bit to offer in other ways and I know I can still learn a good deal from Tommy Kincaid.

“I have offered my services to the manager in any way that I can. I want to thank him for his confidence in me and I want to thank the fans for their support. I haven’t taken this decision easily but I think I’ve done the right thing.”

15th January 2005: TWO GOALS 'GIFT-WRAPPED'

Two errors led to the goals that ensured Portadown revenged the defeat at this stage of the Irish Cup last year. With Glenavon on the attack in the 36th minute, Gareth Murray gave the ball away and Boyle, Arkins and former Glenavon and Ards midfielder Paddy Quinn broke 3 on 1. McDonald came out but Boyle, out on the left of the goal area, lifted the ball over him from a narrow angle and Quinn applied the finishing touch just before the ball crossed the line.

Glenavon's best chance in the first half fell to Gareth Walsh but he shot straight at Miskelly after he had outpaced the Portadown defence with a quick break down the right.

In the final  minute Andy McDonald allowed a long-range Kyle Neill free kick from the right touchline to slip through his hands and into the net. Earlier Neill had almost scored in an identical fashion but McDonald managed to touch the ball onto the crossbar. Late substitute Aiden McVeigh just failed to get his head to a great cross from Gerard McMahon.

Match report

TK reflects on the day

“I thought the team played really, really well. When you are playing a team with the sort of quality they have, they’re top of the premier league, you’re always going to be up against it. They have quality all over the pitch and yet I thought we matched them in every department today.

“I think 2-0 flattered them. Maybe we didn’t create as many clear-cut chances as they did, but Portadown didn’t create that many either. There’s no doubt that they knew they were in a game today.

“We gifted the two goals. The players concerned have held their hands up and acknowledge individual errors. Andy McDonald in particular is distraught. An outfield player can make mistakes all over the park and get away with it. The goalkeeper only has to make one mistake and it’s a goal. Two minutes after the second goal their ‘keeper made a mistake and dropped the ball. We’re all human! A couple of weeks ago the Manchester United goalkeeper made a mistake and he was left out of the next game. Andy McDonald is a good ‘keeper and has a super record of clean sheets recently. I’ll certainly not be leaving Andy McDonald out.”

TK has previously praised the actions and support of fans but was stung by some vocal criticism of certain players during and after today’s game. “I think that managers and players have a job to do come a Saturday. But I think supporters have a job to do too. They are called supporters because that is what they do. They are not called criticisers. Fans are of course allowed to have their opinions and to voice them later in the club or at home, but their job on a Saturday afternoon is to support. If fans turn up on a Saturday to criticise a player then they are not doing their job. So how can they criticise a player for not doing his job properly?

“Can they not see that if a player makes a mistake and is lambasted by fans then it makes it very difficult for him to re-gain concentration and re-focus on his job? Very few of us respond positively to criticism.

“At the end of the day 99% of our supporters at Glenavon are superb every week, no matter where we are playing. They support, chant and sing. If the result goes against us they try to lift us. But there is a small element within this club who by their actions, would nearly make you think that they want you to be beaten, so that they can criticise.

“I’m saying to them, ‘Wise up. That’s maybe why we’re playing in the first division – because players last year didn’t do their job properly and SOME supporters may not have done their job properly. Let’s ALL try to do our jobs together, get out of this league and back into the premier division’.”

Looking ahead to the league campaign TK told the players after today’s game that, having matched the best team in the land (according to their league position), then it would be a shame if they let the standard drop and didn’t get promotion. “If we give that sort of commitment every week and apply ourselves to the football the way we did today then we’re in with a ‘real shout’ of promotion. I'm shouting now!"

9th January 2005: PAUL EVANS

Looking forward to a new challenge

Evans, who runs his own soccer academy in the Banbridge area, concedes that Portadown will be firm favourites to win next Saturday’s cup tie. "I don’t think there is any doubt about that," he continued. "They scored six without reply against Newry last week and came from 3-1 down to beat Glentoran on Monday. Even without Gary Hamilton they are still a formidable side, possibly the best in the country. However, the majority of our squad have played in the Premier Division. In addition to that Gerard McMahon and Paul McKnight have had successful careers on the mainland. This is a great opportunity for us to test ourselves against a quality team in a big derby game and, hopefully, show people that we are good enough to be back playing in the top flight next season."

6th January 2005: DELANEY SIGNS

Glenavon tonight completed the signing of Derek Delaney from Ards. Tommy Kincaid said, “I’m delighted to get Derek on board with us. If he does half as well at Glenavon as he did for me at Larne then I’ll be well pleased. As far as I’m concerned Derek is here as an out and out striker – he’s here to score goals. That’s his job and I’ve every confidence in him to do just that.”

3rd January 2005: ONE-APIECE

Goals and Red Cards!

Johnny Montgomery saw red in the first half when he clashed with John McDowell at a Glenavon corner with McDowell having to be substituted. After a first half lacking much in the way of constructive play by either side Glenavon made a storming start to the second half. Within 30 seconds Walsh was put through by McKnight and really should have scored but allowed Brown to save with his legs. The danger was not cleared though but Murray put the follow just up wide. Walsh went close with a great volley in the 58th minute and again in the 64th minute and forced Brown to palm the ball out in the 69th minute with a defender hacking it over his own bar for a corner. In the 71st minute Bangor went ahead  when the ball struck a Glenavon defender's hand and Verner converted from the spot. Eight minutes later Verner received his marching orders for a dangerous tackle on McAlinden.

Glenavon thought they had equalised in the final minute when Walsh's shot crashed off the underside of the bar and clearly bounced a couple of feet over the line but the assistant referee shook her head and denied the visitors a deserved leveller. Walsh, who was cautioned for his protests, got the last laugh deep into injury time when his low near post cross was met with a brilliant diving header by McKnight. Full report here.

TK Reflects ...

TK reflected on the day’s game and result:

“We played with ten men and Bangor were trying to play the ball into the corners. That says it all really. We were the better side. We created more clear-cut chances. And we should be going home with three points. We didn’t think we had to fight back from a goal down in a sense because we were always in it. Poor finishing let us down and on another day we could have had three or four.

“We played good football. We got in behind them time after time after time. That was our game plan because they can be slow at the back. I thought we deserved the point and probably the three points.

“We showed a lot of character to be reduced to ten men and to keep going right to the end. It was hard to know at times which team was short of a player! Everybody did their job on the day and I couldn’t ask for anything more. We kept going and kept going and certainly got what we deserved.”

Asked about Johnny Montgomery’s sending off on 29 minutes, Tommy had no doubt in his mind, “Johnny was out of order getting sent off – he cost us the game probably. He was silly and he knows he was silly. Johnny kicked out at their player and he deserved to be sent off. I’ve no arguments with that. He’s disappointed in himself because he knows he let the boys down. I could say that it changed the game but I don’t really believe that because I thought we were always on top, even with ten men.”

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