NOVEMBER 2004

30th November 2004: FRIENDLY RESULT

TK was really pleased that the Sligo Rovers team had made the long journey to Lurgan. He is grateful to the manager and players for their effort. The aim of the match was to give him a chance to look at a number of their players, two of which impressed him. Unfortunately these players are not available at the moment and the managers will continue their dialogue.

27th November 2004: BLUES OUTCLASS DUNS

Glenavon 2-0 Dundela

Glenavon turned in arguably the best performance of the season, with November Player of the Month, Gareth Walsh contributing a fabulous assist  for the first goal and a brilliant strike for the second. Speaking to glenavonfc.com after the match, 'Walshy' was just a little pleased with the goal. "The ball from Gerdie fell nicely for me and I just hit it first time with the left foot. I didn't think it would fly in that well though!"

Gareth Murray dominated the central midfield with a solid performance, ably supported by young Stephen McAlorum, with Walsh and Topley dangerous on the flanks. Up front, Gerard McMahon was a class act and Aiden McVeigh provided good support alongside him.

The back four were very solid and Andy McDonald was only really tested once throughout the game whereas Tony Miskelly in the Duns goal had a much busier afternoon, pulling off a number of fine saves to deny Glenavon a more comprehensive score line. Report Voting form

POST-MATCH REACTIONS

Kincaid 'prepared to be ruthless'

“I thought we thoroughly deserved to win. We controlled the game from start to finish. The players showed a hunger and an appetite for the game that I have tried to instil in them and the fact that two substitutes stayed on the bench, and didn’t come on, shows that the people on the pitch did their job.

“There is no sentiment involved. We are serious about the job we’ve been brought in to do and I am prepared to be ruthless, because we have to get the result on the pitch.”

The development of a partnership in midfield between Stephen McAlorum and Gareth Murray has been important. “Mackers is young and enthusiastic. He does everything you say. He wants to get forward all the time, no matter what stage the game is at. I had to tell him with 5 or 10 minutes to go, “Mackers, we’re 2-0 up and we don’t need you running all over the place! Stay in midfield along with Gareth, keep the shape” – and he did.

“Gareth Murray in my eyes is just a quality player. I had him with me at Larne and he has matured a lot since then. His fitness level has improved and I think that is key. He knows the game. He’s great on the ball and he’s strong. He wins the ball. He’s good in the tackle. He has the quality for premiership football. Gareth has got his ‘serious head’ on and that makes him a winner. We were all winners today.”

McMEEKIN - 'Things can only get better'

First Team coach Wayne McMeekin reflected on yesterday’s match and the battle he has had to maintain players’ fitness and availability for selection.

“I thought it was a job well done. We didn’t allow them to cause us any major problems. Wee Mackers did very well again. He was everywhere and covered every blade of grass. Gareth Murray worked well too – you just expect that of Gareth – and the two of them work well together. I think we might have found a real partnership in midfield with those two.

“What can you say about Walshy’s goal? Stunning! That’s what Walshy’s game is all about.

“We’ve picked up a lot of injuries. The players are being professional about their business. They’re doing their warm ups and cool downs properly, but we find that teams are being very physical with us because they can’t match us for skill. For much of the season we’ve had as many as eight players out injured, but hopefully as some of them return to fitness we can put all that behind us and can see real competition for places and a settled squad.

“We’re starting to get things together. There is a bit more in the locker to come and things will only get better!”

NOVEMBER PLAYER OF THE MONTH

23rd November 2004: GLENAVON BEAT HANOVER

Glenavon 2-1 Hanover

With these sides meeting for the second time this season, Glenavon having won the first encounter comfortably 5-0, the home side failed to impress despite taking the lead after only 25 seconds through a brilliant strike by Lee Feeney. Aiden McVeigh added another fine goal with a thunderous shot from the 18 yard line after 36 minutes but the performance of the home side in the second half fell away when it would have been expected that the players would have shown their superior fitness. Instead Hanover's Jason Woods scored with a brilliant goal from all of 35 yards that left Andy McDonald looking bemused. This provided the spur for the visitors to make the final 20 minutes a nervy experience for the home side. Stephen Woods sent in a couple of testing inswinging corners that the Glenavon defence struggled to cope with. In the final minute Hanover player manager and former Mourneview favourite Alan Gracey could have taken the game to extra time with a shot from 25 yards but it ended up well wide. Report.

McMAHON INTERVIEW

The Irish Daily Star will, each Tuesday, be covering the Irish League Football scene. The coverage today featured an extensive interview with Gerard McMahon which you can read here.

20th November 2004: VITAL LEAGUE WIN

A 79th minute header from Gerard McMahon earned Glenavon's second win of the League campaign against a Ballyclare side that started the day in third place. For the Match report and action pictures, click here.

Post-match Reactions

The whole of Mourneview Park was delighted to see Gerard McMahon score for Glenavon. “I was very, very pleased with it. I’ve been two years waiting for a goal and after what I’ve been through – three operations- I was very, very pleased with it. I dedicate it to my young son, Kane, born just last month.

TK looked back on the game and began with McMahon’s goal. “I’m so pleased for Gerard. For someone to come through what he has had to come through and even to play football after it, never mind come back and play at this level and score the winning goal for a club he loves to play for, is a tremendous achievement. Everyone in the changing room and indeed everyone at the club is delighted for him.

“I thought Aiden McVeigh did well for us. I asked him to ‘put himself about’ and attack the ball in the box, and he did. I think he’s a good player and that he’ll score goals. He gets himself into some great positions but he needs to work harder on the finish.

“Johnny Montgomery had a great debut. He’s a leader, he’s a winner, he does everything you want him to do and not only does he defend – you’ll find him troubling the keeper at the other end, as he did today with a powerful header at goal.

“It was great for me to have more of my squad to choose from. That hasn’t been the case, what with injuries. The majority of them were fit and able to play today so I had some hard decisions to make. There were people disappointed at not getting a game but, at the end of the day, those people have got to push the people who were in the team out of the jersey!

“The people who didn’t play today will play in Tuesday night’s Mid Ulster Cup game against Hanover. We’ll take a look at everyone again at training on Thursday night before deciding on the squad for next Saturday.

“The league games, when we get to play them, are all ‘big’ games. There’s a lot of pressure on me and the players because the expectation about the club is so high. I am happy to live with that and today I thought the players did enough to show that they are capable of carrying that expectation too.”

18th November 2004: MONTY SIGNS

Glenavon Chairman Roy Ferguson welcomes Johnny Montgomery back to Mourneview Park.

Tommy Kincaid has completed the signing of Johnny Montgomery from Dungannon Swifts. Montgomery has trained with Glenavon and will be available for selection for tomorrow's game against Ballyclare Comrades at Mourneview Park. Kick of is 3.00pm.

Peter Withnell has been placed on the Transfer List. Interested parties should contact Tommy Kincaid or Colin Forsythe.

15th November 2004: BIRTHDAY BOY BOB

Celebrating a birthday this week is Ballygowan-based supporter Bob McMurray. A retired Harland and Wolff foreman, Bob has been a Glenavon supporter and season ticket holder since he first took a liking for the Mourneview men during the McCoy, Conville, McBride and Ferris era. He rarely misses a game now, home or away.

Bob, pictured second left, is seen here with some of his football manager friends, from left, Bobby Williamson, who was in charge of Kilmarnock when Glenavon played them in the UEFA Cup, now manager of Plymouth Argyle, Dee Heron of Killyleagh YC and Colin Malone of Armagh City. I wouldn't want to reveal Bob's age but I can tell you that his bus pass is now fourteen.

8th November 2004: WHAT A LOTTO DOSH!

Congratulations to Armagh-based Glenavon supporter, Graham Brown who scooped the £5000 jackpot prize in the Glenavon Lottery this week. When the balls popped out of the Lottery machine on Monday night they matched Graham's selection of 2, 5, 8 and 16. Graham, who is a member of the Armagh Glenavon Supporters Club, is a regular seller of Glenavon Lottery tickets and no doubt will find the Christmas shopping this year a lot more fun.

The Jackpot now reverts back to £1000, still a handy sum, and will increase by £100 each week until it's won again..

6th November 2004: INTERMEDIATE CUP, Rnd 1

Crumlin Utd 0-3 Glenavon

Goals from Stephen McAlorum, Gareth Walsh and Jim McCloskey sealed the win for Glenavon. Lee Feeney missed a first half penalty, awarded when McCloskey was tripped, blasting the spot kick high over the bar. Report.

Tommy Kincaid is concerned at the mounting injury list at Glenavon. Walsh and McShane both limped off in today's game.

Some of the happy fans who saw Glenavon get back to winning ways on Saturday.

4th November 2004: VICTORY SHIELD AT MOURNEVIEW

Northern Ireland's schoolboy (U-16) Internationals lost 1-3 to England on Thursday night at Mourneview Park. The match, which was covered live on Sky Sports, was much closer than the score line would suggest. The NI lads matched the visitors in most facets of the game, hitting the woodwork twice and having a couple cleared off the line. In the end naive defending at set pieces cost the home side dear.

The Sky commentary team were clearly impressed by the facilities and playing surface at Mourneview Park, as was Northern Ireland manager, Lawrie Sanchez who attended the game.

2nd November 2004: CUP DISAPPOINTMENT

Bangor 3-1 Glenavon

Glenavon lost this entertaining Daily Mirror Trophy final at Dixon Park to a lively Bangor side, assisted by some skill, luck and a dodgy penalty. Bangor took the lead in the 10th minute when an off-target shot from Marty Verner cannoned off David McAlinden at the back post and rebounded into the net. The opportunity had arisen when Pete Batey lost his footing under pressure from Verner. Bangor doubled the lead in the 25th minute when a well-worked move left David Officer unmarked just inside the Glenavon box and, despite a valiant block by McDonald, the ball spun up off him and looped into the net. Conor Devine gave the Blues hope 8 minutes later when he got on the end of a good through ball from Tony McShane and took it round the Bangor keeper before slotting it into the empty net.

Bangor's  two-goal cushion was restored three minutes before the interval when McDonald was penalised for bringing down Ryan Brown (2), even though he clearly played the ball. Even the Bangor players seemed surprised at the referee's decision. McDonald saved Verner's penalty and the follow up but somehow, despite three Glenavon players trying to clear it, the ball was bundled over the line.

Glenavon enjoyed the majority of the play in the second half, hitting the woodwork once and having several other efforts well saved or flashing just wide.  Match Report.

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