Gary Hamilton is hoping that his side turn the pain of last week’s Irish Cup exit to Harland & Wolff Welders into something positive tonight (Friday, 7.45pm).

Glenavon travel to Inver Park to take on title challengers Larne, knowing that their performance last week let everyone around the club down.

“I don’t even know if I’ll be over it by Friday night,” Gary told Glenavon Media.

“The coaching staff are hurting and I’m hoping the players hurt in the same way because I know the supporters will be hurting.
“We all have to be in this together and that’s the way football is – we all have to hurt and especially players, coaches and staff because at the end of the day, it’s our responsibility to get results for this football club.”

The Lurgan Blues have “usually performed better in games against the top six”, as Gary admits, and that has been the case in their two games against Tiarnan Lynch’s side.

While both games have ended in defeats, Glenavon were unfortunate in both games – losing 2-1 to stoppage time penalty from Ben Doherty in August and 1-0 in December via a late Sean Ward own goal.

Andrew Doyle will be unavailable this evening due to illness, however Glenavon will be boosted by the news that loan signing Jordan Stewart is available for selection this evening. He missed last Saturday’s game through being cup-tied.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Shane Andrews

Assistant Referees: Ryan Kelsey, Kristian Hanna

Fourth Official: Lee Tavinder

LAST TIME OUT: Glenavon were undone by a late Larne goal for the second time this season at Mourneview Park on Friday evening as the league leaders grabbed a 1-0 victory.

Back in August former Lurgan Blue Ben Doherty scored from the penalty spot with virtually the last kick of the game to secure the Inver Reds a 2-1 win against the nine men of Glenavon.

On this occasion it was another former Glenavon player who was involved in the game’s decisive moment, with substitute Daniel Kearns swinging over the corner that led to Sean Ward unfortunately heading the ball into his own net on 80 minutes.