GLENAVON V LOUGHGALL, A LOOK AHEAD

On Saturday 23rd March 2024 Glenavon entertains Loughgall at Mourneview Park in its next Sports Direct Premiership fixture. Loughgall made an excellent start to the campaign and has largely maintained that form. Twin strikers Benji Magee and Nathaniel Ferris have scored over 25 goals between them. The Lakeview Park side’s 1-0 home success against Larne last September and the recent 3-0 victory against Glentoran at the Oval are, arguably, the two best results achieved by any Bottom Six club this season.

“Loughgall has done very well since gaining promotion,” said Stephen McDonnell. “Quite apart from the wins they have had, they have competed well in virtually every match. Their victory in East Belfast earlier this month was outstanding.”

The Glenavon boss has spent the week trying to get his players back into a positive frame of mind after last Saturday’s 6-1 reverse at Inver Park. “It was a really bad day for us,” Stephen conceded. “But the players have responded well. They have all worked very hard in training. I think they are determined to get that result out of their systems.”

Perhaps the biggest disappointment last weekend was Peter Campbell’s sending off. He will miss the Loughgall fixture and two further matches. “At the time, I thought that Steven Gregg’s decision was harsh, but I have looked at it again and can see why he acted as he did. It was a mis-timed tackle but under the rules probably a red. It is a blow to lose Peter, but we have other good players in wide areas so we will be able to manage.”

Len O’Sullivan, who limped off against Larne with a hamstring complaint, will not be available this weekend but should return soon. Mark Haughey is again out but nearing full fitness. Niall Quinn hopes to be ready. Both Aaron Prendergast and Stephen Teggart are available.

“We have a few absentees, but generally the squad is in good shape,” added McDonnell. “Hopefully, the eleven players selected will perform well for us.”

The match against Loughgall will be sponsored by the City of Armagh Glenavon Supporters’ Club andMichael Dickson. The Armagh club has been flying the blue flag in the Cathedral City since the 1950s. Michael is the son of Freddie Dickson, a popular Glenavon director in the 1980s and early 1990s. The ball sponsor is committed supporter Gordon Gough. The ‘Player of the Match’ sponsor is Brownlow House. Brownlow House, the distinctive grand building situated adjacent to Lurgan Lake, provides a range of important services and community facilities.

Thank you to all our sponsors.

 Other Glenavon teams in action this weekend:

(Free Admission to all games)

• Monday 25th March 2024 – Glenavon Reserves v Larne Olympic, Mourneview Park, 1945 k.o.
• Friday 22nd March 2024 – Glenavon U-18s v Coleraine U-18s, Lurgan Junior High School 3G, 2000 k.o..
• Saturday 23rd March 2024 – Glenavon U-16s v Ballinamallard United U-16s, Brownstown Park, 1100 k.o.
• Saturday 23rd March 2024 – Glenavon U-14s v LarneU-14s, Crumlin Leisure Centre, 3G Pitch 3, 0930 k.o.