GLENAVON DEFEATS SEAGOE IN MID-ULSTER CUP

Glenavon 4 Seagoe 0

Mid-Ulster Cup, First Round

Mourneview Park, Lurgan

Tuesday 3rd September 2024

Glenavon defeated Seagoe 4-0 to advance to the second round of the Mid-Ulster Cup.

The home side’s goalscorers were David McDaid (2 mins), James Carroll (35 mins), James Doona (36 mins) and Michael O’Connor (52 mins).

McDaid opened the scoring in the 2nd minute with the best goal of the evening and maybe even of the season. The former Cliftonville and Larne striker intercepted a defender’s wayward pass and blasted the ball past Jack Johnston from 22 yards.

Glenavon, dominant for virtually the entire match, almost made it 2-0 when James Doona shot wide following a promising attack.

When Christopher Atherton’s cross from the right hit the inside of the far post, Michael O’Connor shot straight at Johnston.

Seagoe’s best chance of the night fell to Matthew Loney halfway through the first half. Standing 6 yards out, the striker miskicked, and the ball was cleared.

Moments later Glenavon should have doubled its advantage. After James Doona’s attempt was saved, the ball broke to O’Connor but, with Johnston in no man’s land, he shot straight at Loney who was standing on the goal-line.

Then O’Connor tested Johnston with a well hit low drive. The Seagoe goalkeeper dived full length to claw the ball away.

Glenavon doubled its lead when James Carroll climbed high to head James Doona’s corner-kick past Johnston.

A minute later Doona scored the third. O’Connor picked him out with a slide rule pass and the former League of Ireland man confidently shot past the goalkeeper from 12 yards.

James Ward curled a free kick from 20 yards wide of a post and McDaid released Paul McGovern with a brilliant pass, but the teenager’s touch let him down.

Early in the second half O’Connor headed wide from an O’Sullivan cross. However, when the two men combined again a few minutes later, the widely travelled frontman made no mistake. This time he hammered a right foot shot past Johnston.

After Glenavon made a number of substitutions – bringing on five Academy players – Seagoe offered more of an attacking threat.

Scott Cowan’s shot was well saved by Mark Byrne; Daniel Hume floated a free kick from an acute angle just wide; and Luke Taylor forced the home goalkeeper to make a fine reaction save from a close-range header.

At the other end substitute Luke McGerrigan shot just wide and McGovern first fired narrowly over the crossbar and then saw a goalbound attempt well saved.

Glenavon looked to have made the score 5-0 when McGerrigan crossed for the unmarked Calum Hamilton to direct a header goalward. However, Taylor denied the teenager with a brilliant goal-line clearance.

GLENAVON: Byrne, Toure, O’Sullivan, Carroll, Snoddy, Ward, O’Connor, McGovern, McDaid, Atherton, Doona, SUBS: Deane (not used), Snodgrass (not used), Brady for Ward (half-time), Hamilton for O’Sullivan (57 mins), B. Wilson for McDaid (half-time), McGerrigan for Snoddy (57 mins), Heaney for Doona (57 mins).

Yellow Cards: None.

SEAGOE: Johnston, Cowan, Hume, Taylor, Graham, J. McCullough, D. Rowland, J. Rowland, Loney, Atrach, R. Wilson, SUBS: Smyth for D. Rowland (half-time), Ginesifor J.Rowland (half-time), Byrne for Loney (67 mins), Abraham for R. Wilson (70 mins), Harper for Hume (89 mins), Armstrong (not used).

Yellow Cards: None.

REFEREE: Ryan Evans.