GLENAVON EASES PAST DUNDELA
Glenavon 2 Dundela 0
Clearer Water Irish Cup, 5th Round
Mourneview Park, Lurgan
Tuesday 14th January 2025
Glenavon eased into the sixth round of the Clearer Water Irish Cup with a comfortable 2-0 victory against Championship title challenger Dundela.
Michael O’Connor (37 mins) and David McDaid (78 mins) scored the goals.
Paddy McLoughlin’s men dominated possession for long periods and will be disappointed not to have scored more goals.
The home side had the ball in the net within 15 minutes. However, Michael O’Connor’s clinical finish from Peter Campbell’s cross was ruled out for offside.
Three minutes later Davy McDaid was denied by Dundela keeper Aaron Hogg’s smart diving stop when he hit a low shot from 10 yards following good work on the right by Barney McKeown.
In the 32nd minute O’Connor looked certain to head Glenavon in front when he pounced on Paul McGovern’s deep cross. However, surprisingly he chose to nod the ball across the face of the goal rather than into the net.
Matthew Snoddy glanced Peter Campbell’s cross past a post.
Glenavon took the lead when the impressive Davy McDaid turned wide on the right and crossed for the unmarked O’Connor to stoop and head past Hogg at the back post.
McDaid laid the ball off for David Toure to shoot high and wide.
When Peter Campbell’s corner-kick fell to McKeown, his goal bound header was cleared by a defender.
Dundela’s only attempt of the first half came in added time when Andy Hall’s header was gathered easily by Byrne.
Glenavon spurned two opportunities to extend its lead at the start of the second half. First, Marshall crossed for O’Connor to hit the target with a firm header only for Hogg to produce a stunning diving save. Then, Peter Campbell picked out Matthew Snoddy from a free kick wide on the left. Again, Hogg dived full length to save.
The East Belfast club had its best spell of the match in the middle of the second half. However, it never looked like equalising. Mark Patton shot over the crossbar and Jay Harvey fired wide from 12 yards. Substitute Gerard Storey shot straight at Byrne from a free-kick 30 yards from goal.
Michael O’Connor went close again with a header which was just too high from Campbell’s cross.
Toure, with his second attempt of the night, shot well wide.
Glenavon’s nerves settled when Davy McDaid scored the clinching second goal. The former Coleraine striker exchanged passes with Campbell on the left and shot from 8 yards. When his initial effort hit a defender on the goal line, he pounced on the loose ball and whipped it into the net.
Campbell almost made it 3-0 when he side footed the ball past the far post after excellent work by O’Connor.
Substitute Sean Carlin’s weak shot was saved easily.
Chris Atherton’s effort hit a defender and was deflected wide.
Overall, a professional display by Glenavon.
GLENAVON: Byrne, Toure, O’Sullivan, McKeown, Quinn, Snoddy, Marshall, O’Connor, McDaid, Campbell, McGovern, SUBS: Ryan (not used), Malone for Marshall (65 mins), Doona (not used), Lynch for Toure (86 mins), Baird for Snoddy (86 mins), Atherton for McGovern (65 mins), Carlin for McDaid (81 mins).
Yellow Cards: None.
DUNDELA: Hogg, White, Fletcher, Dinu, Beverland, Dornan, McMaster, Harvey, Hall, Barr, Patton, SUBS: Deane (not used), Magee for Beverland (72 mins), McLellan (not used), Smith for Hall (59 mins), Kelly for Patton (59 mins), Storey for Barr (59 mins), Murray for Dornan (81 mins).
Yellow Cards: Fletcher (32’), Dinu (58’).
REFEREE: Evan Boyce.
