GLENAVON V BANGOR, A LOOK AHEAD

On Saturday 6^TH December 2025 Glenavon faces Bangor at Mourneview Park in its next Sports Direct Premiership fixture.

The Seasiders have made an excellent start to the season and have already defeated Cliftonville (3-1), Dungannon Swifts (2-1), Portadown (4-1), Coleraine (2-1), Glenavon (3-0) and Crusaders (2-1) in the League Championship. Bangor’s squad includes former Mourneview favourites Gareth Deane, Mark Haughey, Harry Lynch, Tiernan Mulvenna and Jack O’Mahony.

“Lee Feeney has done an unbelievable job,” said Blues’ boss Michael O’Connor. “I watched their last match against Glentoran. You know what you are going to get with them. They are well set up, hard to beat and have players that can threaten, in particular Ben Arthurs up front. But our home form since we came in has been really good so we can build on that. It will be difficult – all games in this league are difficult – but we should feel confident going into it.”

O’Connor was delighted with his team’s application in last Saturday’s excellent 3-1 success against Ballymena United. “When I watched the match over again, I thought that the quality of our football was not as high as it has been in some other matches recently, but the players showed real character to come from a goal behind to secure the three points. Sometimes, when you are not at your best, you need to find a way to win and we did that. It is a good sign.”

Michael felt that neither team produced much free flowing football. “It was, to be honest, a bit scrappy,” he continued. “We were the better side in the first half but for twenty minutes after half time they were probably on top because they changed approach and went more direct. But, out of possession, our shape was really good. We didn’t allow them to play through us and we didn’t give them any clear cut openings. I don’t think Mark [Byrne] had a save to make apart from the penalty kick. Then we got a penalty ourselves late on and Davy [McDaid] took it well.”

O’Connor was pleased that, after taking the lead, his team continued to be positive. “When you are ahead going into the last five or ten minutes, the worst thing you can do is drop back into your own 18 yard box,” he added. “This is a point I have been making to the lads. If you look back at the third goal, when we won back possession, we already had our front three in their half. So, when the ball came to Paul McGovern, he was able to play Peter [Campbell] in with a great pass. I played with Peter here for three years. That was a Peter Campbell finish. He is the best at it in the business.”

Michael feels that the decision to carefully manage Peter’s return to the team after his long-term injury absence is paying off. “I think we have dealt with it really well,” he said. “He is, in my opinion, one of the very best wingers in the league so we had to resist the temptation to ask him to play a full match straight off. By building up his involvement, starting with the Dungannon match, we reduced the chances of him breaking down. On Saturday he was able to play 90 minutes, had no problems with his hamstring and as everyone saw was back to his best.”

O’Connor praised Paddy Burns for his efforts as a second half substitute after Luke Cartwright was forced to go off with an injury. “Paddy sets himself high standards, even when he is not in the team,” he continued. “He struggled a bit at left back during the match at Larne, but anytime he has played in the centre half position he has been brilliant. He picked up a slight niggle during the week of the Tuesday night game at Newry and was out of the side but has come back well. He is a wholehearted, totally committed player who always has a lot to contribute.

Luke, who was another solid performer in the first half against Ballymena, has a slight hamstring problem. “It looks as if he will be out for perhaps ten days to two weeks,” said the Blues’ boss. “Thankfully, we got him off in time.”

It is a sobering thought that nine members of the first team squad which was assembled during the summer are currently unavailable. Francely Lomboto and Davy McDaid are no longer with the club and, in addition to Luke, Sean Carlin, Jacob Carney, Kris Lowe, Stephen Mallon, Luke McGerrigan and Ben Wilson will not be in the squad to face Bangor. More positively, Jacob, Stephen, Luke and Ben could be back in contention for first team places by the end of the year.

Kyle McClelland, who missed the games against Larne and Ballymena, trained this week.

Finally, Michael revealed that he is already very busy preparing for the January transfer window. “We are working very hard on the telephone,” he said. “I have spoken to a lot of managers already. A few weeks ago, we thought we had two players lined up to come to us, but their clubs have had some injury issues, and they are both back playing first team football again. I knew that it would be difficult and it is every bit as hard as I thought it would be. But we will keep trying. The likelihood is that we won’t know for sure who is and who isn’t available until the start of next month.”

Nonetheless, O’Connor is determined to do everything in his power to bring in new faces. “We need to strengthen for the second half of the season. There is no doubt about that,” he added. “As much as anything, it will drive the players already here to get better. But we aren’t interested in new signings for the sake of it. The new players need to have ability and be good character-wise. We will do our background checks.”

The match sponsor for Saturday’s fixture is The Cunningham Family in Memory of Noel. Noel Cunningham, who passed away in September 2024, served on the Board of Directors from June 1983 to June 1991. He was a highly respected and much loved member of the Glenavon family.

The matchball sponsor is the Spirit of 2014 Glenavon Supporters’ Club.

The McCracken’s Brewery “Player of the Match” sponsor is Hollie Berrie at the Tearooms, Scarva, County Down.

Congratulations to Glenavon U-18s which defeated Ballyclare Comrades U-18s 5-0 last Saturday to book its place in the semi-finals of the prestigious Harry Cavan Youth Cup. Harry Gough (2), Shane Trainor, Charlie Gault and Calum Cope scored the goals.

Other Glenavon teams in action:

(Free Admission to all games)

• Monday 8^th December 2025 – Portadown Reserves v Glenavon Reserves, Shamrock Park, 1945 k.o.
• Friday 5^th December 2025 – Crusaders U-18s v Glenavon U-18s, Seaview, Belfast, 2000 k.o.
• Saturday 6^th December 2025 – Warrenpoint Town U-16s v Glenavon U-16s, Jennings Park, Newry, 1100 k.o.