Sports Direct Irish Premiership

Solitude, Belfast

Saturday 13^th December 2025

Despite scoring two brilliant first half goals, embattled Glenavon succumbed to in-form Cliftonville.

Eric McWoods (3 mins), Joe Sheridan (43 mins), Johnny Addis (45+2 mins) and Jack Keaney (83 and 90+5 mins) scored the Reds’ goals. Jack Malone (29 mins) and Bridel Bosakani (40 mins) were on target for the Lurgan men.

McWoods gave the home side an early lead when he evaded Kyle McClelland, controlled Johnny Addis’s through pass and shot past Mark Byrne. The Newry-based goalkeeper, injured in a collision with the goalscorer, was replaced by 16 year old Sean Hamill.

Paul McGovern, always lively in attack, dribbled the ball to the edge of the Reds’ penalty area but his shot was blocked by a defender.

Rory Hale was off target with two goal attempts in five minutes. His second effort was deflected over the crossbar.

Jack Malone’s right foot shot from 18 yards was headed away by a defender.

Five minutes later the former Derry City midfielder latched onto a well directed forward pass by Paddy Burns and skilfully chipped the ball over Peter Morrison’s head with his left foot. A sublime finish.

Hamill was well positioned to make a regulation save from Sheridan’s shot from 18 yards.

Bridel Bosakani put Glenavon in front when he chested a headed clearance and hit a superb volley from 22 yards which left Morrison helpless and flew into the net.

Cliftonville equalised three minutes later. Teenager Joe Sheridan cut in from the left, carried the ball for ten yards without a challenge and shot low past Hamill. Although the young goalkeeper got a firm hand to the attempt, he was unable to prevent it crossing the goal line.

Hale’s attempt from close to the left touchline was saved easily by Hamill.

Addis restored Cliftonville’s lead when he surged into the penalty area and unleashed an unstoppable left foot piledriver which arrowed to the corner of the net. Again, no Glenavon defender attempted to engage him or block his run.

Early in the second half Harry Wilson shot well wide.

Jack Malone found Bosakani inside the penalty area. The Drogheda loanee’s effort was blocked.

In the 53^rd minute Odhran Casey was sent off after committing a second bookable offence.

When Fapetu burst through on the right, Sean Hamill dived to make a fine save.

Substitute Conor Barr was allowed to run unchallenged across the face of Glenavon’s penalty area before he shot wide.

Shaun Leppard’s header from a corner kick was saved easily by Hamill.

Harry Murphy did well to block Conor Falls’ goalbound attempt.

Moments later Jack Keaney, completely unmarked 15 yards out, shot past Hamill with his right foot after Rory Hale picked him out with a precise pass from a corner kick.

Hamill moved sharply to his right to palm away Keaney’s shot from a free kick.

Three minutes later, deep in second half injury time, the teenage goalkeeper could do nothing when Keaney curled another free kick round the wall and inside the post.

Glenavon, despite playing with eleven against ten men for most of the second period, did not test Morrison once.

CLIFTONVILLE: Morrison, Lavery, H. Wilson, Addis, Casey, Keaney, Hawthorne, Sheridan, McWoods, Hale, Curran, SUBS: Ridd (not used), Falls for Curran (63 mins), Leppard for Wilson (74 mins), Gormley (not used), Barr for McWoods (63 mins), Fapetu for Sheridan (63 mins), Tohill for Hale (88 mins).

Yellow Cards: Casey (40’), Hale (67’), H. Wilson (71’).

Red Card: Casey (53’).

GLENAVON: Byrne, McMullan, Quinn, Burns, McCleland, Murphy, O’Kane, McKeown, Busakani, Malone, McGovern, SUBS: Hamill for Byrne (9 mins), Mallon (not used), B. Wilson for O’Kane (83 mins), Kee (not used), Smith for McKeown (63 mins), McGerrigan for Quinn (83 mins), McShane (not used).

Yellow Cards: McMullan (45+3’), Smith (76’),

REFEREE: Louise Thompson.