GLENAVON V GLENTORAN, A LOOK AHEAD

On Saturday 17^th January 2026 Glenavon faces Glentoran at Mourneview Park in its next Sports Direct Premiership fixture.

Glentoran is currently placed third in the Premiership with 43 points from 22 matches – 13 wins, four draws and five defeats. On Tuesday night it suffered a disappointing 4-1 reverse against Larne at the Oval. Ryan Cooney, sent off in the first half, is suspended for the trip to Lurgan. Jack Malone, who recently moved to East Belfast, is also serving a ban. In addition to Malone, the Belfast Glens have signed striker Ben Gallagher who had been playing in Australia with Mandurah City.

Glenavon boss Michael O’Connor was not entirely satisfied with his side’s performance in the midweek 4-2 Clearer Water Irish Cup victory against Newington. “We struggled in the first half,” he said. “We didn’t move the ball quickly enough and conceded a soft goal. We improved in the second period. The substitutes made a difference. Peter Campbell and Gavin Gilmore both got on the scoresheet.”

Michael was pleased with Stephen Mallon’s contribution during the opening period. “I thought he was the best player on the pitch,” he commented. “He ran at defenders and tried to make things happen. Obviously, he is coming back after a long spell out with injury. It was our intention to take him off at half time.” Mallon was replaced by Campbell. “We didn’t expect Peter to have to play 75 minutes, but the extra thirty minutes will probably help him. He suffered no adverse reaction to his hamstring injury.”

O’Connor felt that Newington’s defensive approach made it difficult. “They sat in and were hard to break down. They got a goal which gave them something to hold onto. But, after half time, we got more crosses into the box and started to get players running in behind. Once we got the second equaliser and the game went to extra time, I thought that we would have too much for them.”

The Blues’ boss was disappointed with his side’s defending for the first goal. “We shouldn’t have been beaten so easily down the side, and the cross should have been cut out,” he said. “Two or three things went wrong. But we responded well which was encouraging.”

Michael reckoned that new loan signing Nathaniel Ferris made a positive contribution. “I thought that he led the line really well,” he continued. “It was hard for him because his game is about running down the sides and there was no space for him to do that, particularly in the first half. But he gave us lots of energy which lifted the players around him and, obviously, he scored the important third goal.”

O’Connor also had good things to say about Gavin Gilmore. “Gavin came off the bench and did well,” he added. “Although he hasn’t played for two or three months, he was full of energy. He also took his goal well. It was a really good start for him.”

Michael was pleased to see Sean Carlin back on the pitch again. “With the extra time Sean played for longer than planned but he came through it okay. He trained well on Thursday night. He looked really good. It is great to have him back.”

However, O’Connor was disappointed with referee Michael McKenna’s decision to send off debutant Michael Harkin during the second period of extra time. The teenager now faces a three match ban.  “I thought that it was a yellow card but no more than that,” said the Belfast man. “I spoke to some of the Newington lads afterwards and they agreed with me. We considered appealing it but have decided against it. We don’t think that it would succeed.”

Although Glenavon defeated Glentoran 3-1 in November, the Blues’ boss expects a tough 90 minutes when the East Belfast men return to Lurgan. “That win was six or seven weeks ago,” he reflected. “Leaving aside their defeat by Larne when they were down to ten men early on, they have been winning games consistently, scoring lots of goals and conceding very few. They have also strengthened their squad. So, it will be a difficult match.”

Michael is fully aware of the threat posed, in particular, by Glens’ striker Pat Hoban, the scorer of six goals in the recent 7-0 win at Carrick Rangers. “He is a top player and is a big danger, but there are ten others we need to worry about,” he said. “The last time we worked hard in training to make sure we were well prepared and handled Pat really well. Hopefully, we can do that again.”

New signing Conor Falls, who has joined on loan from Cliftonville, is available. “We are pleased to be able to add Conor to the squad,” said O’Connor. “He has been in and out of the Reds’ team this season but definitely has ability. It was always our aim to bring in three players who can lead the line. Obviously, we have Nathaniel, Mikey Harkin can play there and Conor is the third.”

Goalkeeper Jacob Carney, who suffered a concussion injury in the Boxing Day derby at Shamrock Park, can return. Paddy Burns, who suffered some discomfort in his groin against Newington and was substituted, completed a recovery session on Thursday night. Luke Cartwright also trained well and is back in the squad again. However, the news on Oran O’Kane, who also came off against Portadown, is not as positive. He has had a scan on a hamstring injury and is probably out for the next  four or five weeks. “It is a blow to lose Oran,” said O’Connor. “He has been very good for us since October.”

Nathaniel Ferris and Charlie Lindsay, who both joined Glenavon on loan from Glentoran, are unavailable. Michael Harkin begins his three match suspension.

In August 2025 Glenavon lost 2-0 to Glentoran at the Oval. In November 2025 the Lurgan Blues defeated the Oval club 3-1 at Mourneview Park.

The match sponsor is Lockton Insurance, one of the world’s largest insurance companies. It has an office at Clarence Street in Belfast. The matchball sponsor is local councillor and keen supporter, Peter Haire. The McCracken’s Brewery “Player of the Match” sponsor is Jonathan Burns, the grandson of lifelong fan Alan Burns.

There will be a bucket collection in support of Purple Poppies which raises funds for a range of good causes including supporting animals who have served alongside humans in time of war.

Other Glenavon teams in action:

(Free Admission to all games)

• Monday 19^th January 2026 – Ballymena United Reserves v Glenavon Reserves, The Showgrounds, 1945 k.o.
• Saturday 17^th January 2026 – Linfield U-18s v Glenavon U-18s, Harry Cavan Youth Cup, Quarter final, Midgley Park, 1330 k.o.
• Saturday 17^th January 2026 – Ballinamallard United U-16s v Glenavon U-16s, Fisher Park 3G, 1100 k.o.