BALLYMENA UNITED V GLENAVON, A LOOK AHEAD

On Tuesday 24^th February 2026 Glenavon faces Ballymena United at the Warden Street Showgrounds in its next Sports Direct Premiership fixture.

Ballymena has been inconsistent but has still shown itself capable of getting the better of quality opponents. Its eight wins to date include a 1-0 home success in mid-September against David Healy’s title chasing Linfield side. United occupies tenth place in the Sports Direct Premiership table with 28 points from 28 matches. In late 2025 Oran Kearney succeeded Jim Ervin as manager.

The Sky Blues signed seven players in January. The new recruits include Shane McEleney (Glentoran), Sean Murray (Cork City), Igor Rutkowski (Armagh City) and Fuad Sule (Persis Solo).

Glenavon boss Michael O’Connor anticipates a challenging encounter. “I have watched their last two matches against Crusaders and Coleraine,” he said. “They dominated the Crues game and were very good in the second half on Friday night. They have brought in lots of new faces. The new arrivals are starting to gel. It will be a very tough game.”

The Belfast man was delighted with his team’s performance in Saturday’s 3-1 victory against Bangor at Clandeboye Park. “I thought that we started well. That set the tone for the whole game,” he said. “During the first ten minutes they could not get out of their own half. We won most of our battles and picked up the majority of the loose balls. We were on top for the entire first 45 minutes.”

He was particularly pleased that his players maintained their levels for almost the full 90 minutes. “I emphasised to the boys at half time that we needed to keep pushing forward,” he added. “They did that and got their rewards with two more goals. It was disappointing to concede right at the end. We should have defended the corner kick better. But I am being picky. Everyone performed really well. The important thing was to win the match, and we did that with a bit to spare.”

The Blues’ boss revealed that Barney McKeown’s headed goal midway through the first half was a rehearsed move. “On Thursday night we worked on ways in which we could hurt them from set pieces,” he said. “It was a front post run. Peter’s delivery was right on the money and Barney’s contact on the ball was really good. I’ve questioned us a few times this season because we have not been getting on the end of things. But I had no complaints on Saturday. Barney and Murph are big lads. They are both really aggressive. They should be a threat from corner kicks and free kicks.”

Peter Campbell was, of course, centrally involved in the first two goals. O’Connor was pleased with his contribution. “When Peter plays well Glenavon usually plays well,” he added. “He is a quality player. I asked him to play more narrow on Saturday and he did it to a tee. That was his second 90 minutes since he returned after the injury he picked up against Bangor in early December. He is getting fitter with every game. He will be a big player for us over the next nine matches.”

Michael reckoned that his decision to play with two strikers – Nathaniel Ferris and Conor Falls – was vindicated. “Both lads worked their socks off for the entire 100 minutes or more,” he added. “Nathaniel made sure their defenders had to stay on their toes and almost got on the scoresheet himself in the second half. Conor, obviously, scored two crucial goals. He did not get much gametime at Cliftonville. Hopefully, that display will give him a confidence boost.”

O’Connor explained the thinking behind his decision to play John Mountney at right back. “We had conceded five goals in our previous two games,” he said. “I thought that we needed Mount’s experience defensively. He is a good communicator. He has played at a high level for many years. It was no reflection on Jordan [McMullan]. Paddy [Burns], Barney, Murph and Mountney is probably the most experienced back four we can field. It worked well.”

The Belfast man, reflecting on the performance overall, felt that Glenavon fully deserved to win. “I don’t think there is any doubt about that,” he said. “It was an excellent all-round display. We played a different shape than we have done recently and the lads adapted really well. We got the balance right between keeping things tight at the back and getting forward at every opportunity. The objective now is to build on it.”

It is understood that, apart from Oran O’Kane and Ben Wilson, Glenavon has a fully fit squad for the trip to North Antrim.

In August 2025 the Lurgan men lost 2-0 to Ballymena United but, in November, Michael O’Connor’s men defeated the Sky Blues 3-1. Both matches were played at Mourneview Park.