Sports Direct Premiership

The Showgrounds, Ballymena

Tuesday 24^th February 2026

Glenavon produced another impressive performance to take a point from a difficult away fixture against a strong Ballymena United side.

Paul McGovern (45+1 mins) and Nathaniel Ferris (57 mins) scored the visitors’ goals. Cian Corbally (44 mins) and Sean Murray (62 mins) were on target for the home side.

Ballymena spurned a gilt-edged chance in only the second minute. Corbally released Success Edogun with a magnificent through pass. Jacob Carney was quick off his line to Save with his feet.

At the other end McGovern found Conor Falls with a five-yard pass but the Cliftonville loanee was unable to find space to shoot.

Peter Campbell shot high and wide from 20 yards.

In the 16^th minute referee Jamie Robinson inexplicably failed to wave play on after John Mountney was fouled close to the tight touchline. Sean Carlin had the ball at his feet and was poised to either shoot or make a pass.

Matthew Clarke shot wide with his left foot when well placed on the edge of the penalty area.

After Corbally again picked out Edogun with an incisive pass, the 24 year old striker shot high and wide.

When Paddy Burns crossed from the left, McGovern headed inches beyond the far post. Seconds earlier Falls had provided an equally promising centre from the right,  but no one was there to take advantage.

Following good work by Edogun and Clarke on the left, David Toure headed the ball across the face of goal for Corbally to nod into an empty net.

Two minutes later Glenavon equalised. A Peter Campbell shot from 20 yards and McGovern’s follow up header forced United keeper Bradley Wade to make two stunning saves. When Burns recovered the ball, McGovern shot past Wade from six yards.

In the closing moments of the first half, Aaron Jarvis headed Dylan Mcgeouch’s free kick past Carney. However, his celebrations were cut short by the assistant referee’s flag.

Ten minutes after the break Campbell tried to surprise Wade with a shot from a free kick 30 yards out. The Richhill man’s attempt was on target but the keeper saved easily.

Glenavon took the lead with a fine move started by Paul McGovern. The Newry teenager, defending on the bye-line, struck a magnificent right foot pass which found Falls on the halfway line. The 19 year old slipped the ball to Luke McGerrigan who hit a defence-splitting pass to Campbell 12 yards from goal. The left winger unselfishly slid a pass to Ferris. Despite Shane McEleney’s attempts to clear the danger, the Magheralin man shot into the net from close range.

Peter Campbell shot well over from outside the penalty area.

Ballymena drew level with its only worthwhile goal attempt of the entire second half. Toure stole ten yards when taking a throw in wide on the right. When Mountney failed to clear the Dubliner’s low cross, Sean Murray hit a right foot shot from eight yards which deflected off both Harry Murphy and Luke McGerrigan before crossing the goal line.

The visitors regained their composure after conceding the goal remarkably quickly.

Campbell’s shot was deflected wide for a corner-kick.

McGerrigan’s attempt from distance was too high.

Substitute Stephen O’Donnell headed high and wide from a free kick on the left.

When Campbell burst through on the left, Ferris’s right foot effort from 15 yards was cleared off the line by Daithi McCallion. Naill Quinn’s follow up shot also hit a defender and was cleared.

Quinn’s shot from a free kick 22 yards out hit a defender and went wide.

After Burns crossed from the left, Conor Falls turned and shot but his goalbound effort was blocked by Fuad Sule.

Glenavon, in the end, was forced to settle for a point.

BALLYMENA UNITED: Wade, Toure, McEleney, McCallion, Sule, Mcgeouch, Clarke, Corbally, Edogun, Rutkowski, Jarvis, SUBS: Breen (not used), Lafferty (not used), O’Donnell for McEleney (75 mins), Ebbe for Rutkowski (89 mins), Thompson for Jarvis (67 mins), Murray for Corbally (half time), Hood (not used).

GLENAVON: Carney, Mountney, Burns, McKeown, Murphy, Carlin, McGerrigan, McGovern, Ferris, Falls, Campbell, SUBS: McMullan for Mountney (70 mins), Cartwright (not used), Mallon for McGovern (82 mins), Lowe (not used), Gilmore (not used), Lindsay (not used), Quinn for McGerrigan (82 mins).

REFEREE: Jamie Robinson.