Sports Direct Irish Premiership

Seaview, Belfast

Saturday 14^th March 2026

Glenavon’s hopes of Premiership survival were boosted by a comprehensive 3-0 victory against Crusaders. The win lifted Michael O’Connor’s side off bottom spot in the league table for the first time since September.

Paddy Burns (60 mins), Luke McGerrigan (64 mins) and Conor Falls (76 mins) scored the goals.

The first half was a cagey affair with neither side creating any clear cut scoring chances.

In the 13^th minute Scot Rough headed Olly McCart’s cross high and wide.

Nathaniel Ferris got his head to Paul McGovern’s cross, but his attempt was off target.

Harry Murphy got his foot to another dangerous cross by McGovern, but he was unable to direct the ball goalward.

McCart and Falls had shots from distance blocked at either end.

Peter Campbell’s snapshot from 25 yards was too high.

A weak Falls header from Ferris’s cross was cleared.

Three minutes into the second half, Crusaders should have scored. Finley Thorndike found Fraser Bryden with a slide rule pass. The Scot shot with his left foot, but Jacob Carney was out quickly to make a save.

For the next five or six minutes the Crues dominated possession and had Glenavon on the ropes. However, there was no knockout blow.

Keiran McKechnie’s shot from 25 yards did not trouble Carney.

When McGovern was pulled back by Kurtis Forsythe, the visitors were awarded a free kick. After a short delay, Campbell took it. His left foot cross fell to Paddy Burns eight yards out. The talented left back volleyed it low past Johnny Tuffey.

Four minutes later Glenavon doubled its lead. The unmarked Luke McGerrigan swooped on Campbell’s high, swinging cross to head home from 6 yards.

After McGerrigan released Ferris on the right, the striker’s cross cum shot was parried by Tuffey and Falls side footed the ball into the net.

In the closing minutes Cameron Bruce headed Stewart Nixon’s cross narrowly wide.

Glenavon’s 600 plus travelling supporters celebrated the win as if it had been achieved in a cup final.

CRUSADERS: Tuffey, K. Forsythe, McKechnie, Thorndike, Rough, Barr, Bruce, Elliott, Bryden, McCart, Weir, SUBS: Nimaga (not used), Blaney (not used), Brooks for Thorndike (65 mins), Williamson for McCart (74 mins), Nixon for McKechnie (65 mins), Maguire for Dunlop (65 mins), Anderson for Weir (65 mins).

Yellow Cards: Forsythe (58’), Nixon (80’), Barr (83’).

GLENAVON: Carney, McMullan, Burns, Murphy, McKeown, Carlin, McGerrigan, McGovern, Ferris, Falls, Campbell, SUBS: Cartwright for Murphy (84 mins), Mallon for Campbell (80 mins), Lowe for Carlin (90 mins), Gilmore (not used), Harkin (not used), Lindsay for McGovern (84 mins), Quinn for McGerrigan (80 mins).

Yellow Card: McGerrigan (80’).

REFEREE: Declan Hassan (Ballymoney).