Sports Direct Irish Premiership

Mourneview Park, Lurgan

Friday 20^th March 2026

Glenavon suffered its first defeat in five games with a 3-0 reverse against title chasing Larne.

Paul O’Neill (62 mins), Leroy Millar (69 mins) and Andy Ryan (90+3 mins) were the men on target.

The East Antrim side dominated the opening period.

In the 7^th minute Andy Ryan crossed low from the left, Paul O’Neill poked the ball under Jacob Carney’s body, but Paddy Burns made a fabulous goal line clearance.

When Sean Graham crossed from the right, Ryan headed towards goal, but Carney saved well.

Paul McGovern turned sharply on the edge of the penalty area but shot wide.

Daniel Bent’s wayward header from a free kick was grasped by Carney.

O’Neill hit a low shot from Ryan’s cross which the Glenavon goalkeeper got down low to save with his right hand. It was a magnificent stop.

Harry Murphy, a defensive colossus in recent weeks, was forced to leave the field with a thigh injury.

When O’Neill found himself with only Carney to beat, he hesitated and then moved the ball to the right. Tomas Cosgrove was unable to take advantage.

Ryan shot against the defensive wall from a free kick 20 yards out.

Glenavon, outplayed for most of the first half, gained a foothold at the start of the second period.

Peter Campbell’s cross cum shot was not far wide.

McGovern’ close range attempt from an acute angle was saved by Rohan Ferguson.

When Graham released Millar on the right the former Ballymena United midfielder crossed for O’Neill to head past Carney at the far post.

Cosgrove’s cross from the right was headed down by Millar for Ryan to pull it back to the edge of the six yard box. Millar got to the ball ahead of Barney McKeown and shot to the net.

Nathaniel Ferris’s header from Paul McGovern’s well taken corner kick was cleared off the line.

Conor Falls’s headed attempt from Jordan McMullan’s cross was off target.

In the closing seconds Ryan bundled Cosgrove’s low cross into the net at the back post to complete the scoring.

GLENAVON: Carney, McMullan, Burns, Murphy, McKeown, Carlin, McGerrigan, McGovern, Ferris, Falls, Campbell, SUBS: Cartwright (not used), Mallon for McGerrigan (74 mins). O’Kane (not used), Lowe for McGovern (80 mins), Gilmore for Campbell (80 mins), Lindsay for Ferris (74 mins), Quinn for Murphy (28 mins).

Yellow Cards: None.

LARNE: Ferguson, Donnelly, Ridley, Cosgrove, Graham, Millar, Bent, O’Neill, Ryan, Simpson, SUBS: Graham (not used), McKendry (not used), Randall (not used), Doherty for Simpson (69 mins), McEneff (not used), Lusty for O’Neill (69 mins), Wallace (not used).

Yellow Card: Graham (83’).

REFEREE: Steven Gregg (Ballyclare).