GLENAVON V PORTADOWN, A LOOK AHEAD

On Saturday 4^th April 2026 Glenavon faces Portadown at Mourneview Park in its first post-split Sports Direct Premiership fixture.

As part of the NIFL’s league-wide campaign, #NotInOurGame, aimed at tackling violence against women, we are asking fans to take part in a 30 second applause on the 30th minute.

The Ports are currently ninth in the league table with 11 wins and three draws from 33 fixtures. Those victories include impressive home successes against Linfield (2-0) and Larne (2-1). In their final fixture before the split, Niall Currie’s men drew with Crusaders (0-0) at Shamrock Park.

In January Portadown added Josh Carson (Ballymena United), Jack Scott (Coleraine), Gideon Tetteh (Athlone Town) and Adhamh Towe (Loughgall) to its squad. However, it lost Ryan Mayse (Dergview), Jamie Rea (Newry City) and Ben Wylie (Coleraine).

Michael O’Connor is gearing up for a challenging 90 minutes. “It is a local derby, and all derbies are difficult games. Current form, the league table, etc. all go out the window,” he said. “Obviously, we won 3-0 last time we met so they will be a bit wounded and will want, from their point of view, to put things right. The Portadown team we face this weekend will probably be different. But I prefer to concentrate on us. Training, over the last two weeks, has been good. Everyone in our dressing room is looking forward to it.”

O’Connor felt that Glenavon was well worth its 3-0 success in the last Mid-Ulster derby. “Apart from the first 15 minutes we were the better side,” he said. “In fact, we dominated for long periods. After that poor start, we were clinical at both ends of the pitch. We denied them virtually any goalscoring chances and we scored three times. Paddy Burns, Conor Falls and Paul McGovern all took their goals well. It was a comprehensive victory.”

The Belfast man admitted that, early on, his side could have conceded. “We began slowly and sloppily,” he said. “We weren’t winning our battles, and we were allowing them too much possession. They created one really good scoring opportunity but missed it. Then, ten or fifteen minutes later, we scored and after that didn’t look back. We need to start better this weekend.”

Although Portadown is ten points clear of 11^th place, Michael reckons that they will be desperate to win. “I don’t think they are out of the relegation battle just yet,” he said. “Obviously, either us or Crusaders would need to win our next four or five matches to draw them into it, but that is not impossible. However, realistically they need one more victory to be in a more or less safe position. They will be determined to get it this Saturday.”

Last time out, Glenavon lost 3-0 to champion elect Larne. Despite the final score, O’Connor was not too despondent. “It was not a 3-0 contest,” he said. “We matched them for 60 or 65 minutes. We were competitive all over the pitch. But then they scored with a breakaway goal and seven or eight minutes later scored again. Listen, they are the best team we have played this season. Their structure, their shape, their solid defence and the threat they have at the top end of the pitch are all very impressive.”

Michael felt that during the second half his players ran out of steam. “Whilst they rested, most of our lads were at work all day on that Friday,” he said. “Full time and part time makes a difference. But I have nothing but praise for my players. They matched a very good team for two thirds of the 90 minutes and kept going right to the finish.”

O’Connor is delighted that both Luke McGerrigan and Paul McGovern, who have spent the last ten days with Northern Ireland under-19 squads, will be available to face Portadown. “The fact that we chose not to play last weekend shows how much we value the contribution which both lads make,” he said. “Paul McGovern has been one of our stand-out players this season. He produces high quality performances every week. Luke has only recently become a regular starter. But, whilst he is still a teenager, he has the maturity of a 25 year old. He is so calm on the ball. It is a real compliment to our club that those two lads are involved at international level. It shows the quality of our Academy and the opportunities which young players get at Mourneview Park.”

Eagle-eyed supporters will have noted the strange symmetry to Glenavon’s forthcoming fixture schedule. The Portadown game is followed by a midweek trip to Ballymena and a weekend excursion to Bangor. It is almost exactly the same eight-day programme which yielded two wins and a draw at the end of February. “It is a bit odd the way the fixtures in the split have worked out,” added the Belfast man. “Last time we collected seven points. I would be very happy with that again. These three games will not, I don’t think, determine where we finish but they will have a big bearing. So, we need to show the same application and determination we did five or six weeks ago.”

Harry Murphy, who hobbled off during the first half of the Larne game, sustained a severe dead leg. He has done very little training since. “Harry saw Scott [Hughes], our physio on Wednesday, and was able to do a bit of running. The plan is for him to train with the rest of the team on Thursday night. If he does that then we would be hopeful about his prospects,” Michael continued. “But if he does not make it, we have lots of good options. Luke Cartwright or Niall Quinn can play alongside Barney McKeown, or we could move Paddy Burns from left back.”

John Mountney is available again and Ben Wilson is very close to full fitness. Michael also reported that some of the players have had colds and flu over the last week. Despite that, he hopes that everyone will be available.

Portadown defeated Glenavon 3-1 and 1-0 at Shamrock Park in the season’s first two Mid Ulster derbies.

The match sponsor is David Haire Architectural Design, Toberhewny Lane, Lurgan, and the City of Armagh Glenavon Supporters’ Club.

The match ball sponsor is Eva Snoddy.

The McCracken’s Brewery “Player of the Match” sponsors are “Charlie and Gabe.”

There will be a bucket collection in support of the Glenavon Academy. The Academy’s contribution to the parent club over recent seasons is well documented. Please give generously.

Former IFA President and FIFA Vice-President Jim Boyce recently held a gala dinner to support the Alzheimer’s Society Northern Ireland. The event has, so far, raised over £10,000. A short biography of Jim – 60 pages, 21,000 words – was published and launched on the night. Bluezone, Glenavon’s club shop, will have copies. The price is £5.00.

Other Glenavon teams in action:

(Free Admission to all games)

• Friday 3^rd April 2026 – Cliftonville U-18s v Glenavon U-18s, Solitude, 2000 k.o.
• Saturday 4^th April 2026 – Glenavon U-16s v Carrick Rangers U-16s, St. Patrick’s High School, Banbridge, 1100 k.o.