Sports Direct Premiership

The Showgrounds, Ballymena

Tuesday 7^TH April 2026

An understrength Glenavon side produced another impressive performance to take a vital point against big-spending Ballymena United at the Showgrounds.

Success Edogun (31 mins) gave the home side a 1-0 lead; Conor Falls (47 mins) equalised with a potential ‘Goal of the Season’ contender.

Glenavon was without suspended trio Peter Campbell, Harrry Murphy and manager Michael O’Connor. First team coach Mark Ferguson was in charge.

In the opening minutes John Mountney, playing in midfield in place of Sean Carlin, let fly from the edge of the penalty area but his shot was blocked.

Luke McGerrigan exchanged passes with the impressive Jordan McMullan before shooting not far high / wide.

When Dylan McGeough crossed from a corner-kick, Stephen O’Donnell headed wide from only a few yards.

Success Edogun, a handful for the visitors’ defence, intercepted a cross field pass by Paddy Burns, burst into the penalty area and picked out Igor Rutkowski. When the Keady-born Pole failed to get a shot away the ball broke to Edogun and he fired past Carney from six yards.

Mcgeouch’s shot from distance was saved easily.

Paul McGovern almost equalised with a brilliant curling effort from the edge of the penalty area. Bradley Wade dived full length to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Oran O’Kane took the corner-kick. Despite his poor delivery, Conor Falls flicked the ball towards the penalty spot and Mountney, one of Glenavon’s best performers, blasted it against the crossbar.

The visitors equalised two minutes into the second half. The hardworking Nathaniel Ferris played a short pass to Conor Falls 25 yards out and the Cliftonville loanee hit a magnificent curling, dipping shot which exploded into the net.

A few minutes later Mcgeouch found Edogun with a clever free kick, but the Kilkenny born striker’s attempt hit the outside of the far post. It was Ballymena’s best chance of the night and only opportunity of the second half.

Falls tried to reprise his wonder goal but shot well wide.

Carney made a regulation save from Donal Rocks’s effort from distance.

Headers by Burns and Mountney were saved easily.

Rutkowski’s shot hit a team-mate and went harmlessly wide.

Paul McGovern, strangely muted, shot wide.

Late in the game, both Falls and substitute Michael Harkin were off target with ambitious attempts.

Glenavon battled well, particularly during the final fifteen minutes, to secure the vital point.

BALLYMENA UNITED: Wade, Toure, McCallion, O’Donnell, Rocks, Sule, Mcgeouch, Clarke, Edogun, Rutkowski, Corbally, SUBS: Breen (not used), Jarvis (not used), P. McEleney for Corbally (71 mins), O’Reilly (not used), Ebbe for Mcgeouch (71 mins), McCurry for Rocks (60 mins), S. McEleney (not used).

Yellow Cards: Mcgeouch (56’), Ebbe (72’).

GLENAVON: Carney, McMullan, O’Kane, Burns, McKeown, Mountney, Lowe, McGerrigan, McGovern, Ferris, Falls, SUBS: Byrne (not used), Wilson (not used), Gilmore (not used), Harkin for O’Kane (76 mins), Carlin for McGerrigan (62 mins), Lindsay for Lowe (67 mins), Quinn (not used).

Yellow Cards: None.

REFEREE: Declan Hassan (Ballymoney).