GLENAVON V CARRICK RANGERS, A LOOK AHEAD

On Saturday 25th April 2026 Glenavon faces Carrick Rangers at Mourneview Park in its final Sports Direct Premiership fixture.

Carrick Rangers is currently in seventh place in the league table with 50 points from thirty-seven fixtures. Last Saturday Stephen Baxter’s side defeated Bangor 3-0 at Clandeboye Park. The County Antrim side is preparing for the UEFA Conference League Play-offs.

Meantime, after its 1-0 defeat against Crusaders last weekend, Glenavon must come to terms with relegation. Despite its valiant survival bid, manager Michael O’Connor feels that he and his coaching staff failed to accomplish the task they were given when they took charge last October. “The bottom line is that we failed to do what we were asked to do,” he said. “I know that the club lost its first eleven matches. That made it extremely difficult. But when we came in, we still believed that we had enough about us to collect the points we needed. The fact that we were unsuccessful still really hurts.”

Nevertheless, Michael praised his players’ efforts over the last six months. “The boys have given everything and are devastated,” he said. “We made some changes in January. Some players left the club and others were brought in. The lads who joined us all contributed. We had that run of results in February and early March when we ended our long losing sequence away from home, won three games out of four, scored eleven goals and looked as if we were going to drag ourselves out of it. Then we had the international break, picked up a couple of injuries and never quite managed to rediscover that form. It was difficult because coming into the last five matches things were on a knife-edge. We couldn’t afford a blip in form. Unfortunately we didn’t manage to win any of the first three games and, obviously, last Saturday’s result killed us.”

Despite that Glenavon still has one of the best recent records in the bottom six with only two defeats in its last nine outings. “That doesn’t really ease the disappointment, but I suppose it shows the huge strides we have made since last October,” he continued. “We have changed the mindset in the dressing room completely. For the last 2-3 months the players have been going out expecting to win and, when we have gone behind, heads have not dropped. How many times recently have we conceded first and managed to come back? But relegation is still a really bitter pill to swallow.”

Paul McGovern shrugs off Crusaders’ midfielder Josh Williamson during the second half of last Saturday’s Sports Direct Premiership fixture at Mourneview Park.

The Blues’ boss paid tribute to the Board of Directors for its backing and the fans for their unrelenting support. “The Chairman and his colleagues have all got behind us and did everything possible to help,” he said. “The same is true of the supporters. When you see the numbers who have followed us everywhere and the huge attendance at last weekend’s match against Crusaders you get a real sense of how big this club is. We went to Bangor in February after a run of twelve or thirteen straights defeats on the road and our supporters still outnumbered the home club’s fans two to one. My message to everyone is stick with us. We will need you even more next season.”

O’Connor wants to win the final game against Carrick Rangers. “We can’t change our position in the League table, but we all have professional pride,” he said. “We want to go out on a positive note. That means giving the same effort we have done, scoring a few goals and, hopefully, lifting everyone’s spirits a little. That’s what we aim to do.”

The match sponsor for Saturday’s fixture is the Mechanics’ Institute, Lurgan. The matchball sponsor is Express Distribution Services. The McCracken’s Brewery “Player of the Match” sponsor is Ian Irwin. Many thanks to all our benefactors.

There will be a bucket collection in support of the Glenavon Academy’s 2016 squad. Please give generously.

In August 2025 and February 2026 Glenavon lost 1-0 and 2-1 to Carrick Rangers at Taylor’s Avenue. In October 2025 Glenavon defeated Rangers 1-0 at Mourneview Park in Michael O’Connor’s first match in charge.

Glenavon v Carrick Rangers, Last Season
Date Result
10/08/24 Carrick Rangers 2 Glenavon 0
26/10/24 Glenavon 1 Carrick Rangers 1
25/01/25 Glenavon 2 Carrick Rangers 1
26/04/25 Carrick Rangers 0 Glenavon 4

Other Glenavon teams in action:

(Free Admission to all games)

  • Friday 8th May 2026 – Institute U-18s v Glenavon U-18s, Foyle Arena, 2000 k.o.
  • Saturday 25th April 2026 – Institute U-16s v Glenavon U-16s, St. Columb’s Stadium, 1100 k.o.
  • Friday 24th April 2026 – Glenavon Women v Loughgall Lakers, Lismore College, 1900 k.o.