GLENAVON SUFFERS OPENING DAY SETBACK AGAINST ARDS
Glenavon 1 Ards 3
BOYLE Sports Championship
Mourneview Park, Lurgan
Saturday 8th August 2026
Glenavon made a disappointing start to the BOYLE Sports Championship season with a 3-1 defeat against Ards at Mourneview Park.
Despite dominating possession for long periods and creating some good scoring opportunities a combination of poor finishing and slack defending proved costly.
Connor Maxwell (13 mins), Eamon Scannell (69 mins) and Jamie Browne (90 mins) were on target for Ards; Ryan Waide (90+3 mins) replied for the home side.
The Lurgan Blues started brightly. Ethan Scannell shot across goal from a very acute angle but no one was on hand to force the ball over the line.
Ethan Devine shoots across goal early in the first half.
The first goal followed a neat one-two involving Scannell. When the talented winger pulled the ball back and Maxwell poked it towards goal, it took a deflection off a defender and hit the base of a post before trickling into the net.
Glenavon almost equalised when Oran O’Kane released Ryan Waide with a brilliant through pass. Although goalkeeper Marc Matthews saved with his legs, the former Carrick Rangers striker had a second attempt which Kielan Wilson kicked clear.
The introduction of winger Jude Johnson boosted the home side’s attack. When he delivered a fine cross from the right the unmarked Peter Campbell fired over at the far post.
Scannell doubled Ards’ advantage with a fine left foot shot from 8 yards following an incisive pass by Maxwell.
Jamie Browne administered the coup de grace when he ran onto a defensive clearance and skilfully clipped the ball over the advancing Donnelly.
Peter Campbell was unfortunate with a well struck shot which Matthews dived full length to save. From the resultant corner, Waide reduced the deficit when he pounced on the Ards goalkeeper’s punch and shot high into the net.
The Lurgan Blues will hope to recover lost ground when they travel to South Down to face Newry City on Tuesday night.
Ryan Waide’s second half attempt from 15 yards was cleared off the line by a defender.
GLENAVON: Donnelly, McMullan, O’Kane, Burns, Murphy, Quinn, Watson, McGerrigan, Devine, Waide, Campbell, SUBS: Byrne (not used), Mountney for Watson (27 mins), B. Doyle for O’Kane (81 mins), Cartwright (not used), Healy (not used), Mallon for Mountney (69 mins), Johnson for McGerrigan (62 mins)
Yellow Card: Devine (55’).
ARDS: Matthews, C. Scannell, Maxwell, Wilson, Arthur, E. Scannell, Smith, Crossan, Browne, Tipton, McClure, SUBS: Taylor (not used), Cafolla for E. Scannell (73 mins), Withers (not used), Simpson for Smith (half time), Boyd for McClure (69 mins), Bailie (not used), Mullen for Crossan (86 mins).
Yellow Cards: C. Scannell (51’), E. Scannell (72’), Arthur (77’), Simpson (77’), Maxwell (86’).
REFEREE: Tom Symington.
