GLENAVON DEFEAT IS OVERSHADOWED BY INJURY TO LORCAN DONNELLY

Dundela 3 Glenavon 2

BOYLE Sports Championship

Wilgar Park, Belfast

Saturday 5^th September 2026

Despite creating a catalogue of gilt-edged scoring chances, Glenavon lost 3-2 at Wilgar Park.

However, the match was overshadowed by a dreadful injury sustained by Blues’ keeper Lorcan Donnelly as he grabbed a cross under pressure from Benny Igiehon.

The Glentoran loanee lay on the turf for almost thirty minutes. He was eventually removed to the Ulster Hospital, Dundonald. Mark Byrne took his place between the posts.

Matthew Ferguson (2, 12, 48 mins), the son of former Glenavon legend Glenn Ferguson, was the man who did the damage for the Wilgar Park outfit. Teenagers Alex Watson (32 mins) and Jude Johnson (77 mins) replied for Michael O’Connor’s men.

Ferguson, who formed a potent strike partnership with Igiehon, put the Duns in front from the penalty spot after barely 90 seconds. The centre forward had been fouled on the edge of the six-yard area by Peter Maguire.

Barely two minutes later Igiehon blasted Kenzie Beattie’s cross cum shot past Donnelly, but the home side’s celebrations were cut short by an assistant referee’s flag.

During the frenetic opening minutes Glenavon almost equalised on two occasions. First, Paddy Burns headed wide from Peter Campbell’s free kick. Second, Ethan Devine nodded Luke McGerrigan’s cross the wrong side of the near post.

Then Dundela extended its lead. Ferguson rose unchallenged at the back post to head Gary Donnelly’s corner kick into the net.

Four minutes later Ryan Waide shot over the crossbar from a few yards from Campbell’s cross.

Lorcan Donnelly moved quickly to save Igiehon’s well hit shot.

The unmarked Kyle Owens should have extended his side’s lead, but he headed over from Donnelly’s corner-kick.

Alex Watson pulled a goal back for Glenavon when he shot past Gerard Walker from 16 yards following a long forward pass.

Then Lorcan Donnelly suffered injury and was eventually replaced by Byrne.

When the match resumed, Peter Campbell had a shot blocked and then a second effort was cleared by Kyle Owens.

Dundela extended its lead early in the second half. When Beattie threw the ball into the penalty area, Ferguson shot past Byrne after the goalkeeper failed to hold onto Igiehon’s innocuous header.

Glenavon dominated the remainder of the match.

Paddy Burns headed wide at the near post.

Watson’s shot was blocked by Donnelly.

McGerrigan sliced the ball well wide.

Watson’s shot from distance was too high.

Maguire’s header was cleared off the line; Peter Campbell’s follow-up effort was saved by Walker.

At the other end, Byrne easily saved Ferguson’s header.

Jude Johnson reduced the arrears with a neat close-range finish after Waide’s cross had been partially cleared.

Burns almost equalised with a diving header from McMullan’s cross but Walker dived full length to make a fine save.

Ethan Devine headed wide.

Brandon Doyle hit the underside of the crossbar from 8 yards after his initial effort had been blocked by a defender. He should have scored.

Walker dived to his right to claw away Devine’s goal bound header.

Doyle hit the bar for a second time after Owens had blocked his initial attempt. Again, he will be disappointed that he did not find the net.

In injury time Doyle had another attempt. This time Walker fingertipped the point-blank effort over the crossbar.

Devine shot wide from 20 yards.

DUNDELA: G. Walker, McConville, Dornan, Beattie, Owens, McCarthy, Lynn, Kelly, Ferguson, Igiehon, Donnelly, SUBS: Hunter (not used), Fletcher for McCarthy (45+20’), Hall for Lynn (61 mins), B. Walker for Kelly (68 mins), Andrews (not used), Roohi for Igiehon (68 mins), Downey (not used).

Yellow Card: Kelly (30’).

GLENAVON: Donnelly, McMullan, Burns, Maguire, Cartwright, Watson, McGerrigan, Quinn, Devine, Waide, Campbell, SUBS: Byrne for Donnelly (45+20’), Murphy (not used), B. Doyle for McGerrigan (68 mins), Patton (not used), Healy for Campbell (77 mins), Henderson for Watson (68 mins), Johnson for Quinn (68 mins).

Yellow Cards: Maguire (2’), McGerrigan (45+31’).

REFEREE: Ms. Louise Thompson.