GLENAVON DEFEATS LEADERS NEWINGTON

Glenavon 1 Newington 0

BOYLE Sports Championship

Mourneview Park, Lurgan

Saturday 19^th August 2026

Glenavon defeated Championship leaders Newington 1-0 in a tense encounter at Mourneview Park.

Aodhfionn Casey, under pressure from Ryan Waide, deflected the ball past his own goalkeeper in the 76^th minute after a telling break and low cross by substitute Jude Johnson.

Michael O’Connor’s men started the game on the front foot and dominated possession for long periods.

Yet Newington threatened to take an early lead when Darren Stuart got a glancing header to Seamus Duffy’s cross. Mark Byrne moved quickly to his left to make a diving save.

Luke McGerrigan slid the ball to Paddy Burns on the edge of the penalty area following a corner kick. Ethan Carry dived full length to grab the Crumlin man’s well directed effort.

Moments later the impressive Jordan McMullan burst clear on the right, but his shot was straight at the Newington goalkeeper.

Ethan Devine’s daisy cutter was straight at Carry.

Devine released Ryan Waide. Ethan Carry came, stopped and came again before saving the eight-goal striker’s shot with his legs.

Glenavon started the second half as it had begun the first but continued to lack penetration in the final third.

Ryan Waide headed wide from Peter Campbell’s cross.

McGerrigan made a brilliant surging run and attempted to send Waide clear, but the striker was unable to reach his pass and Carry gathered the ball.

Then Alex Watson, the home side’s best player, slipped a pass to Waide who burst clear but shot wide of the target.

Harry Murphy’s header did not threaten Carry’s goal.

Paddy Burns, lurking in space, got his head to Peter Campbell’s cross from a free kick on the left but Carry blocked the ball with his body.

Then Burns shot wide at the near post.

Finally, Glenavon broke the deadlock. Deaglan Healy sent Jude Johnson clear on the right. The Glentoran loanee crossed to the near post where Newington defender Aodhfionn Casey, under pressure from Waide, deflected the ball past his own goalkeeper.

Mark Byrne saved Aaron Heaney’s shot from distance.

During the closing minutes Newington, for almost the first time in the match, offered an attacking threat. The North Belfast side forced two corner-kicks and was awarded a free-kick 25 yards out. However, Byrne and the well marshalled Glenavon defence did not look likely to concede.

In the end Michael O’Connor’s side collected a thoroughly deserved three points.

GLENAVON: Mark Byrne, McMullan, Burns, Murphy, Maguire, McGerrigan, Mountney, Watson, Devine, Waide, Campbell, SUBS: Doyle for Waide (83 mins), Patton (not used), Healy for Mountney (61 mins), Mallon (not used), Henderson for Campbell (83 mins), Johnson for Devine (74 mins), Ward (not used).

Yellow Cards: Watson (87’), Henderson (90+3’).

NEWINGTON: Carry, Casey, Michael Byrne, Gowdy, Stuart, Downey, Kelly, McCann, Heaney, Morgan, Duffy, SUBS: Ritchie (not used), Dunlop (not used), Rice (not used), McGreevy (not used), Tully (not used), Watters for McCann (61 mins), J. Donnelly for Stuart (70 mins).

Yellow Cards: McCann (51’), Watters (73’), Kelly (90+3’).

REFEREE: Finton Coyle.