DERBY WIN IS SO VITAL
GLENAVON boss Marty Quinn has called on his side to beat derby rivals, Portadown for the first time in his managerial reign on Friday evening.
The teams meet in the postponed fixture at Mourneview Park (kick-off 7.45pm) and the Ports are now just one point behind their derby rivals with three games in hand.
Glenavon had, at one stage, been 16 points ahead of Ronnie McFall’s men but after a rise in fortunes for Portadown, that points difference has all but vanished.
Therefore, Quinn says it is vital that his team get all three points come Friday night in order to finish above the red side of Craigavon come the end of the season.
“It’s a local derby and it’s time that we got something out it,” he began.
“We didn’t do well in the corresponding game at Shamrock Park and the one before that was a draw. This time the pressure is on to get points. A win for Portadown puts them above us so we need to get maximum points and I don’t see why we can’t do that.
“If we can play as well as we did in the first half last Saturday we’ll be OK but Portadown had a big win against Cliftonville so their confidence will be high as well.”
However, Glenavon will be missing two key players in Ryan Harpur and Hugh Davey who were both shown red cards in last week’s 3-1 defeat to Glentoran. Harpur has been central to the Blues’ recent revival in his midfield role whilst Davey has contributed to a more stern defence of late, arriving at the club in January.
Quinn revealed that Conor Walsh and Paul Carvill will be the duo to step in to the breaches and is confident in their ability to contribute to what he hopes will be an impressive derby performance.
“Ryan Harpur has been doing well for us and has been pulling the strings in midfield so he’s a big loss to us but Conor is a good player and a good captain and there’s no better man to come in,” he began.
“Hugh Davey has been solid defensively as well and hasn’t done anything wrong. He played a good ball to Tony (Grant) for our goal last Saturday and will be a loss to us. However, Paul Carvill played there last season and a lot of this season for us so I’ve no doubt that the two boys will come in and do a job for us.”
The absences add to the Blues recent injury woes which threatened to worsen last Saturday when defender, Jay Magee received treatment during the match against Glentoran. Magee will be available for Friday’s game but his defensive partner, Hugh Dickson is unlikely to return this weekend.
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Weather for Lurgan
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
