Glenavon dominate as Newry City fall to 4-1 defeat
Glenavon produced a decisive response to their opening-day loss with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Newry City at the Showgrounds on Tuesday evening in the BoyleSports Championship. The visitors were led by new signing Ryan Waide, whose first senior hat-trick for the club came in the 9th, 77th and 83rd minutes. Paddy Burns added a second-half strike for Glenavon, while Pablo Andrade scored Newry’s consolation in the 28th minute.
Under the stewardship of manager Michael O’Connor, Glenavon were the more positive team for long spells, particularly in the first half, and they turned that momentum into goals at key moments. Newry had periods of possession and created openings but struggled to convert those advances into sustained pressure on the Glenavon goal.
Key moments from the Showgrounds
- Early opener: Waide’s clinical finish in the 9th minute put Glenavon ahead after a swift move that involved Peter Campbell and Jordan McMullan.
- Newry reply: Pablo Andrade levelled in the 28th minute, giving the home side hope at the midway point of the first half.
- Second-half control: Paddy Burns restored Glenavon’s lead in the 64th minute and Waide completed his hat-trick late on to seal the result.
Glenavon goalkeeper Lorcan Donnelly was obliged to make an early save from a Ryan Swan penalty-area effort, keeping the visitors in the contest during a tense opening. Newry came close to scoring on a few occasions: Harry Murphy’s header from a Campbell corner was blocked and cleared, and an opportunist strike from Peter Campbell was disallowed for offside after Jordan McMullan’s cross in the eighth minute.
Waide, who joined from Carrick Rangers, was involved in much of Glenavon’s attacking play. After his opening goal he continued to threaten the Newry defence, exchanging passes with Campbell and testing Newry keeper Jason Craughwell with several efforts. Craughwell produced an important save to deny Waide from eight yards following a slick passing move, but the striker’s persistence paid off late in the match.
| Team | Scorers | Scoreline |
|---|---|---|
| Newry City | Pablo Andrade (28') | 1 |
| Glenavon | Ryan Waide (9', 77', 83'), Paddy Burns (64') | 4 |
The match carried the feel of a team asserting itself after a setback. Glenavon’s first-half control was particularly notable: when they combined well they looked capable of stretching Newry’s backline, and that combination play was the platform for Waide’s opener. Newry’s best moments came when they were able to drive forward quickly, Andrade’s goal a product of that more direct approach.
Manager O’Connor’s side showed patience and an ability to press their advantage. The Glenavon full-backs and midfielders supported the attack in phases, while Newry struggled to maintain prolonged attacking pressure despite periods of possession. As the second half progressed, Glenavon’s fitness and forward movement allowed them to capitalise on counter opportunities, with Burns’ 64th-minute strike putting the visitors firmly in control.
For Newry, the match will be viewed with mixed feelings. There were encouraging flashes — Andrade’s finish and several attacking forays suggest the team can create chances at the Championship level — but defensive lapses and an inability to repel repeated Glenavon advances proved costly.
Looking ahead, both clubs will draw different conclusions from the game. Glenavon can take confidence from a convincing away performance and a new forward finding goals quickly, while Newry must work on converting possession into clear chances and tightening their defensive structure to avoid conceding late goals.
The result leaves Glenavon with a morale-boosting win early in the league campaign, and Newry City will need to regroup at home to respond in their next fixture.
