caution the key in irish cup tie

Confident they can progress into the quarter-finals but also taking nothing for granted as manager Gary Hamilton stressed in his preview.

“It’s a cup tie and we all know all too well what can happen. We only have to look at our League Cup game against Ards when we were 3-0 down after 23 minutes so we know we cannot afford any slip ups like that.

“If we go down and apply ourselves the way we did on the last two visits to Ferney Park then we have a great chance but we also know that Ballinamallard are more than capable of winning and they will be wanting to get some revenge over the league defeats. Obviously they are at home and that is a big advantage, but we have coped well at Ferney Park already so we will be fully prepared.

“When you look at the ties we all know there are teams lower than us playing each other and there is a chance to land a good draw in the next round and suddenly you are not too far away, but first we have to make sure our name is in the draw.

“At this stage every team is in it to win it. Everyone will fancy their chances but we have to concentrate fully on our own performance and hopefully it will be enough to carry us through to the next round.”

The two mid-week games this week allowed Gary Hamilton to complete his two match suspension and he is free to play in the cup tie.

Following the cup game Glenavon go to Warrenpoint on Tuesday night for the first of two rearranged league games at Milltown.

“They are a team full of energy and they have adapted very well after coming up this season. It is no easy place to go as other teams have already found out and their confidence will be high after a great win at The Oval last weekend.

“They have a great hunger to stay up but we have an incentive to try and leapfrog Ballymena with the three points.”