earnsanotherpoint

The Bannsiders dominated the opening 45 minutes but only had Gary Browne’s goal to show for their efforts.

They were hit with a sucker punch just before the break though as Guy Bates rifled home an equaliser for the hosts.

It gave Gary Hamilton’s side a major lift and they took the game to Coleraine after the break.

They bombarded the visitors’ goal, And when Davy Rainey struck late on it looked as though the Mourneview Park men had snatched the win.

The Bannsiders though once again proved they don’t know when they are beaten and up popped teenager Joel Bradley to fire in his first goal for the club with minutes to go.

And right at the death Shane Jennings almost grabbed all three points for his side, but his effort was straight at Andy Coleman in the home goal.

“It was probably the proverbial game of two halves,” Kearney told Times Sport after the game.

“In our last two games we have been guilty of not starting well but then coming on strongly in the second half. Tonight was different, we dominated the first half and Glenavon were the dominant team after the break.

“Everybody knows that you’re not going to dominate a game for 90 minutes. But when you are on top you have to take your chances.

“We knew that one goal probably wouldn’t be enough even though we were so dominant in that opening 45 minutes.

“But with being so dominant it probably was a psychological blow for us to concede just before half time.

“We spoke about a few things at the break because we knew they would come at us in the second half.

“I was disappointed with the manner of the chances we afforded Glenavon. We knew they would have their spell in the game, but we need to be a bit more compact and make them work for their chances.

“It was a rollercoaster game - we were ahead, we were behind then we drew level and probably could have won it at the death.

“I kept thinking to myself that we needed to have put the game to bed by half time. We knew there would be a response, we’ve been in that position before so we knew what to expect.

“They put us under a lot of pressure in the second half but a lot of it was our own doing, but we hung in there and almost came away with all three points, it’s just disappointing we weren’t clinical enough.

“A few people maybe questioned whether Shane would cut it this year, but we have every faith in him. He has had a tough pre-season and it’s only within this last week that he is statrting to show he’s up to speed.

“We are now starting to see the whole package with him. He had two chances tonight which I would put my house on him scoring. He is a great finisher, but that’s the way it goes, he will learn from it.

“Winkie Murphy is obviously a quality player but Shane acquitted himself very well against him.

“Last year up here dominated the game onlyt to get hit with a late sucker punch so it would have been nice if we could have done the same tonight.”