Friendly match ends in defeat

The Blues were flown out all expenses paid for their host’s annual friendly against a team from Ireland.

It was the visitors who struck first in the game, William Murphy rising highest to head in off the post.

The Blues held the lead to the break when Ryan Corrigan came on to join Samuel McIlveen as the club’s younger players got a run-out.

Mark Sykes and life-long Glenavon supporter Jack McNally also came off the bench in the second half. McNally had a hand in his side’s second goal, playing in a great pass for David Rainey to head home.

However, at that stage it was too late as the hosts had roared back with three second half goals.

The first came as Glenavon failed to clear a free-kick and Ismail Celen prodded home. The second arrived via a neat ball over the top and the third was a real poacher’s effort as the Leonidas striker seized on a wicked ricochet in the area.

Eddie McCallion did rattle the crossbar in injury time but it was defeat in the end for Glenavon, who enjoyed their expenses-paid trip to Rotterdam.

After the game Glenavon were treated to a meal by their hosts and chairman Adrian Teer presented Leonidas with a signed Glenavon shirt as a memento of the trip.