IRISH LEAGUE: Five-star display from Glenavon at Carrick

The home side had no answers as Gary Hamilton’s men delivered an electric display with Joel Cooper, Eoin Bradley, Conor Dillon, Kevin Braniff and captain Ciaran Martyn all finding the net.

Cooper was far and away the man of the match, producing a real masterclass on the left wing.

And it was the talented teenager who got the ball rolling with just six minutes on the clock when the ball dropped invitingly for him to find the bottom corner with a 20-yard strike.

The Lurgan Blues were mounting wave after wave of attack and Braniff squandered a gilt-edged chance in front of goal on 18 minutes, blasting the ball straight at Brian Neeson.

But the travelling support didn’t have to wait long for a second and it was Bradley who doubled Glenavon’s advantage, drilling a right-footed shot at Neeson’s near post.

The visitors then hammered the woodwork twice in a matter of seconds. Martyn hit the foot of the post before Braniff rattled the bar from the rebound.

Two minutes before the break Glenavon grabbed a third when Dillon rose above everyone else to head home Braniff’s corner at the near post.

Seven minutes into the second half Braniff made it four when he drove home a free-kick from the edge of the box.

Number five arrived courtesy of Martyn who steered home Daniel Kearns’ right-wing cross at the near post.

Dillon could have made it six just before the hour but he headed against the upright.

Carrick landed a late consolation through sub Miguel Chines who tapped in from Mark Surgenor’s flick-on.

Carrick Rangers: Neeson - McCloskey, Wallace (Cherry 64), Doyle, Traynor - Harmon (Chines 64), Johnston (Kelly 64), Surgenor, McNeill - McCaul, Salley. Subs not used: Wright, Taylor.

Glenavon: Tuffey, McGrory, Kelly (McIlmail 66), Dillon, Marshall - Kearns, Martyn, Sykes, Cooper (Patton 54) - Braniff, Bradley (O’Brien 62). Subs not used: Lindsay, Hamilton.

Referee: Ross Dunlop (Carrickfergus).