Marshall seals comeback win for Glenavon

The Lurgan Blues earned the points the hard way, falling 2-0 behind, but two stunning goals brought them level at the break.

Rhys Marshall grabbed the all important winner midway through the second half.

It was all action in the first few minutes with Glenavon unlucky as a deflection off McCashin clipped the Swifts’ bar and when the ball fell to Tiarnan Mulvenna his shot was pushed away for a corner by Gareth Buchanan.

Dungannon raced down the other end, Andy Coleman went out to collect a high ball, dropped it and Jamie Glackin had the simple task of turning the ball into an empty net.

On seven minutes the Dungannon lead was doubled and it was Glackin again with a sweet finish after a shot from Grant Hutchinson deflected off Kilmartin to him.

Glenavon almost found a way back on 27 minutes with a neat build-up prompted by David Rainey and ending with Mulvenna’s shot deflected for a corner.

Rainey was out of luck a few minutes later with his determination taking him into the box but his well struck shot hit a defender before being cleared.

If Glenavon were reeling from those early blows then Dungannon were soon to suffer the same fate as the home side scored two in two minutes and both excellent strikes.

First Mark Patton controlled the ball and curled a superb strike into the top corner on 36 minutes and before the Swifts could recover the net was bulging again after Rhys Marshall released Shane McCabe he ran from his own half and let fly from 25 yards out and the ball flew past Buchannan. 2-2 and game on.

After the drama of the first 45 minutes it was rather subdued after the restart.

On 60 minutes McCabe did well to track back and get in the way of a goalbound shot from Gary Liggett.

Coleman made amends for his earlier mistake with a fine save to keep out a firm back post header by Liggett.

Glenavon brought on Gary Hamilton and Sammy McIlveen for Mulvenna and McCabe on 65 minutes.

The comeback was complete for Glenavon on 68 minutes with Rhys Marshall blasting the ball into the roof of the net after two shots from William Murphy had been blocked.

With seven minutes to go former Glenavon player Cameron Grieve made a rash challenge on Hamilton and after both players squared up to each other they were given yelow cards.

Patton had a chance to made it 4-2 when set free by McIlveen but his lob over the keeper ran out of steam and was cleared.

Good three points and now off to Glentoran on Monday night for an Irish Cup quarter-final tie.

Glenavon: Coleman, Shannon, McCallion, Murphy, Kilmartin, Rainey, Patton, Marshall, McCabe, McCaul, Mulvenna.

Subs: Hamilton, Dallas, McGrory, McIlveen, Dane.