KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK

The Blues have of course started with victories over Coleraine and Portadown and on Saturday come up against newly-promoted Donegal Celtic at Mourneview Park (kick-off 3pm).

Glenavon had a flying start to last season as well but soon fell back into the bottom half of the table. The boss is keen to ensure that it won’t be the case this year, and in order for that to happen, his side must pick up victories in their home matches.

“There’s no point in us going to Coleraine and winning and beating the likes of Portadown and then thinking we’ve arrived,” he said plainly.

“I think that was the problem last season when we won a few games and we can’t afford to do that this time.

“I think the mindset of the players is different this season and I think I’m starting to get my ways through to them now. Hopefully we’ll have learnt from last year and I think we’re a better side now.

“Certainly our defence has been improved with three different defenders in there in Kyle Neill, Brendan Shannon and Willo McDonagh.”

However, the Hoops have adjusted to life in the top division quickly, having beaten Ballymena United 4-0 away from home in just their second game of the season.

And Quinn knows the task that awaits his side is going to be a tough one with new boss Marty Tabb, of course the former Lurgan Celtic manager, sure to have stamped his battling traits on Donegal Celtic already.

“It’s going to be a big game for us and certainly won’t be easy,” said Quinn.

“We go into it on a high now but we’ll be training as hard as ever and preparing as well as we can. We won’t be underestimating them, no way. Marty Tabb skippered my Cliftonville side for a number of years and he’ll have his team up for it. They’ll battle right to the last as well.

“The lad Paul McVeigh will score goals if you let him and they’re strong in defence with Declan O’Hara. They’ve a very hard-working midfielder too in Stephen McAlorum so the spine of their team is quite strong.

“I made the point after the game on Friday night that the boys can’t get it in their heads that Donegal Celtic are going to roll over or anything because they won’t. Lo and behold they went to Ballymena and won 4-0 so that tells us where we need to be. In the last couple of games we’ve worked very hard and we have to have the same emphasis in this one.”

Attacking duo Trevor Molloy and Mark Miskimmin have both been suffering with groin niggles, but the gaffer is hopeful that both will be fit to play come Saturday afternoon.

“We’ll see how Trevor is in training and see if his groin is still giving him a bit of trouble. Unfortunately Mark has picked up a bit of an injury too. We knew he wasn’t right before the Portadown game but he wanted to play. Although he just wasn’t at himself, he hasn’t done any further damage and I’m hoping he’ll be available this weekend,” he said.

Meanwhile goalkeeper Andrew Plummer is slowly playing his way back into the manager’s good books after a less than impressive pre-season.

“He’s working on it. He hasn’t done himself any harm with the two clean sheets,” added Quinn.