Liggett books semi place

GLENAVON progressed to the semi-final of the Mid Ulster Cup with this victory over neighbours Lurgan Celtic.

Jay Magee was the only player to feature that played in Saturday’s win over Coleraine with Marty Quinn opting to give his fringe players – including the transfer listed Tuda Murphy, Mark Turkington, Adrian Harper and Gary Liggett – a run out.

And Liggett will have given the manager some food for thought as he grabbed three of Glenavon’s half dozen goals.

The game got off to a slow start with Celtic probably the better of the two sides in the opening 20 minutes.

Glenavon’s first chance came on 20 minutes when Mark Gracey headed over from a Stuart King free kick.

Ten minutes later Liggett had his first chance of the night when he tried to go around Celtic keeper Ciaran Fox. The custodian made a great tackle to deny the lanky striker and then recovered well to save the rebound.

The hosts should have been in front when Grant hit the post after Willo McDonagh’s header from a King corner was cleared off the line, but the lead did eventually come on 38 minutes when that man King’s cross was headed goalwards by Liggett. That was saved by Fox, as was the follow up by McDonagh. The midfielder then crossed to the striker to set up a bullet header and the opening goal of the evening.

After the change Glenavon continued to dominate and began to twist the knife into Celtic’s hopes of progression.

Magee tried his luck from 40 yards but saw his free kick pushed away for a corner on 52 minutes but a minute later Liggett had his second as he received Walsh’s through ball and gleefully finished with ease past Fox.

Liggett completed his hat trick on 72 minutes thanks to some route one football. Murphy’s kick out bounced kindly for the forward to lob over the top of the stranded goalkeeper.

Youngster Cameron Grieve came on for the Lurgan Blues on 72 minutes and gave a good account of himself in defence, although he had very little to do to during his time on the pitch.

Ten minutes from time the highly rated Joe Finlay, who had just come off the bench, made it 4-0 when, practically lying on the ground, he scored with an overhead kick from King’s cross after Harper had taken a short corner.

As Celtic began to lose their discipline Pol Smith, who had already been booked in the first half in the build up to Liggett’s opener, received a second yellow card for going through Finlay in the penalty box. A row then followed with Lavery then being shown the red card.

Substitute Trevor Molloy stepped up to take the spot kick and hit the easiest of penalties, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way, to make it 5-0.

And two minutes into added time Molloy scored a second with a cross-cum-shot into Walsh that ended up beating the goalkeeper as well.