Point improvement the target for OK

ORAN Kearney insists the Bannsiders are hoping to improve on last season’s points total against Glenavon as they welcome the Lurgan Blues to The Showgrounds tomorrow afternoon…

The Stripes have failed to record a victory against Glenavon since March 2020, but instead of reading too much into unbeaten runs or bogey teams, Kearney is aiming to help lead his team to take more points from their clashes against the County Armagh side this season.

“One of the things, and I’ve said it before where, I always look every year as to how we do against every team,” he said.

“Last year I think we had one point out of nine against Glenavon which ideally we want to improve on.

“That’s the target and if you can every year improve on your set of three or four results against teams you’ve played in the previous season, then it’ll leave you in a better place.

“For me, my big focus is not about hoodoos or anything like that, we underperformed or didn’t get the results against Glenavon last year and we’ve got to find a way of doing that starting this Saturday.”

There will be a new face in the Glenavon dugout as Stephen McDonnell is now the man in charge of the Mourneview Park side after the departure of Gary Hamilton.

McDonnell’s first game would end up in a defeat to Larne but they picked up a 2-1 win after extra-time against Dergview in the BetMcLean Cup on Tuesday night.

Kearney added: “It’s going to be a tough game.

“I think with obviously what sadly happened with Gary Hamilton and the way things have gone, it brings in a new mindset and a new bounce with a new manager coming in.

“By all accounts, in the first half an hour against Larne they were really good.

“Obviously, getting a red card against any opposition makes it tough, but against a team like Larne compounds it even more.

“Like ourselves, they had a tough enough shift midweek against Dergview and we know going into it that both teams have played 120 minutes and it’s about making sure we’re up and at it and get a performance on the day.”