Irish Premiership: Lurgan Blues edge out Newry at Showgrounds

Watch: Glenavon clinch away win over Newry

Glenavon moved level on points with leaders Coleraine and Linfield after a hard-fought 2-1 win over Newry City.

City made the better start but Glenavon moved in front through a Gary Muir penalty before Stephen Donnelly's dinked finish made it 2-0.

Newry deservedly pulled one back on the stroke of half-time when Stephen Teggart rifled home.

Glenavon keeper Jonathan Tuffey denied Declan Carville and Stephen Hughes with excellent saves in the second half.

Both teams came into the game on the back on their first wins of the Premiership campaign.

Mark McCabe fired wide and Teggart twice went close as the hosts made the early running.

But it was Glenavon who made a 22nd minute breakthrough with a penalty awarded for keeper Andy Coleman's foul on Mark Sykes as the midfielder went though on goal.

Celebrations for Glenavon after Gary Muir opens the scoring at the Showgrounds
Celebrations for Glenavon after Gary Muir opens the scoring at the Showgrounds

Newry players claimed there was minimal contact but their protests were waved away and Muir, who was a late inclusion for the injured Andrew Doyle, tucked away the spot-kick.

The lead was doubled 12 minutes later as Donnelly latched on to a long ball from Sykes before slotting past the advancing Coleman.

Newry were finally rewarded for their first-half endeavour with Teggart getting on the end of a Stephen Hughes throughball and blasting in at the near-post.

Glenavon pressed on the restart with Josh Daniels seeing his shot blocked before Coleman was forced to punch clear from a corner.

City upped the tempo and they were pushing for an equaliser but Tuffey came to Glenavon's rescue.

He kept out Carville's shot through a crowd of players and saved a last-gasp Stephen Hughes strike.