Glentoran fell to their second Sports Direct Premiership defeat of the season as Glenavon struck three times to claim victory in Lurgan.

A first-half brace from David McDaid and a strike from Paul McGovern proved decisive, with Ryan Cooney’s long-range effort offering the Glens brief hope in the closing stages.

Despite dominating possession and carving out a string of opportunities, Declan Devine’s side were left to rue missed chances and a resolute performance from home goalkeeper Mark Byrne.

The Glens began brightly, pressing high and dictating the tempo from the outset. Early chances fell to Patrick Hoban and Jordan Jenkins, while Liam Burt’s low drive tested Byrne at his near post.

A quickly taken free kick from Cooney found Hoban, whose header across goal almost picked out Singleton, only for the flag to go up for offside.

But against the run of play, Glenavon took the lead when Peter Campbell’s cross from the right picked out McDaid, whose glancing header found the net via the upright.

Cooney came agonisingly close to levelling for the Glens moments later but could not convert from close range.

Moments later, Glentoran appealed strongly for a penalty when Burt appeared to be clipped inside the area after a driving run with Referee Declan Hassan waved away the appeals.

The home side doubled their advantage on the stroke of half time after McGovern was fouled by Andrew Mills inside the box and McDaid dispatched the penalty for his second of the afternoon.

Declan Devine made a triple change at the break, introducing Joe Thomson, Jordan Stewart and David Fisher as the Glens switched to a more attacking 4-3-3 shape.

The Glens immediately looked sharper after the interval, with Thomson dictating play from midfield and Stewart stretching the Glenavon defence down the right flank.

The Glens forced Byrne into a string of saves, with the Glenavon goalkeeper denying Amos, Cooney and Hoban in quick succession.

But despite the dominance, a lapse at the back proved costly. When a deep cross wasn’t fully cleared, McGovern reacted quickest to fire high into the roof of the net from twelve yards.

The Glens continued to press and were rewarded when Cooney intercepted a loose ball in midfield, drove forward and his 25-years strike that flew beyond Byrne into the top corner to reduce the deficit with 13 minutes remaining.

The full-back then went close again with a curling free kick that Byrne tipped away superbly, before the goalkeeper produced another late stop to keep out Hoban’s header in added time.

The Glens return to The BetMcLean Oval on Friday 14th November when they host Carrick Rangers in the Sports Direct Premiership (Kick-off: 7.45pm).

Full-Time: Glenavon 3–1 Glentoran

Starting line-up: Mills, Cooney, Kane (c), Palmer, Hoban, McEleney, Burt, Kamson Kamara (Thomson 46), Amos (Russell 69), Singleton (Stewart 46), Jenkins (Fisher 46).

Unused subs: Crellin, Kelly, Coll.