LURGAN, Co. Armagh (Interstat) — Glenavon delivered a commanding performance to open its Premiership campaign with a 3-1 victory over Ballymena United on Saturday at Mourneview Park.

The home side seized control of the match early, netting two goals within the first ten minutes to stun the visiting supporters. The breakthrough came in the 5th minute when Success Edogun found the back of the net, giving Glenavon an immediate advantage.

The lead was doubled just five minutes later as Jack Malone scored to put Glenavon firmly in the driver’s seat. The quick succession of goals set the tone for the remainder of the contest, with Glenavon dictating the pace and opportunities.

Ballymena United, struggling to mount a consistent response in the first half, found a lifeline in the 58th minute. A goal from Sean Graham cut the deficit in half and offered the visitors a chance to rally. The goal provided a shift in momentum, putting pressure on the Glenavon defense for a sustained period.

However, any hopes of a Ballymena comeback were extinguished in the 78th minute. Glenavon’s Matthew Snoddy restored the two-goal cushion, securing the three points for the home side and cementing the final scoreline.

The result aligned with pregame projections from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted a 2-1 victory for Glenavon. The outlet’s ELO system had also given Glenavon a 58.30 percent probability of winning the match.

With the win, Glenavon begins its season in the Northern Irish top flight with a perfect record of one win and zero losses. Ballymena United starts its campaign with a record of zero wins and one loss. The records are identical across all competitions for both clubs following this fixture.