'It's a fabulous trait to have as a footballer' - Stephen McDonnell heaps praise on Glenavon's teenage star ahead of Dungannon Swifts clash
Glenavon manager Stephen McDonnell has praised the early impact made by teenage defender Harry Lynch after helping the Lurgan Blues continue building momentum by keeping a clean sheet in their stalemate with reigning Premiership champions Larne.
Having lost four of their opening five league matches of the new campaign, McDonnell’s men are now three unbeaten and have collected seven points against teams that finished in last term’s top-six, including Saturday’s triumph over Crusaders.
The past seven days has helped create a much better picture for the Mourneview Park outfit ahead of their weekend clash with Dungannon Swifts, who travel to County Armagh sitting fourth in the table having won four of their previous five fixtures.
Lynch signed a new three-year contract with Glenavon earlier this summer and in two of the three Premiership matches the 18-year-old has started this term, they’ve kept clean sheets against Coleraine and Larne – he was substituted after 13 minutes through injury in the 3-1 defeat to Ballymena United.
The defensive unit has been further boosted by the signings of Barney McKeown and James Carroll with McDonnell full of praise for the trio.
"Barney is unbelievable,” he told the club’s media channel. “James Carroll, some of the contacts he got on Saturday and Tuesday, his ability to head a ball, physicality.
"What I love about young Harry Lynch at 18 is he went through the game and you wouldn't even know he was on the pitch, which is a fabulous trait to have as a footballer because it means you've gone about your business quietly but confidently.
"It has given us a real platform to move forward as a team and club. Keeping clean sheets gives you chances to pick up points."
While traditionally associated with an attacking brand of football in the early stages of his coaching career, McDonnell admits it has been a case of “back to basics” as Glenavon look to continue climbing the table.
"We haven't been picking up enough points and clean sheets so you have to get back to basics,” he added. “We spoke to the group that while we try and rebuild some confidence and get players back on the pitch we will improve in terms of keeping the ball.
"For us it's horses for courses but it's about getting points on the board, being hard to beat and making Mourneview a tough place to come - that's our focus."