Paul McGovern and Ben Wilson, each only 17 years old, can probably still recall dreaming of Santa Claus paying a visit – this Christmas the teenagers have more likely gone to sleep imagining Boxing Day delight for Glenavon.

Fresh from popping up on the scoresheet last weekend in the Lurgan Blues’ shock 2-1 success over Linfield, the two young scorers hope to deliver some extra festive cheer to the long-suffering fanbase by helping secure Mid-Ulster derby joy.

Key against Linfield proved teenagers Wilson and McGovern on target, plus sparkling wing play from 20-year-old Corey Smith.

"The ability Corey's got is scary...it's just trying to get out of him and telling him he's a good player and to do it,” said 38-year-old manager Michael O’Connor after the Linfield result. "I think sometimes he doesn't believe himself that he's that good a player.

placeholder image — Celebration time for Glenavon against Linfield following Paul McGovern's decisive goal in Lurgan. (Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press)

"Also, getting a run of games...he had 18 months at Larne where he didn't play much football and Coleraine last year he was in and out of the team.

"Since I've come in he's played most of the games for me.

"Now you're starting to see the best of Corey but now it's trying to get Corey to do it every game.

"I think we've got the youngest squad in the league if you look at players played.

"Ben Wilson's been out since I came in, so it was about trying to manage him the last three, four weeks to be available.

"We've got him back and now he's got 60 minutes in his legs, so we're hoping to build on that.

"But you see the difference he makes, the energy he's got...he's a really good player.

"Paul McGovern is Paul McGovern...he's different class."

Three points from the short journey between Lurgan and Portadown would go a long way towards a boost to a bid to beat the drop which looked doomed under previous manager Paddy McLaughlin after nine successive Premiership defeats.

Following the October appointment of former Northern Ireland international O’Connor as boss in his first senior first-team management role, Glenavon have managed to grow the points tally to 12 from 10 league tests.

Wins over Carrick Rangers, Ballymena United and Glentoran each arrived on home soil ahead of that well-earned triumph by the top-flight’s bottom side over defending league champions Linfield.

Now trailing Crusaders by just five points but having played an extra game, Glenavon visit Portadown searching for a first reward from a road trip.

“That's going to be another huge game as well,” said O’Connor, once a goalscorer for Glenavon against Portadown who spent around 15 years within English football’s professional player pool before returning home. "I played a couple as a player but my first year as a manager on Boxing Day.

"I really am looking forward to it...today (win v Linfield) helps going into it for sure.

"All we have to do is keep worrying about ourselves and keep trying to get points on the board...I think we're in a good place at the minute.”