Glenavon's Matthew Fitzpatrick during his playing days for Antrim. Pic: PressEye.
Friday 7 April 2023 9:19
Glenavon haven't lost a game since Matthew Fitzpatrick took over the captaincy of the Mournview Park outfit.
The Lurgan side, now under a sustained run which has seen them win their last four games, have given team boss Gary Hamilton a glimpse of European football.
Fitzpatrick has been front and centre of the side’s run, notching up a total of 16 goals for the season. However, with Glenavon taking on Dungannon Swifts on Friday night, he will be in the stands on Saturday when his former Gaelic side Antrim face a huge task as underdogs against Armagh in an Ulster preliminary round game.
A teacher at Hazelwood Integrated School, ‘Fitzy’ was picked up while at Coleraine by Lurgan Blues boss Hamilton.
"I wasn't getting much football at Coleraine" suggested Fitzy.
"But my time at Glenavon has been great. I am loving my football, we are on a winning run at the minute so we will see where it will take us."
Fitzpatrick was Antrim’s ace striker until the Irish League came calling. He hasn't totally ruled going back to Gaelic but he says he is currently content with his lot.
“I am under contract with Glenavon, they are a brilliant club, so I can attend the Antrim game on Saturday and enjoy it as a fan,” added the former Belfast Celtic and Glentoran striker.
With Armagh fighting for goals this season, hitting only two in seven games - one of which was an own goal - Kieran McGeeney’s outfit might have struggled to contain the Mourneview ace.
"Antrim are hoping to come below the radar,” said Fitzpatick.
“They are training hard and are well prepared. It would be a huge shock if Armagh were turned over but I believe the game will be a lot closer than many believe."
Fitzpatrick, who hails from St John’s, Belfast - the same club as former Northern Ireland legend Gerry Armstrong - has some concerns over the amount of stiff training modern day Gaelic players undertake.
He stated "I don't know where it will all finish. With the ‘bigger, stronger, faster’ scenario now the norm its not surprising that players appear to be injured on a regular basis.
“In the Irish League you could say we train for matches, the guys who will be playing on Saturday have a sustained regime, you could suggest similar to professional athletes.
“From what I have gathered, Armagh have a couple of injuries, but we will have to wait and see what happens on the day".
Under Hamilton's management Fitzpatrick has a ratio of almost a goal in every two games – 42 in 111 appearances to be precise - and in recent weeks he has led the line on his own, following a change in tactics by the Glenavon boss.
However, in the early part of the season at least, he was helped out by former Derry player Eoin Bradley who rejoined Glenavon in the summer.
"Skinner takes the pressure of me at times," stressed Fitzy.
"He is a big lad and can draw defenders which certainly supplies a lot more space. As long as the goals keep coming Gary will probably keep giving me a jersey.”
With a European play off on the horizon, Fitzpatrick can put his feet up on Saturday and watch the Saffrons. If Antrim are behind entering the stretch maybe a quick phone call to Gary Hamilton can change the course of the Ulster tie. Visiting boss Gerry McEntee has seen it all before. The smart money is on Armagh minus 10 - at least that is the theory.
First up for Fitzy is the visit of the Swifts to Lurgan.
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