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Match Report

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Glentoran's first Setanta Cup outing of the 2008/2009 tournament ended with a 3-3 draw at Richmond Park, Dublin.

After displaying composure and quality, out-classing the Eircom League leaders for 89 minutes, a frantic final 6 minutes meant the Glens had to return home with a solitary point, after a performance which no one would deny deserved much more.

Alan McDonald's men started brightly, showing respect to the home side, but certainly no fear or awe of the full-time opposition who topped their Setanta Cup group last term.

Out of the traps like a greyhound, it took just 4 minutes for Michael Halliday to elude the back-line and slot home the opener. Halliday chased down a high through-ball by Jason Hill, and when the defense and goalkeeper hesitated, Halliday pounced and made no mistake.

Buoyed by this, the Glens continued to press, and Gary Hamilton tested the goalkeeper for the first time on 13 minutes, with a right-foot effort from a Darren Boyce cross.

It took 15 minutes before the home side mounted an attack, and when they did, two quick fire half chances were easily snuffed out by Elliott Morris, firstly saving low as a forward broke into the box, then keeping out a 20 yard shot that was straight at the 'keeper.

At the midway point of the half, referee Colin Burns took centre stage and made a highly controversial decision that proved to be pivotal on the night.

After Morris had gathered a shot at the second attempt, St Pats forward Gary O'Neill raced in on the keeper and kicked the ball out of his hands, into the net. The referee stunned Morris, his team mates, his manager and supporters by allowing the bizarre goal to stand.

The game became cagey between then and half time, with the best chances still coming the way of the Glens. Boyce saw a header from a Hill cross miss the target, and moments later Boyce was trying to create an opening with a drilled cross that the goalkeeper got to a split second before Halliday.

The final action of the half came as Colin Nixon stung the goalkeepers hands with an effort from the edge of the box, after working a nice move with Halliday.

Into the second half, and the Glens again started on top. This time it was Daryl Fordyce applying pressure, but he was unable to find the net with his header from Hamilton's in-swinging free-kick.

As the pressure continued to build, St Pats were holding firm, keeping the Glens restricted to shots from distance. Fordyce and and Kyle Neill tried their luck, but neither was just good enough to break the deadlock.

St Pats were getting nervous, as the Glens grew in stature. And on 72 minutes, the best move of the match resulted in a penalty being awarded for a foul on Hamilton. Hill started the move, and found the impressive Fordyce. The midfielder got the ball to Neill who delivered a dangerous cross, which Hamilton used to out-wit the home defence, before being hauled to the ground.

From there, Colin Nixon slotted home the penalty to restore the lead.

Glentoran were out-playing the southerners all over the pitch, and when a third goal came with 6 minutes left, there would have been few surprised people in the ground. After collecting a poor punched clearance from the goalkeeper, Fordyce showed composure and technique to guide the ball through a crowded penalty box and into the net, to send the large travelling support wild.

In the dying minutes of the game, Fordyce went down with an injury and had to be replaced. The time for this injury would prove contentious, as it was the only injury of the second half, yet referee Burns went on to add an additional 6 minutes after the 90 had elapsed.

In the final minute of normal time, O'Neill scored what looked like a consolation goal for St Pats, but when play continued until the 95th minute, Keith Fahey capitalised on nerves in the Glens back line to snatch a point, and leave McDonald's men with the scant consolation of 1 point after this excellent display.

Courtesy of
Russell Pritchard/
PRESSEYE