Match Preview: Dungannon Swifts v Glentoran
On Saturday we aim for our third Danske Bank Premiership win of the season over Dungannon Swifts.
On Saturday we aim for our third Danske Bank Premiership win of the season over Dungannon Swifts.
Everyone at Glentoran Women wishes goalkeeper Jackie Burns all the very best as she leaves the club to start a two year full time professional career with BF Häcken in Gothenburg, Sweden. Jackie - Northern Ireland's first choice keeper and likely to remain so for the forthcoming Euros in England - was a star of the Glens' 2020 League and Cup winning squad and started the 2021 season as first choice keeper before returning to university in the USA. She will be missed by everyone at the club.
A challenging few days off the pitch for Glentoran took a disappointing turn on it this evening as a second half Rory Hale goal gave Cliftonville the opportunity to leapfrog into a two-point lead over us in the Danske Bank Premiership.
The Glens’ starting line-up showed three changes from the one that beat Newry City on Saturday. Darren Cole replaced Joe Crowe in central defence, stand-in skipper Seanan returned to midfield and Rory Donnelly was brought back in to face his former club. Robbie McDaid and Shay McCartan dropped to the bench after starting on Saturday.
There’s a double helping of the club’s new boys in Tuesday night’s Glentoran Gazette with striker Michael O’Connor featuring on Beth Stafford and Joe Burns’ cover graphic while Paul Vance tells of seeing midfielder Dillon Powers play in the MLS. On the eve of a big league clash Conor McLaughlin outlines how Cliftonville have targeted European qualification while our writers highlight the Red’s dangermen.
Tuesday 8th March
7.45pm Kick Off
Tomorrow night Cliftonville make their first visit of the season to the Bet McLean Oval when second meet third in the Danske Bank Premiership.
In form Glens forward Conor McMenamin has been named February’s Danske Bank Player of the Month.
Conor scored five goals in the month, including an impressive hat-trick against Glenavon. He also bagged a second half winner in Glentoran’s 1-0 win over Linfield at The Oval.
McMenamin last won the prestigious NIFWA prize in December 2019, during his spell with Cliftonville.
Delighted Conor said: “It’s nice to be scoring goals and it’s nice to be in a team that’s playing well. This award is really for the whole team, as everyone has played a part in our good form.
Another Jay Donnelly goal fired the Glens into the semi-final of the Samuel Gelston's Irish Cup at the Bet McLean Oval this afternoon. It wasn't the best performance of the season and the game itself will certainly not live long in the memory but the primary objective was achieved and the Glens can now look forward to a semi-final encounter with Ballymena United early next month.
Glentoran Football Club is supporting Unicef’s work to help the people of Ukraine who are currently experiencing the trauma of conflict. Fans can help by donating via the #GLENSHUB Saturday afternoon game at The Oval.
You can connect with the Glens Hub through the QR code on your seat, or those located in other areas of the stadium.
In another 40-page edition of the Glentoran Gazette Mick McDermott highlights the need for Stormont to move on the stadia funding and reveals the club had to turn away 2,000 fans for the recent Big Two league match. We have some advice for NIFL negotiators dealing with the politicians while Paul Vance asks why the Oval’s capacity is limited to 6,000 and the 1923 Supporters' Committee query the way the online ticketing for games is operated.
Saturday 5th March
3.00pm Kick Off
On Saturday we welcome Newry City to the Bet McLean Oval in the Quarter Final of the Samuel Gelston's Irish Cup.
While Newry City currently sit atop the NIFL Championship after 28 games, their hopes of claiming the title - and sealing a return to the IPL after a 3-year absence - took a body blow last Friday night, as they slumped to a 0-3 defeat at the Showgrounds to second placed Annagh United: cutting their lead to just a point.