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.
Since our win at Solitude in January, Cliftonville have responded solidly to put together an unbeaten run of nine games in all Competitions and come into this fixture on a run of six consecutive wins. In what has been a highly impressive campaign from Paddy McLaughlin’s men to date, they find themselves just a point off both ourselves and Linfield as the League reaches its final run in, have progressed to the Semi Finals of the Irish Cup and will contest the Final of the League Cup against Coleraine at The National Stadium this coming Sunday.
The Reds have won six of their last ten league league visits to the Oval (Glentoran winning the other four) and both teams secured a victory each in last season’s Oval matches. In the first game in February 2021, it was a spectacular goal from distance by Jamie McDonagh, a player of course now enjoying a successful season for the Reds, in the final minute that secured victory for the Glens. When the sides met again three months later, however, it was Cliftonville who ran out comfortable 2-0 winners: goals from Rory Hale and Michael McCrudden in the final half hour giving the visitors three points in the post-split fixture.
Manager McLaughlin does not appear to have any fresh injury concerns to contend with for this game, though he may have a dilemma as to whether to start legendary goal scorer Joe Gormley or Rory Hale up front, There is also competition between Daniel Kearns and club skipper Chris Curran for a place in midfield. Former Glentoran players McDonagh, Cricky Gallagher and Johnny Addis are all likely to start for the Reds, but forward Paul O’Neill is more likely to be named amongst the substitutes.
Mick McDermott: “Saturday’s performance in the Samuel Gelston’s Irish Cup was definitely not one that was up to our expected levels. Apart from a super winning goal down to great work from Conor and a great header from Jay, we, as a group, both players and staff, recognise that and understand that we cannot have any “off days” as we move forward. Every match going forward will have a bearing on the outcome of the season, so we all know and understand the need to maintain a consistently high level of performance if we are to achieve the goals we have all worked so hard for.
It’s always a tough battle when we play the Reds – they are a good team in good form and are coming to the Bet McLean Oval on the back of a great cup result against Coleraine on Friday night. We have had a couple of great games against them this season, following others last season and I’m looking forward to another one tonight. I’m sure the fans will get behind the team. We owe them a big performance!”
As always at home matches, we strongly request that supporters respect the rights of the local residents by parking well away from housefronts in the immediate locality. There is plenty of available parking at the Holywood Arches Heath Centre.
Tomorrow’s match sponsor is Premier Group Facilities Management Ltd
What started as a cleaning company 15 years ago, Premier Group Ltd have grown into a multi-national Facilities Management company. that boast an ever-growing team of workers, with high end clientele across Northern Ireland and Ireland.
Premier’s wide range of services include: Responsive Maintenance, Cleaning and Window Cleaning.
- Telephone: 02896 207038
- Email: info@premier-ni.co.uk
- Website: https://premiergroup-ni.co.uk/
- Address: 32A Greenville St, Belfast BT5 5AG
Ball Sponsor - The Cooke Family
Tomorrow's match ball is sponsored in memory of Bertie Cooke by his son Alan.
Bertie was a lifelong Glen man and followed them everywhere. His passion ran so deep that on waking from a coma in 2004 his first question was "Did the Glens win the Irish Cup". We did, as the photograph below demonstrates. Alan's many memories include sitting between his Dad and Jimmy Feeney watching the Glens stun the mighty Juventus , "that" tackle by Rab McCreery on Causio remains a highlight . Alan now supports the Glens from his new home in Ontario , Canada. He is being represented tonight by Bertie's extended family , Alan's brother in law and nephew Paul and Jude Smyth.
