Saturday 3rd September 2022
Kick Off 3.00pm
On Saturday afternoon we welcome Newry City back to the Bet McLean Oval following their promotion back to the Danske Bank Premiership.
Having started their first season back in the Premiership (after a 3-season absence) with three successive defeats, Newry City gained their first points of the season in fine style on Tuesday evening: routing Glenavon 5-1 at Mourneview Park.
Manager Darren Mullen retained all but two of last season’s Championship winning squad while also adding a number of new faces over the close season to provide the dept needed to compete at the higher level. Forwards Mo Boudaif and Ebuka Kwelele have moved north from the League of Ireland and former Crystal Palace Academy midfielder Emmanuel Omrore has moved to the Showgrounds as a free agent. More locally, Banbridge Town’s Andrew Martin has signed on a permanent basis while Cliftonville defender Donal Rocks and Glentoran midfielder Ciaran O’Connor have been recruited on season loans.
Arguably Mullen’s key move this summer, however, was the retention of Northern Ireland U21 International attacking midfielder John McGovern. The 19-year-old opened his Premiership scoring account with a brace in the win at Mourneview and is rated as one of the league’s most up and coming talents.
Newry won’t be able to call upon O’Connor for this game - with the midfielder ineligible to face his parent club - and experienced defender Ryan McGivern was missing for the win at Glenavon so could be a doubt. Donal Rocks remains suspended, having sent off for an off the ball incident in the opening day defeat at Carrick.
The last league meeting between the sides at the Oval was in January 2019. With Newry having led since the first half, it took late goals from Darren Murray and a Darren King own goal in the final 20 minutes to secure a 2-1 victory against a Newry side who would go on to be automatically relegated in 12th place. The only player who figured that day who is likely to be in this week’s squad is Joe Crowe. Newry’s last Oval League win came in December 2009: the reigning Champions humbled 0-1 by a Stephen Garrett penalty on the Saturday before Christmas.
Mick McDermott: “Our previous performance and win at Shamrock Park was a positive one and we now need to carry that into the Newry game. I’m confident the players will deliver that.
We are now entering a stretch with five games in fifteen days that includes two Cup competitions, but the most important game is the one directly in front is us: Newry at the Oval in the league. Newry are coming off a fantastic 5-1 victory over Glenavon on Tuesday and have performed well and in their previous games.
Expectations and demands at the Oval are always high and our players know that they need to ready for a highly competitive game against Newry; every team raises their game when they play Glentoran, and we need to accept that challenge every week. We have a healthy squad to select and look forward to a great crowd at the Oval to cheer us on
I’m very pleased to have secured Terry Devlin on the last day of the transfer window. It’s fantastic to have one of our country’s brightest young talents joins us at the Oval. At 18 he has represented the NI U21s and has been called into a senior NI training camp by Ian Barraclough. That highlights the talent he has and the regard in which he is held throughout the game. We are delighted to have him on board. Dungannon has had many offers for Terry over the past two years and we are happy that he has chosen Glentoran.”
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