Glentoran FC

The Official website of Glentoran Football Club / Pride of East Belfast 

Flickr

YoutubeTwitterFacebook

Cup Final countdown continues at Seaview

Fri, 19/04/2013 - 14:10

As the season draws close to a finish, all thoughts in East Belfast are starting to turn to the Irish Cup Final in two weeks time on 4th May. However before that, we have two Danske Bank Premiership games to play in order to complete this roller-coaster of a season. This Saturday, Glentoran travel to 2nd place Crusaders, reeling from their title defeat and Irish Cup semi-final defeat both by Cliftonville.

Glentoran are currently sitting in 4th place in the Danske Bank Premiership table, 4 points clear of Coleraine in 5th. Victory in tomorrow's game or failure for Coleraine to win will secure our place in 4th for the season. Ahead of us, Linfield are 6 points clear with two games to go meaning our chances of overtaking our biggest rivals are fairly slim. Glentoran's team news sees Stephen McAlorum return from his ban alongside Jay Magee. Jason Hill remains suspended whilst Jim O'Hanlon is a doubt for tomorrow's game with the injury which has kept him out of the last few games. Mark Clarke has been struggling with a knock and didn't complete 90 minutes on Tuesday night but is expected to be fit for tomorrow's game.

Our hosts Crusaders season finished last week when they finally gave up their slim title hopes when Cliftonville secured the Gibson Cup against Linfield at Solitude. It has been another very impressive season for Stephen Baxter's side, undefeated against both Glentoran and Linfield and finishing above the reigning Champions for the first time in a number of years. Crusaders and Cliftonville will no doubt be feeling that momentum has shifted in the league with the two North Belfast sides rightly being called the best two sides in the country this season.

Glentoran however will be out to prove a point that we have had a reasonably productive season to date. We are yet to beat Crusaders however so far this season with two defeats and a draw. The first defeat was our first of the season at Seaview followed by a 1-1 at The Oval. The last encounter only a few weeks ago was one of the best fixtures of the year despite Glentoran turning out on the wrong end of the result. From 3-0 down Glentoran battled back to 3-3 before heartbreakingly losing it 5-4 in the end. Glentoran will perhaps be looking to start the game better this time around to secure the points which will ensure 4th place in the table.