In today's installment of Cup Final Heroes we introduce Michael Halliday, the most voted for Hero on our social media in the last couple weeks. For younger fans who missed the glory days of 6 Irish Cups in 8 years in the 1980s Michael Halliday is surely the hero of the 21st century so far.
Armagh City were our first opponents in the 2001 Irish Cup. Two goals from Justin McBride, one from the penalty spot, and another from Gary Smyth saw us safely over the first hurdle. Former Glentoran player, Alfie Stewart brought his Moyola Park team to the Oval in the next round but the Glens proved too good for the junior side; Rainey, McCann, Smyth and Nixon all on target in a 4-nil win.
The quarter-final draw paired us with Institute. The game, again at the Oval ended 2-1 with Tim McCann and Darren Fitzgerald getting the Glens’ goals. A semi-final of Distillery against Glentoran meant the possibility of another ‘big-two’ Irish Cup final was still alive. Distillery though took the lead in the game only for Justin McBride to equalise from the penalty spot before the break. A Rory Hamill cross was turned home by Fitzgerald in the second half to decide the contest.
May 5th 2001 and another Glentoran v Linfield Irish Cup final loomed. Glentoran and Linfield playing in the Irish Cup Final has been a common occurance down the years but again for our modern fans it had been 16 years since the event and one of the biggest build ups to a Cup Final in the modern era.The Glens had a proud record to defend, not having lost an Irish Cup final to the old enemy since 1945. We were dealt a blow though in the lead up to the game when Rory Hamill was suspended by FIFA following the results of a drugs test. The game itself was a very cagey affair and after 90 minutes the deadlock had still to be broken. 9 minutes into extra-time the Glens were attacking the Kop end. A Tim McCann effort hit the crossbar but Michael Halliday was on hand to stab the ball home from about a yard out. The North Stand went wild again and with the Blues having nothing left in the tank, Glentoran saw out the remaining minutes to lift the Irish Cup for the 19th time.
The image of Halliday's winning celebration became iconic and was the front page photo for the Glentoran Gazette for the following season.
Irish Cup Winners 2001: Gough, Nixon, Ferguson, Young, Leeman, Smyth, McCann, Halliday, Fitzgerald, Batey & Lockhart.
Sub. McBride for Lockhart.
