Tonight on the Cup Final Heroes Countdown we are taking a break from the chronological order we have followed and instead are selecting two heroes based on the goals they scored. The winners are obvious- Paul Millar for his winning goal in the 1986 Irish Cup Final and Glen Little for that famous goal in the 1996 Cup Final.
The first round draw for the 1986 competition paired the Glens with Distillery; the game played at the Oval on 1st February. Gerry Mullan missed a penalty in this match but it didn’t make any difference. A goal from Ron Manley and another two from youngster, Paul Millar saw the Glens over the first hurdle. Ballyclare Comrades proved a sterner test in Round 2 though and it took a late equaliser, again from Millar, to see Glentoran earn a replay. Back at the Oval it was a different story. Just 5 minutes in and ‘Windy’ hit the target again. Further goals from Ron Manley and Raymond Morrison saw the Glens through, 3-1.
Glentoran were drawn at home in the quarter-final with Cliftonville providing the opposition. Paul Millar kept his remarkable scoring record going, netting the only goal of this game and as a result, picked up the “Personality of the Round” award, presented by the sponsors, Bass. In the last four for the ’86 Bass Irish Cup Glentoran ran out comfortable winners by a score line of 3-nil over Brantwood. Gerry Mullan got two of our goals. The other, unsurprisingly, was scored by Paul Millar.
Coleraine were favourites to lift the Bass Irish Cup on Saturday 3rd May 1986. In a poll of the other top-flight managers, TEN of the twelve went for a ‘Bannsiders’ victory! Glentoran’s ‘Player of the Year’ Gerry Mullan, who had scored the first goal of the final a year earlier, repeated the feat to give us a half-time lead. With 45 minutes remaining, the Glens had one hand on the trophy. A minute into the second half though, we were pegged back. Referee, Alan Snoddy penalised Glentoran centre-back, Terry Moore for a hand ball offence and Felix Healey dispatched the resultant penalty to level it at 1-all.
The Irish Cup was up for grabs but who was going to be the hero? On 78 minutes, manager Billy Johnston replaced the star of the 1983 final, Johnny Jameson, with Paul Millar. Millar, who had scored in every round of the competition, hit the back of the net one more time. His left wing shot (honestly it wasn’t a cross!!!) evading Jim Platt in injury time to retain the trophy for Glentoran. The Irish Cup was won for the twelfth time.
You can watch Paul Millar's famous goal by clicking here
1986 Final: Paterson; G. Neill, Leeman, Connell, Moore; Cleary, Jameson, Morrison, Manley, Mullan & Stewart.
Sub: Millar for Jameson
From being so used to Cup success it took a famous goal from Glen Little on May 4th 1996 to send Glentoran back into Cup Final delight. There were no scares in the early rounds but Ballymena United in a replay held a two goal lead before Michael Smith Glen Little sent the teams in all-square at the interval. The big Londoner ended up going home with the match ball as Glentoran eventually ran out winners, 4-2.
The semi-final against Crusaders took place on a wet Friday night at Windsor Park. Twice the Crues led (through Stephen Baxter and Glenn Hunter) and twice the Glens fought back. The first equaliser came when keeper, Kevin McKeown, under pressure from John Devine, fumbled the ball from a corner. It crossed the line and big John wheeled away in celebration. The replays suggested though that it was an own goal. Trevor Smith got our second in the 78th minute to take the semi-final to a replay. The replay, again under the Windsor Park lights, was tied (1-1) and looking like going to extra-time. Both teams had given their all and it needed something a little special to decide things. As injury time began Liam Coyle controlled the ball perfectly on the edge of the box, his first touch taking it past the defenders. His second was an explosive right foot shot which whistled into the Kop goal past a helpless Kevin McKeown. Another Cup final awaited.
The final against Glenavon, played on Saturday 4th May 1996, wasn’t a classic. The goal that won it was though. Glen Little was again the star performer, picking the ball up and hitting an absolute peach into the top left-hand corner of the net. A wonder goal from probably the best player on the pitch on the day and a goal worthy of winning any game. It was party time again in the East.
Want to watch Glen Little's goal? Of course you do! Click here
Irish Cup Final 1996: D. Devine, Nixon, Finlay, Walker, J. Devine, Parker, Smyth, Little, Coyle, Batey & McBride.
For scoring two of the greatest Cup Final goals we have ever seen, Millar and Little deserve their place in Cup Final Hero list