The wait for silverware at the BetMcLean Oval is finally over, after Glentoran defeated Larne 5-4 in a nail biting penalty-shootout after a 1-1 draw in tonight’s Co Antrim Shield Final at Seaview.
Christie Pattison was the hero as he scored the winning penalty, to give Declan Devine his first trophy as manager, and the club’s first trophy in five years.
Charlie Lindsay opened the scoring in the second half with a thunderbolt from distance, before Andy Ryan equalised moments later for Larne, who were denied a fifth Shield win in a row.
On a drizzly night in north Belfast, it was the Glens who had the first attempt on goal after 14 minutes of action.
Recent signing Pattisson managed to knock down a looped cross for Jordan Jenkins. Larne defender Cian Bolger attempted a block, but Jenkins got his shot away, forcing Rohan Ferguson into a fine save.
Pattison was a threat all evening down the right flank and was in the thick of the action once more 10-minutes later.
The big winger showed impressive skill and balance to beat a number of Larne players before his cross ricocheted to Cammy Palmer, whose shot crashed into the side netting in another lucky escape for the Invermen.
However, minutes before the break, Larne almost grabbed the lead against the run of play.
Conor McKendry pressured Danny Amos, which allowed Ryan time to rob him of the ball.
The striker charged towards goal before offloading a strike, but Glens keeper Andrew Mills denied the Scot with a fantastic save as the half finished scoreless.

Half-Time: Glentoran 0-0 Larne

The second half began with the same theme of the first. Glentoran pressing and Larne largely on the back foot.
Amos went close on the hour mark with a delivery that forced a clearance off the line from Sean Graham, before Frankie Hvid went close from a corner, heading just inches wide of the left-hand upright.
Just as it looked like it may not be Declan Devine’s night, up stepped substitute Lindsay on 80 minutes.
Fellow substitute Wassim did well to retain the ball and play it back for the former Rangers youngster and Glentoran academy graduate, who made no mistake rifling home from all of 30 yards to send the east Belfast support into hysteria.
Sadly, for the Glens’ support the joy wasn’t long lasting as Larne hit back just six-minutes later.
Lindsay, who had been the hero moments before, miscued a clearance in his own half to send Ryan through on goal, but the frontman was brought down by Palmer from behind and the referee pointed to the spot.
Ryan dusted himself down and stepped up to roll the ball into the bottom corner of the net, sending Mills the wrong way.
The east Antrim side could have won it late on after Joe Thomson unleashed a venomous effort from 12 yards, but Mills did superbly to get an arm on the ball and send it over the bar as the game finished all square and headed straight to penalties.
Jenkins, Lindsay, Palmer and Wassim all scored for the Glens from the spot, whilst Levi Ives missed for Larne, allowing Christie Pattisson to step up, score and give the Glens their first trophy since 2020.
Full-Time: Glentoran 1-1 Larne (5-4 Penalties)
Glentoran: Mills, Lyons-Foster, Hvid, Sule, Palmer, Fisher (Wassim 78), Amos, Pattisson, Singleton (Lindsay 44), Russell, Jenkins.
Subs (not used): Gyollai, Connolly, Murphy, Douglas, Thorndike.