A very young Glens team got the job done this evening at the Bet McLean Oval to go through to the next round of the Bet McLean Cup.
Warren Feeney gave Under 19s Johnny Russell, Leon Boyd and Rhys Walsh a start tonight with Ollie Webber, Cammy Palmer and Sean Murray also returning to the starting lineup. Most pleasing however was the return of Harry Murphy to the first team since his bad injury sustained v Linfield back in April.
There was extraordinary refereeing from the start with the Glens having what looked a stonewall penalty claim in the third minute when Cammy Palmer was felled on a run into the Dollingstown box. However referee Keith Kennedy immediately and inexplicably rejected the appeal. Not long afterwards David Fisher was booked despite being in possession of the ball when a 50:50 challenge took place with a Dollingstown player.
The Glens did take the lead a after 18 minutes when Daire O’Connor had a nice finish after a neat backheel from Fisher. Not long afterwards Dollingstown keeper Macauley Cairns saved well from a Sean Murray free kick.
Two minutes later O’Connor scored a second but it was controversially ruled out for offside. The only other major incident of the half came when Dollingstown’s Daniel Gordon ran effortlessly through the Glens midfield and defence before shooting into the side netting.
Half Time : Glentoran 1-0 Dollingstown
After the break Warren Feeney sent Paddy McClean on, replacing captain on the night Sean Murray.
The nerves of the Glens support after losing two consecutive 1-0 half time leads were eased after the break. George Feeney was put through and the 15 year old strongly held off two defenders and the keeper to slip home his first goal for the first team and become the youngest ever Glentoran goalscorer.
The other major incident of the second half was what looked a very harsh red card for Johnny Russell after a high boot/low head incident on 70 minutes. The young left back had been performing well and will be disappointed to have been sent off for what looked an honest challenge.
This was an unspectacular performance but the young players took their opportunity well and the important thing is that we’re into the hat for the next round of a cup we haven’t won since 2010.
Final Score : Glentoran 2-0 Dollingstown
Photographs by PACEMAKER
Glentoran: Webber, Boyd, Russell, Murphy, Kelly (Burns 60), Murray (McClean 45), Palmer, Walsh (Smyth 75), O’Connor (McGinn 60), Fisher, Feeney (Locke 70)
Subs (Not used): Lorcan Donnelly, Junior
