Glentoran had to make do with a point in their blockbuster meeting with Sports Direct Premiership leaders Larne at the BetMcLean Oval.

Three points separated the sides going into the game with the Glens knowing they had to avoid defeat to take the battle for the Gibson Cup into the final game of the season.

Despite having so much at stake it was an enthralling encounter with the Glens taking the game to their opponents, but they couldn’t find that all important breakthrough in the end.

Declan Devine made one change to the side which thumped Dungannon Swifts last Saturday with club captain returning to the starting XI as Daniel Larmour dropped to the bench.

The home side started on the front foot with Pat Hoban having a goal-bound effort deflected away for a corner before Josh Daniels flicked a header wide of the target from the resulting corner.

Ryan Cooney’s long throw was proving to be a vital weapon in the Glens’ armoury in the opening quarter of an hour with the fullback the busiest man on the pitch as he alternated sides to take the throws.

The hosts were inches away from the opener on 26 minutes when Jack Malone teed up Jordan Stewart from Hoban’s cross, but the winger’s shot fizzed the wrong side of the post.

Two minutes later another clever move saw Malone play in Hoban, but the top scorer could only find the side netting from a tight angle.

Kane then lashed an effort over the bar after Larne had failed to properly clear a corner.

At the other end Leroy Millar blazed an effort high and wide of the goal after Sean Graham had sent him racing towards the Glentoran goal on 34 minutes.

Chris Gallagher did well to get back underneath his crossbar to head clear a ball across goal from Kane as the skipper kept Cooney’s deep corner alive.

Gallagher then produced a goal-saving tackle six yards from goal to deny Joe Thompson a certain goal two minutes after the former Larne man came on to replace the injured Aaron McEneff.

Glentoran had a huge let-off 10 minutes into the second half as Cammy Palmer’s block from Cosgrove’s low cross fell perfectly for Matty Lusty, but he skewed his shot well wide of the target.

Andy Ryan muscled his way in on goal in the 63rd minute but he too failed to hit the target as he fired wide.

Mills then did well to deny Lusty after he had weaved his way through the Glens defence.

As we moved towards the final 10 minutes chances were at a premium for both sides with Amos curling a free-kick over the bar from the edge of the Larne penalty area.

Thomson was then denied by McEneff, who threw himself in front of the midfielder’s initial effort with the Scottish star firing the rebound wide of goal.

That gave the home side a lift again going into the dying minutes with Amos the next to drill an effort narrowly wide.

As we moved into the final minute Mills produced a superb save to palm away an effort from substitute James Simpson.

Six minutes were added on at the end with the chances still coming as Cooney drilled a free-kick into the wall at the edge of the box with Thomson firing the loose ball wide.

Thomson had one final effort before the final whistle but again Thomson couldn’t find the target from Cooney’s short free-kick.

Glentoran 0 – 0 Larne

Starting XI: Mills, Cooney, Kamson-Kamara, Kane, Amos, Palmer, Malone (Jenkins), McEneff (Thomson), Daniels (Clarke), Stewart, Hoban.

Subs: Crellin, Connolly, Burt, Larmour,