Glentoran captain Marcus Kane has called on his teammates to rise to the occasion of a thrilling Friday the 13th clash under the lights at Seaview, as the Glens prepare to take on Crusaders in the Sports Direct Premiership on Friday 13th December (Kick-off: 7:45pm).
With the team returning to league action following disruptions caused by Storm Darragh, Kane believes Glentoran can build on their recent 1-0 BetMcLean Cup victory over Linfield and put together a consistent run of league form.
Currently sitting fifth in the league, Glentoran’s last Premiership outing was a 2-2 draw against Loughgall at the end of November, where the Glens fought back from 2-1 down to claim a share of the points.
The last meeting between the Glens and the Crues came in the Sports Direct Premiership season opener at The BetMcLean Oval, where Crusaders secured a narrow 1-0 victory.
Marcus said: “Friday night games always have something special about them, and the fact it’s Friday the 13th, under the lights, against strong opposition, adds an extra edge to the occasion.
“We’re eager to get back out there and deliver a performance. The win against Linfield gave us a real boost, and now it’s about building on that momentum, finding consistency in our league form, and putting more points on the board.”
Kane emphasised the importance of consistency in performances and praised the squad for buying into manager Declan Devine and his coaching staff’s vision for the club.
Marcus added: “The squad is fully committed to what Declan is building here. His coaching methods have been excellent, and everyone is working hard to implement them consistently every week.
“We’ve got a fantastic group of players, and while we know the results haven’t always gone our way, the spirit in the dressing room remains incredibly strong. We’re determined to turn performances into points and start climbing the table.”
Kane also singled out the contributions of recent signings, including Dan Gyollai, Danny Amos, Frankie Hvid, and Dylan Connolly, while expressing excitement about the January additions of Ciarán Coll and Shane McEleney.
“Players like Dan and Danny have brought so much to the team, and Frankie and Dylan are showing their quality every week. With Ciarán and Shane joining us in January - and hopefully a few others - we’re building a squad that can find consistency which will lead to more silverware.”
The Glens last visited Seaview in January, securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory and reflecting on Friday’s opponents, Kane acknowledged the challenge posed by Crusaders, who sit just one place below Glentoran in the league table.
Marcus concluded: “Crusaders are always a tough side, especially at Seaview. Like us, they’ve had some inconsistent results, but they have a strong squad with quality players who can capitalise on mistakes. Staying focused and disciplined will be crucial.
“We know they’ll come into the game fired up, so we need to be ready from the first whistle. It’s about matching their intensity, sticking to our game plan, and making the most of our opportunities. We’ve prepared well, and I’m confident we can deliver a performance that gets us the result we want.”
