Saturday 17th September 2022
Kick Off 3.00pm
On Saturday we return to Danske Bank Premiership action with an early season table top clash with second place Coleraine at the Bet McLean Oval. Coleraine are currently one point behind us with an identical goal difference.
Coleraine will be seeking to maintain their 100% record on the road. They have notched an impressive eleven goals (with two conceded) in wins at Portadown, Carrick Rangers and Glenavon. Having also defeated Cliftonville at Ballycastle Road on the opening day, the only blemish to their early form is the surprise 1-3 reverse they experienced at home to Glenavon at the end of August.
Striker Matthew Shevlin, so often the scourge of Glentoran in recent seasons and the August NIFL Player of the Month, has started the season in spectacular fashion: bagging himself seven goals in the first five league fixtures to earn the August player of the month award. Midfield talisman Jamie Glackin has also started the season strongly (with three goals scored in 5), backed up by two summer signings from Larne in Dean Jarvis and Lee Lynch, while defender Kieran Farren has stepped up from Championship side Dergview to add strength to the centre of defence and getting on the scoresheet in the recent 5-0 win at Dungannon.
When the sides last met at the Oval at the end of January, the Glens finally managed to end Coleraine’s 8 match unbeaten run - stretching back to March 2016 - in the league there thanks to Conor McMenamin’s late close-range effort that sealed an important 2-1 victory.
Mick McDermott: “We put in a very good team performance against Institute on Tuesday night. The hardest thing in football is to score goals, and thankfully on the night we created numerous opportunities with some great football and served up a few top-class goals for our fans.
Coleraine have started really well this season. They made some great signings later in the window and they seem to have gelled well so far. Last season may have been considered a rebuilding year for them but Oran has done a fantastic job pulling this current squad together. We are looking forward to getting back to our league play. We expect a massive challenge from Coleraine as usual.
We have a healthy squad to choose from and the good news is that Luke McCullough is potentially only a matter of weeks away from getting game minutes - I’m sure our fans will be keen to see him back.”
Saturday’s Match Sponsor is Nicdar Tiles
Nicdar Tiles have now extended their showroom to supply bathrooms & wooden floors to the public and commercial clients. They also have their own Tile installation team and other tradesmen that work alongside each project.
Check out their website nicdartiles.co.uk or they can be found on Facebook and Instagram.
Nicdar Tiles
Unit 14
Hanwood Business Park
Dundonald
Belfast
BT16 1DE
Telephone: 07852 427240
