Saturday 7th September 2019, Kick Off 3.00 pm
On Saturday our visitors to the Oval are Larne, back in the top division for the first time in twelve seasons. Obviously a very different Larne this time due to the high-profile investment and big spending over the past two years following the takeover of the club in 2017.
Larne are currently one point and one place behind us in sixth place having played one game fewer. So, this should be a very interesting contest between two well matched teams.
Last season we played then Championship team Larne at home in the second round of the BetMcLean League Cup. That finished 3-2 to the Glens after extra time with goals from Robbie McDaid, Marcus Kane and Dylan Davidson. Our last league meeting, in February 2008, finished 3-0 to the Glens at Inver Park due to a Gary Hamilton hat trick. Their last league visit to the Oval, was a 1-0 home win with substitute Rory Hamill scoring the only goal.
Experienced football reporter Alex Mills spoke to www.glentoran.com about Larne’s start to the season: “Premier League new boys Larne are meeting their new challenge head on. Manager Tiernan Lynch this week put the final touches to his squad by snapping up Conor McKendry from Ipswich Town. He should be included in today’s squad, subject to international clearance. “Conor has trained with us on quite a few occasions . . . he’s a talented lad,” said Lynch. “He’s a former Larne Youth Club player, so it’s great to have him back at the club.”
McKendry is one of several new faces to have arrived at Inver Park over the summer. Probably the most high profile is Mark Randall, who was on the books of Arsenal. Striker Johnny McMurray, goalkeeper Conor Mitchell, Sean Graham and Albert Watson have all been snapped up by the enthusiastic Lynch over recent months, while McKendry arrives in a week that Thomas Stewart departs – by mutual consent. The 32-year-old has been plagued lately by an ankle injury that has hampered his chances of making an impact in the first team squad.”
Mick McDermott: “On Monday against Institute we had another great crowd and it was good to put down a marker of how we want to perform at home this season. To score four goals against anyone in this league isn’t easy. Teams here battle, they fight, and they are always competitive. So, to win a game the way we did has to be encouraging for everyone. It’s always good to build momentum and our players will obviously be striving to take another step this Saturday.
Hrvoje got Man of the Match and fully deserved it for his overall performance, and wonderful goal. He has been brilliant for us so far. He’s really adapted to the style of how teams play in this league. He’s great on the ball but he’s strong as well so he’s adding something very important here and that will increase as the season goes on. He was part of a very effective midfield. We were strong in all areas of the pitch. With Darren and Curtis injured on Tuesday night, Antonio Duric got a debut earlier than we expected. He was here a couple of weeks on trial and scored a hat trick in his debut for the reserves. He’s a cool finisher as he showed with his goal against Institute so that’s another very good option for us.
For Saturday’s match we’ve got Larne visiting. They’re a good team who like to get the ball down and play so it should be an entertaining game for what should be another big crowd. I’m sure a lot of pundits will make Larne favourites. That may be fair enough, given the time they’ve had to build their team and the investment they’ve managed to put behind it over the past couple of years. But we’re at home and we’ve made it a target for this season that teams are going to suffer when they come here, no matter who we play. No matter what the result is, we want all teams who come here to know they’re in a battle and the players are all up for that.
All our squad are available for this one, apart from Tom Byrne who has a sprained ankle. He’s hoping to be available next week.”
At half time on Saturday we will have an on-pitch reception for over 30 of our legendary past players, representing every League Championship and Irish Cup winning squad since the mid-1950s. We know a bumper Glentoran crowd will give them all a great reception.
The Board of Directors at Glentoran Football Club would again request that all supporters travelling to the Oval by private car consider the local residents when deciding where and how to park. Local parking is freely available at the Arches Health Centre.
