Friday 29th January 2021, Kick Off 7.45pm
Tomorrow night we travel to play Larne in the Danske Bank Premiership. For the third consecutive visit we travel for an evening kick off due to television schedules.
Larne's 2-1 win last January, thanks to Johnny McMurray's late strike, was their first over Glentoran since 1987. Indeed the 1986/87 Season is the last time Larne finished above the Glens in the Irish League. Between 2003 and 2008, Larne's last spell in the IPL, the Glens won all 5 encounters at Inver Park - scoring an impressive 19 goals and conceding just twice in the process. Our last Inver win came in October 2019, when Paddy McClean's superlative overhead kick, after substitute Cameron Stewart had knocked down a Hrvoje Plum free kick, secured a late 3-2 victory. Young striker Paul O'Neill also had a productive night in front of goal, twice converting in the first half after Mark Randall's early free kick had given Larne a 4th minute lead.
The two meetings this season have ended in 0-0 draws - firstly in a league fixture at the Oval in November, followed by Larne winning the County Antrim Shield at Seaview later that month, after a penalty shootout.
Having stormed to the top of the table in mid-December, Larne's recent form has stuttered - losing their last 2 home games (to Ballymena and Coleraine) and drawing 3-3 at Seaview against Crusaders in between. The Invermen are not believed to have any injuries at present, so manager Tiernan Lynch will have a full choice from the impressive squad at his disposal.
Mick McDermott: “I was happy with the win against Carrick on Tuesday. We were well in control until Jay was sent off, but we bounced back well after that. We reorganised effectively after a Carrick bounce from the sending off and were comfortable winners in the end. Rhys Marshall did very well when he had to move to midfield and I thought that Cricky, Jamie and Paul also did very well and made telling contributions when they came on. I was disappointed that Jay was cited for serious foul play which gets him an automatic three game suspension rather than for just a foul, but we have other very good players ready to step in to replace him.
This should be skipper Moko's 300th Glentoran first team match
I’m looking forward to a good game at Larne. All the matches against them have been good battles, hard fought but hugely entertaining. We have everyone available apart from Jay who’s suspended and Andrew Mitchell who’s still recovering,
It’s actually much more enjoyable now the games are coming thick and fast. Its more about playing rather than training and I know players and managers are always happier when there’s a good match to look forward to.”
Supporters are reminded that this match is live on BBC2.
