It was a comfortable win for the Glens in today's Samuel Gelston's Whiskey Irish Cup tie at The Dub. 3 goals, one from Michael O'Connor and two from Robbie McDaid, in 8 first half minutes virtually sealed the game. Shay McCartan added a fourth 10 minutes from time and it could have been even more emphatic but for the woodwork coming to the rescue of Queens University on 4 other occasions.
Marcus Kane was back in the starting line up for this one with Bobby Burns dropping to the bench. Hrvoje Plum, Jay Donnelly and Conor McMenamin were also omitted from the starting XI with Rory Donnelly, Michael O'Connor and Shay McCartan coming in. A a wet and very blustery Dub the Glens started well. Rhys Marshall had the first effort on goal, sending his shot wide in the opening minute and then Shay McCartan saw his shot fly over the crossbar.
The home side went close on 5 minutes; a cross from the right just eluding Ronan Young at the back post. Sean Murray had a shot deflected behind for a corner on 11 minutes but the breakthrough for Glentoran arrived just after the quarter hour mark. The Glens were awarded a free kick on the left, just inside the Queens University half. Sean Murray curled a delightful ball into the area and Michael O'Connor met it perfectly, heading past a helpless Declan Brown.
Murray himself went close a couple of minutes later but his long range effort was srttraigh at keeper, Brown. The Glens doubled their lead on 21 minutes. Rory Donnelly did well to win a corner on the left. Again it was Sean Murray with the set piece and this time he picked out Robbie McDaid who headed home from 6 yards out.
McDaid grabbed his second of the game just 3 minutes later. Again it came from a set piece, another Murray corner. This time Tamer Ganem Atrach was first to the ball but the Queens number 9 failed to clear properly and Robbie McDaid pounced to drill the ball low into the corner of the net. It was McDaid's fourth goal in the It was a comfortable win for the Glens in today's Samuel Gelston's Whiskey Irish Cup this season and following his hattrick at The Dub a couple of years ago, he must have been hoping to head home with another match ball this afternoon. He had the chance for his hattrick on 39 minutes following yet another Sean Murray corner. Robbie rose highest but his header was wide of the target. 2 minutes from the break a long range, dipping effort from Benjamin Mulgrew was just over the crossbar.
Halftime: Queens University 0-3 Glentoran
Early in the second half there was another chance for Ronan Young but his low shot was comfortably saved by Aaron McCarey. The Glens almost made it 4 on 50 minutes. Skillful play on the left by Rory Donnelly saw the Glens number 10 cut inside past a couple of defenders before curling a delightful effort towards goal. Unluckily for rory though, the ball hit the inside of the post. Michael O'Connor then turned it in but an offside decision denied him. Moments later the ball was played to Michael O'Connor on the edge of the area. He set up Robbie McDaid but Robbie's low shot was well kept out by Declan Brown.
Queens had a chance to pull a goal back on 55 minutes. A cross from former Glentoran player, Adam Calvert, was turned goalwards by a stretching Ben Mulgrew but Aaron McCarey saved well. Just after the hour mark the Glens made a triple substitution and one of those coming on, Ben Cushnie was soon in the action heading clear a corner from Queens University. Cushnie then sent in a superb cross from the right which found Rory Donnelly at the back post. Donnelly was again unfortunate though, this time his powerful header crashing off the crossbar. On 74 minutes Ben Cushnie almost made it 4-nil. Cushnie collected the ball 30 yards from goal. He clipped the ball over a Queens defender before firing a stunning effort which struck the post.
Glentoran's fourth arrived with 10 minutes remaining. Shay McCartan was fouled 30 yards from goal. He took the free kick himself, firing an unstoppable shot past Declan Brown. A couple of minutes later Brown was called into action once more. Bobby Burns pass found Hrvoje Plum and the Croatian midfielder drove forward before unleashing a powerful shot which Brown did well to keep out. Shay McCartan was then felled in the area but the referee waved away the penalty appeals and instead awarded the Glens a corner. The corner was cleared but met perfectly by Bobby Burns. His strike deserved a goal but again the post denied us.
Photographs by PACEMAKER
Glentoran: McCarey, Marshall, Kane (c) (Garrett 75), Marron, McClean, Murray (Plum 62), Clucas (Burns 62), McCartan, R. Donnelly (McMenamin 81), McDaid (Cushnie 62) & O'Connor.
