A notable aspect of today's 5-0 win at Warrenpoint was the first team debut of young right back, Mal Smith when he was introduced as a second half substitute for John Herron.
Seventeen year old Mal joined the club as a ten year old. He has represented Northern Ireland at all levels so far and has scored in two NI Cup Finals. This season he is our Under 20s captain and has scored ten goals this season from right back!
Mal has been a star for our Academy teams at every level and his coaches at Academy and U20 level are confident he has a great career ahead of him at Glentoran.
This season has been a tough one at first team level but we've seen Paul O'Neill and James McCarthy establish themselves as squad regulars. Now with Mal's debut and first team squad places for Jack Henderson, Sean Og Gallagher and Paul McLaughlin we are starting to see real shoots of progress from Glentoran Academy.
Well done Mal.
Photographs by Andrew McCarroll, AM PhotographyNI