Glentoran manager Declan Devine promised he would bring silverware back to the club and he achieved his ambition with this County Antrim Shield Final win over Larne at Seaview.
It may have taken a sudden death penalty shootout to get the better of Gary Haveron’s men, but celebrations will go on for some time in east Belfast.
Following a night of drama, it was new boy Christie Pattison who hit the decisive penalty 1to bring the trophy back to the Oval.
Substitute Charlie Lindsay looked to have won it in normal time for the Glens when he scored a screamer with 10 minutes left. But Larne, the Shield holders, came storming back to level through an Andy Ryan penalty kick.
The penalty shootout was a nail-biting affair with Jordan Jenkins, Lindsay, Cammy Palmer, Wassim Aouachria and Pattison on target for the Glens.
Larne scored through Ryan, Joe Thomson, Chris Gallagher, and Tomas Cosgrove, with Levi Ives missing the penultimate spot kick, his effort saved by goalkeeper Andrew Mills
Devine has breathed new life, new optimism and a new found belief into a club that hit an all-time low before new owner Ali Pour injected much-needed financial backing in 2019.
It’s the first time the east Belfast club has paraded the giant piece of silverware for 14 long-years and their first tangible success since winning the Covid-affected Irish Cup five years back.
Devine and his players just couldn’t hide their delight at the finish, as they danced with joy with their long-suffering by loyal supporters. And, the victory means that the Glens preserved their impressive record of never having lost a cup tie this season.
It could be quite a season for Glentoran in terms of trophy success. They not only have a League Cup Final – against Cliftonville – to look forward to in March, but they will go head-to-head with their cross-town rivals Linfield in an Irish Cup showdown later this month.
But it was another night of torment for Larne. Astonishingly they last lost a game in the tournament back in October 2019 when they were edged out by the Glens – 1925 days ago to be precise!
Having beaten Belfast’s Big Two – Linfield and Glentoran – twice in the last four finals, they game was just a bridge too far from Gary Haveron’s men.
Charlie Lindsay celebrates the opening goal
It’s their second big set-back in a knockout tournament. A few weeks back, Larne were dumped out of the Irish Cup when Championship side Limavady United caused possibly the biggest shock of the competition this season.
Larne must now regroup in a hope of getting their Irish League title defence back on track. Although they have fell a staggering 22 points behind David Healy’s Linfield, the Inver men have six games in hand.
They may have created their own little piece of history by becoming the first Irish League team to qualify for the group stages of any European tournament – the UEFA Conference League – but it meant their domestic form suffered.
Both teams, of course, met at the weekend, but the game lasted merely 54 minutes because of a floodlight failure at the Oval.
Devine made two changes to the side, drafting in goalkeeper Mills for Daniel Gyollai and Jenkins. Jay Donnelly didn’t make the squad.
Haveron also tinkered with his line-up, handing starting shirts to Gallagher and Ryan, with Thompson and Benji Magee dropping to the substitutes’ bench.
It was an uncharacteristic error from Cain Bolger that gifted Glentoran a first sniff at goal, his wayward header gobbled up by James Singleton, who could only hoof his shot wide.
Larne’s Chris Gallagher was perhaps fortunate only to receive a yellow card from referee Steven Gregg on 11 minutes when he appeared follow through on a challenge on Christie Pattison.
The holders had a let off seconds later. Pattison’s clever lay-off sent Jordan Jenkins racing through the middle and although Bolger appeared to be in control, the striker still managed to get in a shot that resulted in Rohan Ferguson getting down smartly to save.
Pattison then produced a moment of brilliance midway through the half, taking off on a superb solo run, evading challenges from Sean Graham, Gallagher and Bolger before finding Cammy Palmer, whose rasping drive was deflected into the side netting, much to Ferguson’s relief.
Larne had to wait until five minutes before half-time for their first tangible effort on goal. Conor McKendry’s persistence forced Amos into an error and Andy Ryan took full advantage, cutting past Frankie Hvid only to see his shot superbly saved by Andrew Mills.
The game then erupted for all the wrong reasons seconds before the break when Larne’s Levi Ives lunged into a horrible tackle on Palmer. Once again Ballyclare official Gregg preferred to show a yellow card instead of red.
Both teams roared from the block after the restart. Larne’s McKendry crossed from the right that Mark Randall just couldn’t get on target then, at the other end, Amos whipped in a great free kick that was helped on by Kodi Lyons-Foster, whose effort was whacked off the line by Sean Graham.
Glentoran were right out of luck on 66 minutes. Substitute Charlie Lindsay combined with Fisher to create the chance from Amos, whose screaming 25-yard drive arrowed inches past the post with Ferguson at full stretch.
Devine’s men really should have been in front 18 minutes from time. Pattison’ inch perfect delivery was knocked back by Fisher to Jenkins, but he could only head into the gloves of Ferguson from point blank range.
Glentoran finally got the goal the craved 10 minutes from time – and what a strike it was. Substitute Wassim Aouachria – he was only on the pitch for two minutes — was robbed by Gallagher, but the ball broke kindly for Lindsay, whose 30-yard thunderbolt ripped into the bottom corner.
But the east Belfast man could managed to hold the lead for five minutes. Lindsay’s fluffed clearance fell for Ryan and, as he bore down on goal, Palmer came through the back of the striker and the referee awarded a penalty kick.
The lethal Ryan sent Mills the wrong way from the spot.
Larne then almost won it with practically the last kick only for Mills to produce a wonder save to keep out a blistering shot from Thomson.
Glentoran: Mills, Lyons-Foster, Hvid, Sule, Palmer, Fisher (Aouachria 78), Amos, Pattison, Singleton (Lindsay 56), Russell, Jenkins.
Unused subs. Gyollai, Connolly, Murphy, Douglas, Thorndike.
Larne: Ferguson, Ives, McKendry (Bayode 56), Randall (Thomson 56), Graham, Bolger, Nolan, Cosgrove, Sloan, Gallagher, Ryan.
Unused subs: Besant, Magee, McEneff, Panayiotou, Wallace.
Referee: Steven Gregg.
Man of the Match: Frankie Hvid.
Match rating 7/10.
Now it’s “Ali Pour, Ali Pour”
Glentoran have ended their five season trophy drought, while Larne’s incredible County Antrim Shield run is over.
Stick with us for Alex Mills’ match report and Steven Beacom’s opinion piece.
Into the bottom right corner.