Declan Devine’s Glentoran host Declan Caddell’s Crusaders at The Oval in the first game of the Sports Direct Premiership season
BelTel Sport: Can anyone stop Irish League champions Larne from winning the Gibson Cup for a third season in a row?
Glentoran
1
:
0
Crusaders
Kieran Offord
22′
Well, that’s just ridiculous
The first booking of the season goes to Jordan Forsythe for a high challenge on Niall McGinn.
David Fisher found a year of space inside the area and smashed a shot at goal from a tight angle, only for Jonny Tuffey to make a decent save
Four new signings apiece on show tonight
Declan Devine gives debuts to goalkeeper Daniel Gyollai, Frankie Hvid, Dylan Connolly and Wassim Aouachria.
There are also four league debutants for Crusaders in Jordan Stewart, Jacob Blaney, Kieran Offord and Lewis Franklin.
Glentoran’s Niall McGinn hits a half-volley from 20 yards, but the low effort skips past the post
Niall McGinn whips in the first corner of the season, but it beats everyone and goes out for a throw-in on the far side
Crusaders are attacking the own fans in The Oval’s rather exposed away end. Thankfully it’s a nice night in East Belfast
And the new Irish League season is underway!
The players and supporters of both teams are observing a minute of silence for both former Glentoran boss Tommy Cassidy and Irish League referee Peter McGrath.
Five minutes to kick-off at The Oval.
Here’s some pre-match reading
If you’re wondering why there are no fans in the Railway Stand tonight…
FOOTBALL IS BACK!
The race for the Gibson Cup starts tonight as Glentoran host Crusaders at The Oval, in what is Declan Caddell’s first game as manager of the North Belfast club.
Here’s tonight’s teams…
Glentoran: Gyollai, Hvid, McClean, Connolly, Donnelly, Aouachria, McGinn, Murphy, Fisher, Kelly, Singleton (C)
Subs: Mills, Palmer, Boyd, Lindsay, Jenkins, Farley, Douglas
Crusaders: Tuffey, Weir, Lowry (C), Stewart, Blaney, Forsythe, O’Rourke, Offord, Larmour, Franklin, Barr
Subs: Mashal, Jewitt-White, Owens, Vance, Donnelly, Nixon, James