Glentoran’s dismal season finally over as Coleraine ease into Play-Off Final

It’s been a campaign to forget for the faithful fans of the east Belfast club and, not for the first time, they had been let down by another substandard performance on the pitch.

First half goals from Jamie McGonigle – his fifth since signing from Derry City in January – and defender Lyndon Kane had the home supporters baying for blood as the Glens made their way off at the interval.

McGonigle then struck again midway through the second half to seal the deal. It got even worse for the home team as Fuad Sule was dismissed five minutes from time for picking up two yellow cards.

It means Coleraine and Crusaders will contest the end-of-season decider in Monday’s Final at Seaview with a place in the Conference League – and a financial jackpot – up for grabs.

Manager Declan Devine may have been parachuted in – on a temporary arrangement – to replace Warren Feeney in mid-March, but nothing changed… it's been the same old story.

Even though results didn’t improve, the former Derry City and Bohemians man was still offered the job on a full-time basis a few weeks back.

When Ali Pour bought over the club in 2019, sinking in a substantial cash investment, he expected something in return, in terms of success… sadly, he is still waiting.

In fact, the club has reached such a sorry state that Glentoran Supporters’ Union – an amalgamation of supporters’ clubs – have demanded a face-to-face meeting with the British-Iranian businessman as they believe the club is going in the wrong direction.

That meeting can’t come quickly enough, especially after the team’s latest offering that had the fans streaming out long before the final whistle.

With little to play for at the weekend, Devine played a posse of his young guns in the win over Crusaders, so there were eight alterations to the side, with only Cammy Palmer, Harry Murphy and Callan Farley surviving.

With Darren Cole suspended after being dismissed in the 5-0 walloping by champions Larne, manager Oran Kearney also brought back his big hitters, Andy Scott, Jack Scott, Stephen O’Donnell and Josh Carson keeping their place.

The game got off to a controversial start with Sule flying into a tackle on O’Donnell after only nine seconds that earned him a booking from referee Shane Andrews.

Glentoran then lost the versatile James Singleton on 13 minutes when he buckled under had challenge from O’Donnell, which ended his interest in the game – he was replaced by Seanan Clucas. The Coleraine skipper also received a yellow card.

Home fans were then howling for a spot kick when Jay Donnelly attempted to turn away from O’Donnell’s sliding tackle with the ball spinning off the defender’s arm, but Comber official Andrews wasn’t interested.

After the opening shenanigans, it was the Bannsiders who forged into the lead on 20 minutes – it was simplicity itself. Josh Carson and Jamie Glackin combined before finding Andy Scott, who whipped in a delicious cross that was flicked home at the near post by the head of McGonigle.

The home team were let off the hook just after the half-hour. Glackin gobbled up a Dean Jarvis throw before flicking back to Matthew Shevlin, whose control let him down.

But three minutes before the break it should have been two when Kane crossed to the back post where Shevlin rose above everyone else, only for Aaron McCarey to make a miraculous save. When the rebound fell to McGonigle, he blasted wildly over the top.

The Bannsiders did get that second goal four minutes into added time, though but what a comedy of errors it was in the home defence. McCarey produced a wonder save to keep out a pile-driver from Glackin but, when the ball spun in the air, the big shot-stopper and McCullough got into a horrible mess, leaving Kane with a tap-in.

Devine rolled the dice at half-time, introducing Shay McCartan and Niall McGinn.

Both sides had chances after the restart with Andy Scott showing great pack to pick up a pass form Jack Scott before cutting the ball back for Shevlin, only for Paddy McClean’s intervention.

Almost immediately, McGinn floated in a superb cross from the right that was met by Fisher only to see his header flicked off the line by Kelly.

Glentoran were almost back in it on 66 minutes. McGinn was again the provider, and his delivery was met by Junior, only just on for Fisher, but Coleraine goalkeeper Rory Brown produced a magical save to paw clear.

But the Bannsiders ended the contest on 70 minutes, with McGonigle’s second of the night. It was a clever short corner kick routine between the striker and Glackin that bamboozled the home defence and McGonigle gleefully drilled the ball under the body of McCarey.

Sule compounded a night of horror when he was dismissed for chopping down Shevlin late on.

GLENTORAN: McCarey, McCullough, Donnelly, Singleton (Clucas 13), Sule, Palmer (McGinn 46), Murphy (McCartan 46), Fisher (Junior 61), McClean, Russell, Farley.

Unused subs: Webber, Kane, Burns.

COLERAINE: Brown, Kane, Jarvis, Kelly (Farren 76), Shevlin (Gaston 86), Carson, O’Donnell, Glackin, J Scott (Lowry 76), McGonigle (McDaid 86), A Scott (Lynch 83).

Unused subs: Gallagher, O’Mahony.

Referee: Shane Andrews (Comber)

Man of the Match: Jamie McGonigle

Match rating: 7/10