Lynch proud as Glens end Irish League’s wait

GLENTORAN became the first Irish League club to lift a trophy at the SuperCupNI in 30 years.

The Glens won the Minor section yesterday afternoon thanks to a 2-0 win over Dungannon at the Coleraine Showgrounds.

Dungannon Swifts were the last Irish League side to win a trophy, when a young Keith Gillespie helped them to success in the 1989 Junior section.

Thirty years on, Jack McCosh and Jay Dalzell were the stars.

Glentoran coach Declan Lynch said: “It’s great for the club. We lost our first game on Monday, but that turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it showed the boys what they had to do.

“All we’ve done since then is try to take the pressure off them. We did a bit of work on defensive shape, but other than that we just trusted them to play football.

“This victory shows the strength of our academy. There are lads here who will hopefully play for the first team, but also boys who have the ability to make the grade across the water.”

The final didn’t really burst into life until the final minute of the first half. McCosh roared into the Dungannon penalty area and smashed home a powerful shot.

The Glens doubled their advantage seven minutes into the second half when Dalzell executed a sublime chip from just outside the area.

Dungannon were reduced to ten boys midway through the second half when referee Shane McGonigle gave Kyle Watterson a straight red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Dungannon impressed throughout the game, but Glentoran’s two wonder goals were enough to take the trophy back to east Belfast.