Chiefs from the four big Belfast sides to speak at 4 Corners event
Larne: Devlin, Flowers, Watson, Sule, Randall (76 mins, Tilney), McDaid, Donnelly, Lynch, Cosgrove, Hughes, Jarvis
Unused subs: Mitchell, Kelly, Ramsey, Andrade, Gilmour, Herron
Linfield: Ferguson, Robinson, Callacher, Cooper (68 mins, Currie) Stewart, Millar, Lavery, Clarke, Fallon, Hery (60 mins, McClean), Boyle (60 mins, Quinn)
Unused subs: Moore, Stafford, Shevlin, Kearns, Quinn
Referee: Keith Kennedy
Man of the Match: David McDaid
Match rating: 7/10
LARNE produced a magnificent display to complete a Big Two double with a 3-1 victory over Linfield at Inver Park.
Tiernan Lynch’s men could have won by a bigger margin, just three days after ending Glentoran’s 15-match unbeaten league run at the same venue — the first time they have beaten both sides in the same season since 1976.
The Invermen had to come from behind, however, after Jordan Stewart’s early goal put Linfield in front.
They came roaring back within a minute to equalise through Davy McDaid and took the lead into half-time with his second, before Harry Flowers made sure in the second half.
Larne came into this one on the back of that 2-1 win against Glentoran on Saturday.
Linfield themselves were full of confidence, having trounced Glenavon for the second time at Windsor Park this season, having won 8-1 against the Lurgan Blues.
David Healy had to do without influential club captain Jamie Mulgrew, who limped out of that weekend victory.
It didn’t seem to dampen their early threat, however, as they began the match on the front foot.
With an early half-chance already under their belt through Stewart, the champions took the lead in the second minute.
Quick thinking from Kirk Millar on the right flank allowed him to swing a dangerous cross into the box, and Stewart took advantage of indecision in the back line to steer in at the near post.
To their credit, the home side hit back from making the worst possible start by equalising just one minute later.
The goal came about in somewhat bizarre circumstances as midfielder Mark Randall picked up the ball on the edge of the Linfield box and floated it across the face of goal.
The presence of McDaid, who it brushed off, seemed to put goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson off, and the ball ended up nestling inside the far post.
The blistering start to the opening period of the game continued and it was the home side who took the lead on 17 minutes, with the same two players involved.
Former Arsenal and MK Dons player Randall slipped a lovely through ball to McDaid just inside the box on the right-hand side, and he took a touch and lashed it into the roof of the net.
There was a chance apiece for
Danske Bank Premiership
the two sides either side of the half-hour mark.
Firstly, Larne threatened when McDaid had an effort from 30 yards blocked. Randall picked up the loose ball and his low shot was well held by Ferguson, down to his right.
At the other end, Millar almost created his second goal of the night when his teasing cross from the right was just beyond the reach of Shayne Lavery at the back post.
Larne should have extended their lead three minutes before the break after great work from McDaid on the left.
He out-muscled Josh Robinson and cut in to cross for Randall, but his effort from eight yards struck the bar and sailed over to safety.
Nine minutes into the second half, Larne had another good opportunity to extend their lead. This time it came from Marty Donnelly’s in-swinging corner on the right, but Jeff Hughes steered his header wide despite being in space eight yards out.
It was the home side who looked the more likely to add to the scoreline as the second half wore on, with Tomas Cosgrove heading over, under pressure from Stewart, from another Donnelly corner on 66 minutes.
It was no surprise that it was a headed goal which added to Larne’s lead on 71 minutes.
Donnelly’s free-kick on the left flank, just outside the box, was met by the head of central defender Flowers, who made no mistake.
FOUR influential figures from Belfast’s Danske Bank Premiership clubs will take part in a discussion next week as part of the 4 Corners Festival.
The event will be staged at Windsor Park on February 5 and will feature a panel containing the chairmen from Linfield, Glentoran and Cliftonville, Roy McGivern, Stephen Henderson and Gerard Lawlor, plus Crusaders vice-chairman Mark Langhammer.
The discussion will be hosted by BBC Radio Ulster sports presenter Joel Taggart and, in line with the aims of the festival, will be centred around football’s potential for overcoming division, building bridges and promoting community healing.
The 4 Corners Festival, which runs from January 31 to February 9, seeks to inspire people from across Belfast to transform it for peace and prosperity for all.
The football debate is one of a number of events taking place to encourage people around the city to go to places they wouldn’t otherwise visit.
Prior to the discussion, set to delve deep into serious issues which the clubs have to deal with, there will be an opportunity for those in attendance to take a tour around Windsor Park.
A spokesperson said: “We are looking forward to an open and interesting discussion and believe it is the first time the four panellists will have been speaking together in a public forum.
“There are challenges running big football clubs in Belfast and it will be fascinating to hear how over the years they have worked with their communities and together to try and build bridges.”
The event is due to begin at 6.30pm and for further information you can visit the website https://4cornersfestival.com/ or email info@4cornersfestival.com
Warrenpoint Town, meanwhile, have brought in Gareth Buchanan from Loughgall.
The 28-year-old ex-Dungannon Swifts and Newry City keeper joins for an undisclosed fee.
Declan Carville has left Ballymena United by mutal consent and rejoined Newry City.
Stevenage have signed Sheffield United’s David Parkhouse on loan until the end of the season. The 20-year-old Northern Ireland youth striker has yet to feature for the Blades’ first team. • NORTHERN Ireland’s women’s team will compete for the Pinatar Cup in Spain this spring.
Kenny Shiels’ squad are set to take on Scotland, Ukraine and Iceland at the annual tournament staged at the Pinatar Arena in Murcia from March 4-10.
The matches, all against nations much higher up the world rankings, will help Shiels’ team prepare for their Euro 2021 qualifier away to Belarus in April.