I won’t shy away from spot kick duty despite semi-final slip : Cowan
GLENTORAN defender Keith Cowan insists he’ll have no problem volunteering for another penalty shoot-out — but is hoping tonight’s Sadler’s Peaky Blinder Irish Cup final against Ballymena United will not go that far.
Although the east Belfast men triumphed in their semi-final decider against Cliftonville on Monday night, the big Donegal man fluffed his lines from the spot, having his shot saved by Richard Brush.
Cowan was, however, one of Glentoran’s big performers on the night and turned in possibly his best performance in the famous red, green and black since moving to the Oval in January.
“We have been taking penalties in training over the past few weeks and the guys have been keeping records of who was scoring and who wasn’t,” says Cowan.
“I actually did really well, so I was asked to take one, although I was slightly surprised.
“It’s a great opportunity to become a hero, but it can also go the other way — which it did for me. I thought I was going to be the villain for a while, until Elliott (Morris) pulled off a great save.
“It’s one of those things. If it goes to penalties again, I’ll certainly stand up and try to do better. Hopefully, it will not go that far. It would be nice to do the business in the 90 minutes.
“We were just relieved to be in the final. It was a bit of a marathon and it was a big ask for both teams, especially as the game was played at such a high tempo.
“It was a credit to the guys who kept themselves in shape over the lockdown since March. Ourladslefteverythingoutthere on the pitch, they ran themselves into the ground. It was a credit to both teams for the spectacle they put on and a great advertisement for the league.”
Although Cowan has never sampled an Irish Cup final, he is relishing the prospect of appearing in his first one.
He adds: “There will be no build-up and a lot different to what the players were used to.
“I’ve seen finals on television and I know they are big occasions. It’s a great day for everyone involved.
“This one will be low key, but if you ask any of the players, it will be every bit important.
“There is still a huge carrot dangling in front of both sides in terms of winning a major trophy and qualifying for European football. So everyone will be just as excited.
“The financial aspect of it is also massive. That money is the lifeblood for Irish League clubs.
“But we’ll be fully focused on Ballymena United apart from anything else. They are a great team and are well marshalled by an experienced manager in David Jeffrey. They’ll have done their homework on us.”
Former Finn Harps man Cowan adds: “Sometimes cup finals can be drab affairs because there is so much at stake, but I think this has the making of a really good, open game.
“I think the two teams will go for it and give it a real rattle.
“As a squad of players, we know the fans give us so much support over the course of the season, it would be great to deliver the Irish Cup back to them as a reward.”
GLENTORAN may be going in the right direction after years of struggle but manager Mick McDermott has insisted ahead of tonight’s Irish Cup final with Ballymenaunitedthattheyhavedone nothing yet.
Mcdermott also dismisses the claim of opposite number David Jeffrey that the Glens are huge favourites to lift the trophy they last clinched in 2015.
Jeffrey has been king of the mind games in the Irish League for two decades but Mcdermott is determined not to lose the psychological battle before kick-off.
He may have taken over as boss in controversial circumstances at the end of March last year — replacing Oval legend Gary Smyth — but, since then, with the takeover of the club completed by businessman Ali Pour, some big results including a comprehensive Boxing Day victory over champions Linfield and hard hitting comments that appealed to the club’s supporters, Mcdermott has won the fans over.
Now he wants to win a trophy andeasethepainthatglentoran followers have felt for too long.
“Nobody will remember in 10 years’ time that we were in the final in 2020 if we don’t win it,” said Mcdermott.
“For me, we are moving in the right direction and if we win, it is likely to put us on a different trajectory but I don’t buy Ballymena being clear underdogs. You don’t become the favourite for performing well for a bit. We have accomplished nothing.
“My players will not be preparing like we are clear favourites. When I look into my players’ eyes, I see boys hungry to win this and we won’t take our
CIARAN O’connor gazed towards the sky and asked for some divine intervention. He didn’t want to suffer the agony of shoot-out defeat in an Irish Cup semi-final again.
Last season it was his Warrenpoint Town side losing to Ballinamallard on penalties. On Monday night, after a gripping 1-1 draw at Windsor Park, O’connor’s Glentoran were one kick away from being defeated by Cliftonville when Conor McMenamin stepped up to take on Elliott Morris.
O’connor, who netted his kick with aplomb, said: “Before foot off the pedal. Be under no illusions, Ballymena have a good squad. It’s a team who won a game in Europe last year and finished second in the league against a side who haven’t won a trophy since 2015.
“Our club was struggling financially and it was ever decreasing circles, if you want to put it that way, it was a downward spiral.
“The people who were running it were doing their best but to get to a final in year one was not one of our goals. To end up where we are is a bonus and to pick up the trophy would be a massive achievement, just to show the fans we are moving in the right