Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ROBBIE DAZZLER
Mcdaid the hero as his late, late extra-time strike wins the cup for Glens
IT’S official - a sleeping giant has awoken in the East.
From crisis and slumber to hope and success under new owner Ali Pour and boss Mick Mcdermott, the good times are back at Glentoran.
Last night’s dramatic Irish Cup triumph after extra-time at Windsor Park was further proof of the direction of travel under the Pour project which is only 12 months old.
Hero of the hour was Robbie Mcdaid who struck five minutes from the end of extra-time as Glentoran celebrated their first silverware in five years and the first of Mcdermott’s short reign.
Cruel luck on David Jeffrey’s Ballymena who were chasing their first Irish Cup since 1989.
But a very special moment for Mcdermott, just 48 games into his tenure, as he watched captain Marcus Kane lift Glentoran’s first Irish Cup since 2015. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, there were only 250 fans of the East Belfast club in the stadium to witness it but the cheers of elation and joy spoke a thousand words.
Paul O’neill had fired the Glens ahead midway through the first half with a superb strike from the edge of the area, before Cathair Friel levelled for Ballymena at the start of the second.
Mcdaid bagged the headlines with his late strike, rifling home his 21st goal of the season and sixth of a memorable Irish Cup campaign.
Ballymena, who beat Coleraine on penalties in Monday’s semi-finals, had started brightly but it was the Big Two giants who took the lead in the 22nd minute.
O’neill latched onto a headed clearance by United skipper Jim Ervin and cut inside to feather a low left-foot shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards out.
It was a clinical finish from the 20-year-old who raced off to celebrate wildly in front of the 250 Glens fans socially distanced inside the Kop.
O’neill’s strike came a minute after the lively Navid Nasseri had threatened an opener but the winger saw Ross Glendinning block his first effort before firing wide with a follow-up.
Nasseri went close again on the half-hour mark when he flicked Chris Gallagher’s low cross goalwards but Glendinning again got down to block at his near post.
United, who were hampered by the loss of lively wing back Andy Mcgrory to first half injury, were level three minutes into the second period.
It came from a familiar source, striker Friel powerfully heading home his 69th goal for the club through a thicket of bodies from a Steven Mccullough corner.
Normal time couldn’t separate them and it was the Glens who won it, Mcdaid firing a low shot past Glendinning
in front of the Ballymena support. Only five minutes were left when Ciaran O’connor’s run and cross evaded everyone inside the penalty area and Mcdaid pounced to fire home.
It would end in victory for the Glens who have the added bonus of qualifying for the Europa League and the £200,000 windfall that comes with it.
Expect Mcdermott and trusted assistant Paul Millar to make a splash in the transfer market with as many as half a dozen new faces expected at The Oval in the coming weeks.
Granted, there will be a tinge of disappointment that the club’s return to the big time was done in the absence of cup final suits, mascots and a large support.
But in years to come, the record books will read: 2020 Irish Cup winners, Glentoran.
Pleasant reading in exceptional times for the Ovalmen. The good times are back in the East.