I’LL RELISH MARR TIME PLAYING IN THE CENTRE

Glentoran Dungannon Swifts

v The Oval, 7.45pm

BY DARREN FULLERTON

CAOLAN MARRON is eager to repay Mick Mcdermott’s faith after being handed a central role in Glentoran’s title challenge this season.

Marron, who joined the Ovalmen from Glenavon in January 2020, played mostly at right back last season but has been utilised as a centre back in recent weeks.

And the 23-year-old is set to stay there indefinitely, with Luke Mccullough ruled out for the season with a cruciate injury sustained earlier this month.

“I had been knocking on the manager’s door to try and get me into centre half and he’s shown a trust in me to play me there,” said Marron.

“When I first joined the club I was playing at right-back, but I’ve played at centre back for the past couple of games and I’m happy to be there.

“It’s my normal position, but I know it’s up to me to stay there now.”

The fact the Glens are unbeaten in eight league outings and have kept three clean sheets in five league games won’t have done the former Northern Ireland U21 defender any harm.

Mcdermott’s men also welcome Dungannon Swifts to east Belfast on the back of a 1-0 win at Crusaders last Saturday, the club’s first league success at Seaview in a decade.

“I would have been 13 years old studying at St Joseph’s High School in Newry the last time Glentoran won at Seaview, so it’s strange looking at it that way,” smiled Marron.

“It was a brilliant three points and great to keep a clean sheet which is my main aim as a defender.

“We’re defending well but that’s not just down to the defence, it’s down to the whole team.

“We want to keep our recent unbeaten run going and it’s all about building on what we’ve been doing, but we won’t look too far ahead.”

Victory tonight would take the Glens, whose last league defeat was to Big

Two rivals Linfield on September 28, up to second in the table ahead of tomorrow’s fixtures.

Dungannon, who lie tenth, beat Portadown 4-2 last weekend but suffered a midweek 2-0 defeat at home to Crusaders.

NIFL PREMIERSHIP P W D L F A Pts Cliftonville 14 10 2 2 26 11 32 Coleraine 14 8 4 2 28 10 28 Larne 14 8 3 3 26 16 27 Glentoran 14 8 3 3 26 17 27 Linfield 13 7 5 1 23 7 26 Crusaders 13 8 1 4 20 10 25 Carrick Rgrs 14 5 3 6 12 18 18 Glenavon 13 3 4 6 19 18 13 Ballymena 13 4 1 8 11 24 13 Dungannon 13 3 0 10 20 36 9 Portadown 14 1 4 9 15 33 7 Warrenpoint 13 1 0 12 10 36 3

UP FOR IT Glentoran ace Caolan Marron