Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ONE HALE OF A TURNAROUND
Sub Ronan fires FOUR goals as Larne come from two down to reach Europe
SUPERSUB Ronan Hale fired Larne into Europe with a remarkable fourgoal haul against 10-man Glentoran at a stunned Betmclean Oval.
Mick Mcdermott’s men looked home and hosed in last night’s play-off final after Conor Mcmenamin and Jay Donnelly gave the Big Two giants a 2-0 lead. But the tie turned on its axis in the 74th minute when Glens defender Paddy Mcclean was red carded while conceding a penalty for a foul on Davy Mcdaid. Hale scored his first of the night after his resulting spot kick was saved before forcing extra-time with a successful penalty in the 83rd minute.
The 23-year-old went on to add two more in extra-time, the second a sensational effort from his own half with Glens keeper Aaron Mccarey stranded.
Defeat was a bitter pill for the Glens and a stunning turnaround for Larne who booked their place in next season’s Europa Conference League.
The Inver Park club are guaranteed at least £210,000 for playing in the competition with the first qualifying round in July.
The Glens were ahead in the ninth minute when Rory Donnelly dug out a cross for Mcmenamin to head home at the back post. Larne, who lost Lee Bonis to a 19th-minute injury, were almost level when substitute Davy Mcdaid flicked a first time shot narrowly wide of the post.
Jay Donnelly then rattled the top of the bar with a header in the 46th minute before Glentoran’s top scorer made it 2-0 in the 51st minute.
Shay Mccartan threaded a low pass through the Larne backline and Donnelly angled a low shot past Rohan Ferguson.
Kofi Balmer hit the post for Larne before the visitors grabbed a lifeline when referee Raymond Crangle awarded a penalty after sending off Mcclean for a foul on Mcdaid.
Hale’s resulting spot kick was parried by Mccarey but fired the loose ball home.
It was 2-2 nine minutes later when Hale bagged his second of the night, this time direct from the penalty spot.
Mccarey bundled over Mcdaid at a corner, Crangle pointed to the spot and Hale converted in emphatic style.
John Herron hit the woodwork for Larne at the start of the first period of extra-time before Hale repeated the trick in bizarre fashion in the 98th minute.
The striker’s first effort crashed off one upright and careered across the goalline before bouncing back out off the other post with Mccarey beaten.
Minutes later the sub was ripping his shirt off to celebrate after he made it 3-2 with a low effort that eluded Mccarey and sneaked in at the far post.
And he added a fourth at the death, firing into the empty net from his own half with Glens keeper Mccarey up for a final assault on the Larne penalty box.