Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
STRUCK PLUM
Shellshocked Town lose it late as Hrvoje sends the Glens top
McDaid 75, Plum 80
GLENTORAN left it late to go top of the Irish League Premiership for the first time since 2013 with a nervy win over 10-man Warrenpoint Town at The Oval.
Town took a shock lead in East Belfast through Alan O’Sullivan in the 58th minute before Mick McDermott’s men staged their fightback with two goals in five minutes.
Robbie McDaid equalised with his 14th goal of the season on 75 minutes, two minutes after Town keeper Mark Byrne was red carded for bringing down Johnny Frazer.
And Hrvoje Plum, who had teed up McDaid for his strike, won it in the 80th minute when he curled an exquisite free kick into the top corner.
Victory edged the
Glens to the league summit on goals scored with overnight leaders
Cliftonville facing
Linfield at Solitude tomorrow night.
That’s 14 league games unbeaten for
McDermott who is today named Manager of the Month for December. “I’m delighted
O’Sullivan 50
Hrvoje Plum races off to celebrate his brilliant winning goal at The Oval
yesterday the players are being talked about the way they are and winning this award is down to their hard work and effort,” he said.
Of yesterday’s win he added: “Everywhere we go teams want to beat us but that has always been the case for Glentoran, whether the team has been weak or strong, and the players are used to the pressure.
“We know we have a chance of winning the league. We want to stay in touch with the group of teams at the top of the table and we know we have to battle hard top do that.”
also hit back – from two down – to secure a 2-2 draw with
at Mourneview Park. The visitors led through a Joe McCready penalty and Alex Pomeroy low shot on the hour.
But new signing Daniel Purkis volleyed home in the 69th minute and salvaged a point when he scrambled in nine minutes from time.
v Ballymena was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.