27th Feb 05. In case you missed it ... today's Sunday Life - HERE
Glentoran 2 Loughgall 0 - Despite seemingly taking forever to break down a 16 man Loughgall defence, a massive three points in the end! Elsewhere Portadown were being found out by Ballymena United (2-0), and the scum were struggling till five minutes from time to overcome second bottom Crusaders (2-1). Michael Halliday and Chris (topher) Morgan with the second half goals that sends the wee Cock n' Hens joint top of the table, just behind the scum on goal difference, and only nine more left to play ... I can almost see Barcelona running out at the Oval next winter already ;-)
25th Feb 05. Loughgall game - November 6th we played Loughgall up at their place, and although we ran out 3-1 winners in the end, I remember it being 1-1 for long enough. Substitute Damien McLaughlin I think eventually put us ahead with about 15 minutes left to play, and Chris Morgan chipped in a third a few moments later to kill off the tie. But it was certainly no easy ride. They've actually not done too bad away from home lately either, only losing one of their last six on the road, a tight 2-1 reverse at Ballymena. They are however currently languishing way down in 12th place in the League, although looking fairly safe some 9 points clear of the relegation zone, and lowly Crusaders and Omagh. My hope is that with the orchard county side having reached the quarter-finals of the Irish Cup next week, they'll have given up on their League position and have one eye on that tie against fellow League strugglers Larne. We on the other hand are one of only two sides left in the country that can land the Double, and it's well worth noting that four out of our next five League fixtures are at home! Team selection tomorrow looks like it'll depend on how big Chris recovers from that hamstring pull last week, should he be fit I expect it'll be as you were for Coleraine, otherwise you could see Pat McGibbon rushed back in at centre-half. So regardless, no let up, with Portadown away to unpredictable Ballymena, and the scum travelling to a Crusaders team playing for their very survival you just never know. First and foremost though another three points required for us, just nine games left to go after this one ... who's got the swingers ;-)
Match Betting: Glentoran 1/4, Loughgall 9/1, and a draw 4/1. All odds supplied by TOALS bookmakers
24th Feb 05. Be afraid ... be VERY afraid! - HERE
23rd Feb 05. Longford ... you'll need a ticket - Bear in mind if you are travelling to Longford in April, be it with the Ballymac or whoever, you WILL need a match ticket. They'll not be printed for quite a while yet, and I'm told when they do there are unlikely to be any restrictions to Glentoran supporters in place, but please remember you will need one to gain admission to the ground. Further details will be published both here and on the Official website in good time.
22nd Feb 05. Second bus to Longford - The Ballymac can now confirm we are definitely running a second coach to Longford for the Setanta Cup-Tie on Monday 25th April, departure will be around 3.00pm. Anyone who has already contacted the club will receive confirmation of your secured seat shortly, anyone else wishing to travel is advised that the remaining seats will be allocated strictly on a first come first served basis, and must be secured with the £10 return fare.
Please contact a member of the club, or myself directly via email for more details.
Laverty didn't print it ... so I will :-) HERE
On another matter ... Proof - as if ever it were ever needed ... HERE
21st Feb 05. Coleraine 0 Glentoran 1
18th Feb 05. Coleraine game - Back to the other business of this season's 'treble' challenge.
Only three places behind ourselves in the League Coleraine are, but a massive 16 points, a game more played, and a worse goal difference of -33! The sides have met three times this season, Glens winning two (3-0 up at their place & 1-0 at the Oval), and the other a 1-1 draw, again at the Oval. Let's hope that trend continues for the next two times we meet eh! Here's an interesting stat - since the 4th of December the Bannsiders have played 12 League and Cup games, 8 of them away from home. Of those 8 away games they've actually won 5, drawn 2, and lost just the once, at Shamrock Park ... but of the 4 they've played at home they've lost the lot ... their last success at the Coleraine Showgrounds amazingly was on November 27th against Loughgall! Should be easy then eh? Not on your puff, the draw for the Quarter-Finals of the Irish Cup has put paid to that idea, tomorrows tie has now become a dress rehearsal! I'm sure the lads aren't daft enough to think this one's gonna be easy after Tuesday's display though, and with just ten games left to play after tomorrow, what better time to grind out a good result and really start applying the pressure.
Pat McGibbon and Colin Nixon are apparently still ruled out, but heh, who were ya gonna leave out from Tuesday anyway!
Let's get stuck in lads and send the Ports and the scum a crystal clear message, and at the same time give Coleraine something to ponder over ahead of a certain little matter on the 5th of March! The season begins right here.
17th Feb 05. Early Betting ...
Saturday: Coleraine 7/2, Glentoran 8/11, and a draw 12/5
Irish Cup: Glentoran 5/4, Portadown 13/8, Ballymena Utd 8/1, Coleraine 9/1, 20/1 bar - don't seem to be able to get a price for the scum ;-) All odds supplied by TOALS bookmakers
14th Feb 05. Get those jeans back out of the wash ... Saturday's 'halfers' prize of a thousand quid has not been claimed! The £1,000 prize winning ticket number was 1489. If the winner does not claim it by the end of our next home Saturday game (Loughgall 26th Feb), the £1,000 will be added to a Rollover for the game against Newry (19th March).
Glentoran 1 linfield 1 - Disappointing to say the least, playing against ten men for 86 minutes and a goal up after just seven, you would have been forgiven for expecting a rout. But it wasn't to be, and to be perfectly honest, given the conditions, in the end I thought a draw was probably a fair result. On the bright side, we are still in the hunt, and now face a replay tomorrow night at the swamp (ko 7.45pm) for the pleasure of a trip to Coleraine in the quarter-finals, and we WILL play better than on Saturday. Incidentally, Pat McGibbon had his best game in a green shirt by a mile.
11th Feb 05. Here we go ... I think it's worth remembering, that whenever the draw was made for this 6th round of the Irish Cup, NOBODY but NOBODY, wanted the Glens at the Oval. So for all the bullshit you've heard coming from over at the swamp lately, rest assured there's not a bluedog on the planet would have been lookin forward to this little one ;-)
Remember too we are still the same side that battled through those infamous European ties earlier in the season, still the same side that won the League Cup earlier in the season, still to be beaten this season by the scum, still have the destination of the League Championship in our own hands, and are still holders of the Nationwide Irish Cup - a trophy we happen to have won 10 from 11 finals in the last 20 years, and contested 4 of the only 5 of the new millenium!
The manager can play whoever he likes in this one, it won't matter a jot. And make no mistake, no matter what I said yesterday, unless they get hit by a friggin bus between now and 3 o'clock Saturday, EVERY Glentoran player bar Scotty Young will declare themselves fit! Nothing more to say really, been there done that ... roll on the quarter-finals.
10th Feb 05. Irish Cup 6th round - Bring yer boots!!
Any good defenders out there? Seems that latest Glentoran International Sean Ward got a 'founderin' the other night playing for his country, and you can now add his name to the Paul Leeman, Colin Nixon, Tommy McCallion and Michael Halliday doubtful list. Early Betting for Saturday: Glentoran 7/5, linfield 9/5, and a draw 21/10. All odds supplied by TOALS bookmakers
9th Feb 05. Bangor / Portadown off - Saturday's Portadown v Bangor 6th round Irish Cup tie has been postponed. Newry's appeal against expulsion from the competition was heard last night, but true to form the IFA have once again failed to make a decision, and the reinstatement of Bangor last week has now been put on hold. On the plus side, Mac 'the Mouth' McCreadie's threat to have the Glentoran / linfield game also postponed appears to have come to nothing
8th Feb 05. NI under-21 v Scotland under-21 - A chance to possibly get a look at Glens right-back Sean Ward making his International debut at the Oval tonight if manager Roy Miller gives him a chance. Kick-off tonight is 7.30pm.
Result - Northern Ireland 2 Scotland 1 ... and Sean Ward did indeed start the game.
7th Feb 05. Glentoran 4 Cliftonville 0 - Wha'd a tell yee :-)
Special Halfers draw - This Saturdays 'Halfers' draw at the Oval could net you a tidy £1,000! Tommy McKee is doing a special draw for the big Irish Cup game against the scum with tickets costing 2 quid a touch. Tommy expalins "With a big crowd expected, I estimate £750 - £1,000 for the winner. This is a chance for fans to help the club and put themselves in with a chance of winning a "nice wee touch." With the same amount going to the Glens it's certainly money well spent. Why don't some of you and your mates 'go on the whack' and buy a load of them, it'll still be a tidy sum if you win!
4th Feb 05. Setanta Cup - Bus to Longford Town - Ballymac are DEFINITELY running at least one coach to Longford for the Setanta Cup tie on Monday 25th April - the club have one coach already booked. A 7.15pm kick-off time however means the bus/es will have to leave Belfast between 3 and 4 o'clock in the evening. Our members have a final opportunity to reserve a seat on Monday night (7th), thereafter the remaining seats will be allocated to visitors on a 'first come first served' basis. The return fare will be £10. Interested? To get your name on the list please contact a member of the club directly at tomorrows game, or email me here at the site. Should the demand be there the club will consider running a second coach to the game. Cup Betting - Shelbourne 5/2, Cork City 11/4, Glentoran 7/2, Linfield 7/2, Portadown 7/1 & Longford Town 12/1. All prices quoted are to win the Cup outright.
Cliftonville game - Nicky's still out, but now it looks like Leeper will be joining him in the stand, an injury picked up a few weeks back finally catching up with him. Looks like Walker and McGibbon at the back again then, with Holmes or wee Tommy McCallion taking that midfield place up for grabs ... will it be Parkhouse or Halliday on the bench?
And it has to be Cliftonville too, I have friggin nightmares about this lot. ALWAYS hard work the Reds, and you expect this one will be no different, do you know Cliftonville have won 3 of their last 4 aways in the League, and lost only 1 of their last 6 on the travels? Thought that might cheer you up. Hard work as it may be at the minute though, we have to battle through this sticky patch and be there or thereabouts when we turn the corner - and turn the corner we surely will. There's only 11 games left after this one, but comforting to know that despite our indifferent form of late, the destiny of the title is STILL in our own hands ... all we have to do is win every match ;-)
What's that they say about a journey of a 1,000 miles and a single step? Well 3 points it is again tomorrow folks ... Glens to come out of their slumber and win easy ... wait'll ya see ... feel it in ma water ... trust me ;-)
3rd Feb 05. Early Betting for Saturday - What do you have to do to get a decent price on the Glens this season? Twice we've played Cliftonville, won 1-0 and lost 2-1, yet on Saturday everybody still has the Glens at nearly 3/1 on!!
Match Betting: Glentoran 4/11, Cliftonville 7/1, and a draw 3/1. All odds supplied by TOALS bookmakers
1st Feb 05. Irish Cup Tickets - You can now buy your Glentoran tickets at 'Jofers' Spar on the Ravenhill Road, bottom of My Lady's Road and opposite the Parkview Bar. Tickets for the upcoming linfield Irish Cup tie are already in stock.
