30th Mar 05. Did I say that? ... Had another wee read at my angry 'knee-jerk' remarks, made in the wake of yesterdays half-hearted display at Dungannon ... and in hindsight ... I don't intend to change a thing!
An off day I can understand ... not putting it in however? That's just unforgivable.
29th Mar 05. Dungannon Swifts 2 Glentoran 0 - First half a joke, half-hearted 'we are Glentoran' bullshit! By the time the manager got it sussed it was far too late. I don't care if the scum did draw 0-0 tonight, memories of two years ago when the infamous 'clean sweep' loomed large were there for all to see. I'll tell you something Coyler, and some of you players ... we supporters are all well aware of who got us to where we are today, and credit where it's due, but that display today was woeful - it is now time for BALLS. Have any of you any idea how your loyal fans felt on the way home today after that load'a shite? Absolutely gutted. You should hang your head in shame Coyler ... who do we think we are?
28th Mar 05. Dungannon game - errr ... it is Dungannon tomorrow isn't it ;-) Does that mean I have to drink more beer!
Anyway, before I start, if I met anyone in Manchester over the weekend and missed my round gimme a shout tomorrow early, I've about 15 quid left ... probably from the food I didn't buy! So wha'd I miss? We beat Larne 3-0 to stay joint top. Phones were red-hot across the water, but although delighted with the 3 points have to say all a wee bit disappointed to only win three-nil after going a goal up in 5 minutes. Still, 3 points in the end, joint top and only 5 games to go ... could be worse eh ;-)
Dungannon - Boy would you settle for the same scoreline as the last time we met, five-nil at the Oval back on December 4th. But what a topsy-turvy season Dungannon have had, just 3 weeks after that game they were beating Ards 7-0, the same Ards that won 3-2 at Portadown on Friday nite! Most recently though they've climbed to 5th in the table and are on their best run of the season, winning at Ballymena, Loughgall, and just Thursday night 4-0 at Mac the Mouth's Newry City.
They've only lost 3 games at home all season, and one of them was to Portadown, and if you remember correctly actually gave us a bit of a fright here last season. Being out of circ for 5 days I dunno how the Glens are fixed to line up for this one, I can only assume barring injuries it'll be the same again. Another massive fixture, and a win or a draw would send us clear at the top with the scum at home to Portadown tomorrow an evening kick-off. Could this be the day ...
Ballymac's bus leaves for this one at 1.30pm, and all visitors are once again very welcome to travel. Other buses above.
24th Mar 05. Larne game - Bit early I know but there's a big airplane waiting to take me to Manchester later today :-) No Larne game for me I'm afraid :-( Having won just one and lost five of their last six games, conceding 18 goals in the process, you could be forgiven for thinking this one's a 'gimme'. But with the Inver Park men now only 8 points clear of second-bottom Omagh Town and a potential play-off relegation game, there may be one or two of them looking over their shoulders. Then again, when you also consider Larne are now just a week away from their April 2nd Irish Cup Semi-Final, and potentially then their biggest game in 18 years since losing to us in the Final of the competition way back in 1987 ... well, I would reckon there'll be one or two of them with an eye on that one too won't there. As for us we'll probably remain unchanged, I can't see Coyler wanting to mix it too much at this stage, even with Big Parky, Walker, Locky, Nicky and wee McCallion all knocking at the door ... never mind the fact we've won our last eight on the bounce! Still, 3 points is what's needed, a few goals an added bonus. I'll be thinkin about yez.
Green & white army time now though folks ... soon as I can find those bloody match tickets :-)
Irish Cup - Admission to the Portadown Irish Cup Semi-Final will be £8 and £5
22nd Mar 05. Setanta Cup - Shelbourne 3 Portadown 3
1.30pm. ** UPDATE ** We can now confirm you will NOT require a ticket for the Irish Cup Semi-Final with Portadown. Just heard from the Oval that after much deliberation it has been decided the game will be 'Pay at the Gate' - absolutely delighted. Admission prices to follow.
Longford Bus - Anybody thinking of travelling with the Ballymac to Longford, and hasn't already been confirmed will need to get the finger out. There are only 4 seats left on the second bus, and at the moment we have no plans to run a third.
Irish Cup semi for the swamp ... Don't think anyone should be surprised really, given events surrounding the end of the last Semi-Final between the sides at Mourneview two years ago, when Portadown fans ran the full length of the pitch to confront celebrating Glens supporters. The swamp will do me. As to whether we'll need tickets or not though is anyone's guess! There's just 11 days to go now before the game, and the Glens only home match between now and then is this Friday night against Larne, surely not enough time to print and supply everybody with tickets bearing in mind it'll be the biggest game of the season thus far? Don't hold your breath! The Ballymena v Larne semi will be staged at the Oval.
20th Mar 05. Glentoran 3 Newry City 1 - Great Result, but honestly .... first half we were sh*te!
18th Mar 05. Irish Cup Semi's - The venues for the Irish Cup Semi-Finals will be decided at a meeting of the Premier League Committee this Monday night, 21st March.
Newry City game - Only six left to go after this one folks ... anybody gettin scared yet ;-)
Ok, who remembers the last time we played Newry at the Oval? No? Anybody? Well let me remind you, August 21st, a CIS Cup tie, just our second domestic game of the season. Fresh from our heroic exploits in Finland and Sweden, and having just tanked Coleraine 3-0 up at their place four days previously, you would have been forgiven for expecting a rout.
Err, didn't quite work out like that. We missed a catalogue of first half chances to go in 0-0 at the break, then unbelievably found ourselves 2-0 down 20 minutes into the second half! We eventually got our act together late that afternoon to come out of the game with a 3-2 win, but there has to be a lesson in there going into tomorrows' crucial League tie.
We've played the men from the 'Marshes' twice since then, once away and once at home, both games finishing in easy 4-0 wins for the Glens. What would you give for another one of those eh?
Anyway, Newry currently occupy 9th place in the table, in their last six games they've won 3, drawn 1 and lost 2, they've won just three away games all season - all by a goal to nil. They won't be relegated and they won't win the League, all they'll be playing for tomorrow is pride. But don't bet McCreadie doesn't put 10 men behind the ball just to spite us. An early goal could well prove vital. As for us, well big Pat McGibbon went off early the other night didn't he, dunno what the score is there but at least Chris Walker is fit again if needed. Good to see Nicky make the bench on Tuesday night too. Up front, personally I reckon big Parky could be dropped to the bench again in favour of Halliday and Morgan. Elsewhere Portadown are at home to lowly Crusaders while the scum travel to Ballyskeagh to face the unpredictable Whites, but while a favour or two there would be very welcome indeed, we must collect all three points at the Oval at all costs.
So, let's do it. And remember ... there can be only one ... :-)
Match Betting: Glentoran 3/10, Newry 17/2, and a draw 10/3. All odds supplied by TOALS bookmakers
17th Mar 05. Longford Bus - Just a wee reminder that there are still a few seats available on the second Ballymac bus to Longford for the Setanta Cup-Tie on Monday 25th April - departure will be around 3.00pm. Any visitors wishing to travel are 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. All coaches will be equiped with toilet facilities and air-conditioning.
Interested? Please contact a member of the club at Saturday's game, or email me here at the site.
16th Mar 05. Now here's somebody REALLY knows what they're talking about :-) HERE
15th Mar 05. Glentoran 2 Longford Town 1 - The scoreline suggests it was a tight affair, and so it was.
Match Report has now been moved HERE
Longford Town game - Well this one's gonna be interesting isn't it. How fitting though, that the opening fixture of this new 'All Ireland Cup' should be played between the respective countries 'Cup' specialists. Longford, winners of two of the three Cups down south last season, and League of Ireland Cup winners for the last two years, against a Glentoran side who already have this seasons League Cup in the bag, and have competed in four, winning three of the last five Irish Cup Finals! Something's gotta give ... and all LIVE on the box! Hat's off to Setanta for making it all possible, how refreshing it'll be to be facing (and travelling) to new teams, and what a finish to the season we're in for now. Joint top of the table with seven left to play, Irish Cup semi-final coming up, and now this new Setanta Cup with a final on 21st May ... if we were to reach that the lads would get about three weeks off before our first pre-season friendly games!
Exciting stuff indeed. So here we go, and remember folks, 7.15 kick-off tonight, don't be late, and let's hope the Glens get this competition off to the start it deserves. Let's give our new TV audience something to talk about. Le Jeu Avant Tout.
12th Mar 05. Institute 0 Glentoran 1 - Jaizzzuss I'll tell ya what, we earned those 3 friggin points today! Seven minutes from time it took, then our wee left-back SAS (again) climbs high into the air to nod yet another corner kick high wide and handsome of the goalie to keep the wee Cock n' Hens joint top of the table. We're gonna win this one folks - trust me :-) Match report can now be found HERE
11th Mar 05. Institute game - A nothing match on paper for mid-table Institute, a massive one for us. Having said that, although the Co Londonderry side's away form has been their downfall this season, their record at Drumahoe is pretty good. Of 10 ties played at the Riverside they've lost just the 3, even Portadown have come a cropper up here. But if ever we were about to get complacent, I suggest we cast our minds back to November 22nd last season, the last time we played up here. In atrocious weather conditions, we came, we saw, we got duffed 3-1! No Locky tomorrow either, we wait to see had bad he is after pulling up against Limavady United on Tuesday night. Talking of Limavady, boy could they do us a big favour tomorrow at home to third-placed Portadown. Should the Glens and the scum win, I reckon anything other than 3 points for the Ports would put a major dent in their title aspirations. Only 7 to play after this - 4 of them at home.
Ballymac's bus is down to leave Wilgar Street at 12.30pm, sadly given the funeral arrangements below there may well be a slight delay in departure time, but we will be at Institute in time for kick-off. Other buses at the link above.
Match Betting: Institute 13/2, Glentoran 4/9, and a draw 13/5. All odds supplied by TOALS bookmakers.
Soup Campbell - Given the number of sympathy messages coming into the site, I thought you might like to know the funeral will be tomorrow morning (Sat) from Brown's Funeral Parlour on the Newtownards Road (10.30am), and thereafter to Roselawn Crematorium.
10th Mar 05. A very sad day indeed ... I came back from the "Rest in East" Westminster trip late last night really upbeat after the tremendous reception the group got from the various Ministers, MP's and Peers. I'd thought to leave the site update on the trip until this morning, keen to tell it right and let you the fans know of the widespread goodwill and support offered by those with the real power.
Well that all changed early this morning with a phone call.
It appears that as I was excitedly sorting documents late Tuesday in advance of Wednesday's early morning flight, a very dear friend of mine, and member of the Ballymac Jim Campbell (Soup), was taking a 'stroke'. As I entered the Houses of Parliament bouyed at the prospect of bringing the plight of Glentoran FC to the Capital, I wasn't to know Soup was already on a life support machine. That early phone call this morning was to tell me a very dear friend had passed away at 2am. He was still in his 40's ... I really am lost for words.
I'm afraid the write-up on the Westminster trip will have to wait.
Update - In you meantime you may be interested to know ITN sent a camera crew to Westminster yesterday to cover the "Rest in East" trip, and have indicated they may be running the item on either tonight's (Thurs) UTV "The Football Show" (11pm), or tomorrows sports news.
8th Mar 05. Glentoran 2 Limavady Utd 0 - It may have taken a Chris Morgan goal right at the death to finally kill off Limavady tonight, but worth bearing in mind the crossbar saved the visitors on two occasions, and the post once. Ally that to some outrageous good-fortune in the Limavady penalty area and some inspired goalkeeping by young Michael Doherty and I can assure you the Glens were well worthy of all three points. It must be said though that Tommy Wright's side did look the part on occasions, and played some great football, but once Kevin Keegan broke the deadlock on the hour mark there was only ever going to be one winner. Worth noting though, Limavady will host both Portadown and the scum over the next fortnight. For us though - Roll on Institute next Saturday. And then there were seven ... :-)
Right folks that's me outta here - planes, trains and automobiles ... Westminster here we come!
Limavady game - A massive game for us ... both of us! Fourth-placed Limavady United come to the Oval tonight unbeaten since November, and aiming to close the gap on 3rd placed Portadown and a possible UEFA Cup spot to just 3 points! A win for us however takes us back to joint top of the table with the scum, in the unlikely event we were to win by more than 3 goals we would go clear on goal difference. An 8pm kick-off time to facilitate the travelling north-coast club, and only 8 left to play after this one. No mistakes now.
6th Mar 05. Coleraine 1 Glentoran 2 - Gettin near time I cancelled that May weekend blitzer in Millisle ...
BTW, how's this for a novel slant to the match report this week ... HERE
5th Mar 05. Good Luck Glens - The romance of the Irish Cup is upon us once again folks, and there's not a club in the land shares an affinity with this trophy like the wee Cock n' Hens. The buzz, the excitement, the joy, the tears, the sore throat, the memories ... you really do feel this is one cup that belongs at the Oval. A win at Coleraine today would take us to the brink of yet another of those wonderful carnival days out in May, sunshine, beer, and a day when the world turns RED GREEN AND BLACK. It's what Irish Cup Finals were made for ... we surely have to win today ... it is our destiny.
4th Mar 05. Another wee letter for you to read this morning - HERE
Btw, sorry for the lack of pre-match report this week, early start this morning with Rest in East. But sure you can always read the pre-match write-up from the Coleraine game a fortnight ago, it's still on this page :-)
Oh, the Ballymac bus leaves Wilgar Street at 1.30pm sharp - other buses at the link above.
3rd Mar 05. Early betting for Saturday: Coleraine 10/3, Glentoran 4/5, and a draw 9/4. All odds supplied by TOALS
2nd Mar 05. YOU WANT LOBBYING? ... you got lobbying ... HERE
Ports into last 8 ... finally! - Portadown have beaten Bangor 2-1 in their long-awaited 6th round tie of the Irish Cup to join the Glens in the Quarter-Finals. They now travel to Ards on Saturday for a prize in the last 4.
1st Mar 05. Get well soon Carol ... A lot of you will know Carol Shergold here, a lovely girl, a real Glentoran fan, and like her fiancée Paul a very good friend of mine. What you might not know is that on Friday morning Carol was involved in a very serious car crash. An arm broken in two places, (one piercing the skin), and a fractured pelvis saw Carol spend 5½ hours on an operating table on Friday, getting pieced together with steel plates, screws, and wire meshing. She is very lucky to have survived - thank God she did. It goes without saying that everyone here at the Ballymac, and I'm sure many many more of our readers, would like to wish Carol a very speedy and complete recovery. Fiancée Paul adds, "I am very relieved and grateful. I'd like to take this opportunity to publicly thank everyone from the bottom of my heart who has contacted me with their best wishes". Give her mine too Paul - get well soon Carol :-*
