Danske Bank Premiership: Cliftonville v Glentoran (today, Solitude, 3pm)
CONOR McDermott has quickly become a fans’ favourite at Solitude – and Cliftonville boss Paddy McLaughlin hopes to extend the raiding right-back’s stay beyond January.
The 22-year-old, who joined the north Belfast side on loan from Derry City at the start of the season, has been a stand-out performer in the Reds’ charge towards the top of the Irish League table.
McDermott has indicated he wants a permanent move away from the Brandywell, with Cliftonville, today’s opponents Glentoran and League of Ireland outfit St Patrick’s Athletic among those keen to secure his signature.
McLaughlin has seen at first hand the impact McDermott has made on his side, and hopes the Reds can “work something out” with Derry City once the transfer window opens.
“The agreement was always in place that he comes in until January and then we could re-look at the thing come the end of December/start of January,” said the former Institute boss.
“That’s been the plan all along and the plan won’t change. Hopefully Conor will keep playing well, working his socks off for Cliftonville for the time agreed and hopefully we can extend that.
“Obviously that’s something for the two clubs to negotiate. There’s always going to be interest in not just Conor but anybody that’s playing well in any team. If you’re doing well you get a bit of publicity about your performances and Conor’s probably had that.
“You can see that from his performances from day one. The fans love his commitment and his quality, he’s been a great addition for us and hopefully we can extend that, but the plan was always to look at it at the time and see if we can work something out between the two clubs. Fingers crossed.”
Cliftonville’s seven-match winning streak in the league came to an end at Inver Park last week when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Larne, yet they still sit joint top of the table heading towards the crucial Christmas period.
McLaughlin never doubted his side’s ability to mount a challenge in his first full season at the helm, but admits he has been pleasantly surprised by the consistent standard set thus far.
He said: “Maybe if you look at the league and how competitive it’s going to be this year, with Larne and Glentoran obviously having an injection of financial power, Linfield are always going to be strong, the Crues, Coleraine, we knew it was going to be really difficult.
“The quality of our play and the work out of the boys up until now hasn’t been a surprise, definitely not. I see it every day, and I’ve seen it since I came in, the quality of what we have.
“The fact they’ve gone on to another level has maybe surprised me and surprised the staff; they’ve gone up levels a lot quicker than we thought and full credit to the players for that, for their hard work and dedication to play and compete at the top end of the division.”
Mick McDermott Glens pack plenty of goalscoring potential, and have racked up some big scores to keep themselves in touch with the chasing pack in the top half.
Cliftonville, though, have managed to neutralise that threat in their two previous meetings this season, winning 1-0 in the league and then in the County Antrim Shield last week.
And McLaughlin hopes three will be the magic number at Solitude today.
“Glentoran have done really well, Mick McDermott has done a fantastic job since he went in there and made a few quality additions to what he already had.
“We know they’ve got the firepower to score against anybody and we’ve got to be on our guard. Lucky enough we’ve kept them out twice and if we can keep them out a third time it’ll be a great achievement.”
IRISH LEAGUE STATS
Institute v Coleraine
AFTER their shock defeat to Warrenpoint a fortnight ago, Coleraine needed a late Alex Gawne winner to see them past Carrick. Today Oran Kearney’s men face second from bottom Institute – with a league win in eight games - bidding to keep their noses in front at the top of the table.
Odds: H: 7/1 D: 4/1 A: 1/4
Prediction: Coleraine
Carrick Rangers v Glenavon
CARRICK came so close to taking a point away from last week’s clash with table-toppers Coleraine, and they face another tough task when they welcome a Glenavon - side buoyed by wins over Linfield and Institute – to the Loughshore Hotel Arena.
Odds: H: 2/1 D: 11/4 A: 10/11
Prediction: Draw
Cliftonville v Glentoran
TWO of the in-form sides in the Danske Bank Premiership go head-to-head at Solitude today, and Cliftonville will hope to keep up the pace at the top of the table after last week’s draw in Larne. The Reds edged past Glentoran in the County Antrim Shield recently, and also took a 1-0 win away from The Oval in their previous league meeting.
Odds: H: 4/5 D: 11/4 A: 5/2
Prediction: Cliftonville
Dungannon Swifts v Crusaders
THE third-placed Crues are on a six-game unbeaten run, with Jordan Owens’s first half strike enough to see them past Warrenpoint last week. They will be fancied to keep that run going against a Swifts side who are on an eight-game losing streak, and were hit for six by Glentoran last week.
Odds: H: 6/1 D: 4/1 A: 3/10
Prediction: Crusaders
Linfield v Larne
THESE sides have yet to meet this season, and Tiernan Lynch’s side will fancy their chances of taking something from Windsor Park having made life tough for all the top sides this season, with draws against Coleraine, Cliftonville and Crusaders.
Odds: H: 1/2 D: 3/1 A: 4/1
Prediction: Draw
Warrenpoint Town v Ballymena United
WARRENPOINT failed to build on their shock victory over Coleraine against Crusaders last weekend, although they produced a battling performance in defeat to Stephen Baxter’s side. Ballymena won the only previous meeting this season 4-0, but David Jeffrey’s side are struggling for form too as they eye a first win in 10 league outings.
Odds: H: 13/5 D: 11/4 A: 8/11
Prediction: Warrenpoint
