Sports Direct Premiership European play-off semi-finals (Wednesday, 7.45pm)
Glentoran v Coleraine
Crusaders v Carrick Rangers
BELFAST hosts both European play-off semi-finals this evening as four clubs bid to keep alive their hopes of claiming the last big prize of the Irish League season.
Glentoran host Coleraine at the BetMcLean Oval, while surprise package Carrick Rangers make the journey along the Shore Road to Seaview to play Crusaders. Both matches kick off at 7.45pm.
The four clubs are fighting to secure a place in Monday’s final. The winners of that will join Larne, Linfield and Cliftonville in the preliminary rounds of European competitions.
In the east of the city, Declan Devine will be hoping to make his mark at the Glens after securing the manager’s post on a permanent basis last week. A 4-0 win against Crusaders on the last day of the season will boost the confidence of a team that has been horribly inconsistent this season.
Devine was brought in to steady the ship following the departure of Warren Feeney after a miserable conclusion to his tenure. The Derry native is not afraid to speak his mind, and stated last week that he was not happy with the effort of some of his star players.
Having finished fifth in the league, this is the final chance for him to earn a spot Europe which would have been the minimum requirement at the start of the year.
Coleraine make the journey south with genuine ambitions of upsetting the apple cart. At the turn of the year, manager Oran Kearney’s position was under serious pressure for his job, but after a run of much improved results he is a fan favourite once more.
They were heavily beaten 5-0 on Saturday at league champions Larne and also suffered a 2-0 defeat to Crusaders, but it may be viewed as Kearney ensuring he has the best squad available for this play-off game, as they were undefeated in their previous eight league games.
The Bannsiders have the edge in games against the Glens this season, winning two and only one and it promises to be another tight affair this evening.
Matthew Shevlin has found his scoring form again, with 13 strikes during what has been an injury-hit campaign. Devine will be hoping striker Jay Donnelly can find his scoring touch once more after finding the net in Saturday’s victory.
In the second semi-final, Crusaders manager Stephen Baxter will be desperately hoping that this will not be his last game in charge.
Defeat would see him bow out after over 950 games in charge of the Hatchetmen, but victory would see his tenure continue for at least one more game, with the possibility of seeing the side through a European adventure.
Carrick manager Stuart King has been his usual exuberant self on the sideline this year and his side made it through to the play-offs after a 2-1 victory over Glenavon on Saturday. Veterans Curtis Allen and David Cushley were the scorers and will be hoping for at least one last hurrah in an orange shirt.
Baxter will be reminding his players of their successes against Rangers earlier in the season. A 9-0 win for the Crues in August, appeared to be the humiliation that drove the east Antrim side forward.
Crusaders will also be looking to mark the end of club legend Paul Heatley’s career with a win. He will be as feisty as ever on the wing and despite the club lacking a prolific forward this season, they do have goals in them in the form of top-scorer Ben Kennedy and Philip Lowry in midfield.
