NIFL Europa Conference League play-off semi-final: Glentoran 5 Glenavon 0
RODNEY McAree’s Glentoran are only 90 minutes away from ending the season in a blaze of glory following Wednesday night’s win over Glenavon, setting up a Europa Conference League final showdown with Cliftonville on Saturday.
They may not have had much to shout about around east Belfast, but goals from Luke McCullough, Conor McMenamin, the Donnelly brothers – Jay and Ruaidhri – and an own goal by Robbie Garrett sent the home faithful away with a smile on their faces.
Gary Hamilton’s team were a pale shadow of the side that were unbeaten in their previous 10 games . . . in fact, this was their first defeat by Glentoran in four meetings.
Glentoran set out their stall right from the off and forced Glenavon goalkeeper Rory Brown into action after only 30 seconds, young defender Aaron Wightman sending in a shot, that was capably dealt with.
It only put off the inevitable. The Glens took the lead on only three minutes. Niall McGinn’s corner kick was met by McCullough, whose shot was blocked, but when the ball looped into the air, the big defender rose high to head home.
McMenamin then burst down the right, having picked up a pass from Wightman and, after cutting inside, he tested Brown at the base of the post with a stinging low shot.
It was all Glentoran. Northern Ireland international McGinn tricked his way past Aaron Rogers on the right, but Junior just failed to touch home his low cross.
Glenavon at last attempted to make an impression at the other end with Jamie Doran whipping on a low cross that was met by Glens’ full-back Marcus Kane, who was fortunate to deflect the ball into the hands of Aaron McCarey.
But the second goal duly arrived 10 minutes from half-time. This time Rhys Marshall sent McMenamin clear on the left and, after waltzing past defender Sean Ward, he cooly drilled the ball past Brown at his near post.
It could have been worse for the over-run visitors. It took a wonder save from Brown to keep out a blockbuster from Terry Devlin as the Glens went for the kill.
The game was as good as over on 53 minutes. It was that man McMenamin eased his way past Danny Wallace on the right and his cross was turned into the net by the unfortunate Garrett.
McMenamin was now running Glenavon ragged and he was right out of luck to see low shot come back off the base of the post with Brown beaten.
The visitors somehow found the energy to carve out two decent chances on the hour, only for Peter Campbell to shoot wide before O’Connor headed against a post.
And, they went close again on 70 minutes with Matthew Fitzpatrick’s header cannoning back off a post from a Rogers cross – it was too little too late.
But the Glens put the icing on the cake with a fourth goal three minutes later. McMenamin eased past Wallace and crossed Donnelly, who ruthlessly rammed home.
It was all so easy, and the Donnelly brother combined 11 minutes from time, with Jay setting up Ruaidhri who gave Brown no chance.
Glentoran: McCarey, Kane (Crowe 76), McCullough, Burns, Marshall (Smith 76), Singleton, Devlin, McMenamin (McCartan 80), Wightman, McGinn (R Donnelly 68), Junior (J Donnelly 68).
Unused subs: Webber, Purkis.
Glenavon: Brown, Snoddy (Kerr 88), O’Connor (Prendergast 76), Fitzpatrick, Campbell (Atherton 88), Baird, Wallace, Doran, Rogers, Garrett (Henderson 76), Ward.
Unused subs: Doyle, Norton, Lynch.
Referee: Tony Clarke
