Glentoran 4 Linfield 0
McCartan, (3') O'Connor, (9', 64') McGinn (44)
Glentoran hammered Linfield 4-0 at The Oval tonight to blast the Sports Direct Premiership title race wide open.
Shay McCartan opened on three minutes, Daire O'Connor bagged a brace and Niall McGinn scored one and set up the other three for a spectacular Glentoran victory over a Linfield side that was very poor on the night.
The Glens flew out of the traps and raced to a 2-0 lead in the opening ten minutes against a shell-shocked Linfield side that took a good fifteen minutes to wake up.
McGinn was the architect of their downfall with a scintillating display that rolled back the years for the 36-year-old from Donaghmore.
When Cammy Palmer fed him wide on the left after just three minutes, McGinn played McCartan in with a deliciously deft ball behind the Linfield defence for McCartan to scramble past Chris Johns and in off the far post.
The Blues were still reeling two minutes later when David Fisher played a square ball to O'Connor in front of goal but Matty Clarke made a vital last gasp block to deny and Johns collected the loose ball.
The second goal came on nine minutes and again McGinn caused havoc down the left and beat Daniel Finlayson to square to O'Connor near the penalty spot and the Arklow man slotted comfortably into the Linfield goal.
The visitors couldn't get out of first gear and after a brief flicker Glentoran went at them again with verve and panache in search of more goals.
Johns stretched to tip over a blistering McGinn shot then denied Fisher from close range on 24 minutes, and after Mulgrew was booked for a flailing arm McGinn got a deserved goal on the stroke of half time.
Fisher won a throw on the left and when Jonny Russell's long delivery eluded everyone in the heart of the box it fell to the former international to volley home from eight yards.
After the break, McGinn hit the side netting before picking up a knock, but still had time to set O'Connor up inside the Linfield box for his second goal before being replaced by Ruaidhri Donnelly on 65 minutes.
His diagonal ball to O'Connor was his third assist and with his goal capped a superb showing from the Tyrone man amongst many in the red, green and black colours.
Linfield lead Larne by two points having played a game more while Glentoran move up to fourth spot, twelve points behind the Blues.
Glentoran: McCarey, McCartan (Feeney 83), O'Connor (Boyd 77), Singleton (c), Sule, Palmer, Fisher (Junior 83), P McClean, Russell, Wightman, McGinn (Donnelly 65). Subs not used; Webber, Murray, Kelly.
Linfield: Johns, Finlayson (Newberry 78), East, Shields, Millar, K McClean, Cooper (McBrien 70)), Hall, Clarke (Doherty 70), Mulgrew (c) (Archer 70), Fitzpatrick (Annett 78). Subs not used; Walsh, McCullough.
Referee; Mr Tim Marshall (Irvinestown).
