Firepower will be key in tonight’s Co Antrim Shield Final, says Declan Devine as he hopes his strikers can shoot Glentoran to glory.
The Glentoran manager will lead his team out against Larne at Seaview tonight aiming to win the club’s first trophy since 2020.
Larne have made the Shield their own in recent years, beating both Glentoran and Linfield twice to set up the prospect of an incredible fifth win in a row.
Standing in their way is a Glentoran team with more focus, unity, discipline and purpose under former goalkeeper Devine, and results have reflected that.
The Glens are also in the League Cup Final, play Linfield in the Irish Cup having beaten their rivals three times already this season and are third in the Sports Direct Premiership.
Going close is no good, says Devine, who believes the final will be won or lost in front of goal.
“I always believe in this league it’s the players at the top end of the pitch can win you games”, said the Glentoran manager.
“We’re fortunate in that we know we have a lot of quality, but we know they have as well.
“Jordan Jenkins is flying for us, David Fisher is flying for us, Christi Pattison came in and had a good impact on his debut, Dylan Connolly is more than a match, he’s an experienced player who’s played in cup finals before, including the FAI Cup Final with me last year (at Bohemians).
“We know both teams possess a lot of quality at both ends of the pitch, and on any given night both teams have matchwinners, that’s the standout factor for me.
“You give Andy Ryan, Matty Lusty, Paul O’Neill, Dylan Sloan or whoever it may be opportunities, they can punish you.
“Equally, we know we have that in our armoury as well.
“It gives you a cracking game, two teams who want to play it the right way and there’s been very little in the two games we’ve played so far this season (2-0 to Larne, home and away).
“We missed a penalty at 1-0 down in the last game. I felt it was one of our better performances even though we lost the game.
“I’m looking forward to the game, as everybody is, and no doubt we’ll bring a huge support as well.
“We haven’t won anything yet. There’s no point getting through the early rounds if you don’t end up with that trophy in the back pocket going home.
“We’ve a long way to go, we’re here, we deserve to be in the final, we deserve to be in the final of the League Cup and we deserve to be in the next round of the Irish Cup, but that’s all.
“The club hasn’t won trophies on a consistent basis for a long time and we’re just trying to bridge that gap.
“We have a squad now that is champing at the bit, not just to be involved but to get into the starting eleven.”