Casement Park ‘would be ideal venue for Linfield vs Glentoran Cup clashes’

Glentoran boss Warren Feeney says football can be a force for good

It is hoped that a rebuilt Casement Park can host games at Euro 2028

Glentoran boss Warren Feeney

Glentoran manager Warren Feeney believes future Big Two Cup games which require a neutral venue should be played at the new-look Casement Park when it is finally built.

Feeney has thrown his support behind the redevelopment of the controversial GAA ground in west Belfast, with the belief that football in Northern Ireland can benefit from the venue beyond the Euro 2028 Finals.

As exclusively revealed by the Belfast Telegraph website on Wednesday, the Glens will play Linfield at The Oval in the Semi-Finals of the Irish Cup later in March, with Cliftonville taking on Larne at Windsor Park in the other last-four encounter.

But prior to Wednesday’s announcement, there was a row over where the Big Two last-four match should be played with the Glens adamant they didn’t want the game to be staged at the home of Linfield, Windsor Park. Ulster Rugby’s Ravenhill was even placed under suggestion by the Glens, but ruled out by the Irish FA.

With the huge numbers of Linfield and Glentoran fans that attend Big Two games, there wouldn’t be another Irish League ground capable of playing host.

A fly-through of the proposed Casement Park redevelopment for the 2028 Euros_duplicated

Feeney insists the option of playing any future Semi-Finals — or even Finals — at Casement Park would avoid any future rows over neutral venues.

“The situation is a symptom of us not having a suitable neutral venue for football when it comes to a game like this,” said Feeney.

“I know a lot of people are against Casement Park, but if we want to move forward it should be built.

“It’s a prime example