Glentoran need new mentality after Shield Final defeat, warns Warren Feeney
Glentoran boss Warren Feeney during his side's County Antrim Shield Final defeat to Larne
Warren Feeney couldn’t hide his disappointment after the County Antrim Shield Final as he knows his men missed a golden opportunity to grasp silverware.
The Glens weren’t outplayed on the night but in a game of fine margins they shot themselves in the foot.
Larne scored their two goals from set plays and it was that defensive frailty that helped the Invermen win the prize for the fourth year running.
Cian Bolger tucked home the rebound after Aaron McCarey had saved Lee Bonis’s flick-on in the 37th minute but the Glens were back in it when David Fisher hit the equaliser just after the break.
But Tomas Cosgrove was able to head home the winner from a corner nine minutes later to secure the silverware for Larne.
The Glens fought hard in the wet and windy conditions but in a major final against a side of Larne’s quality it’s a dangerous game to give them set-piece opportunities.
“I thought there was nothing in the game in the first half, they had a lot of possession, but we conceded at the set plays,” said Feeney. “We had a go and could have got something out of the game but the two goals we gave away were poor. We pressed them with a bit of joy and we showed energy in the second half but the poor defending cost us.”
The outcome was a bitter disappointment for the former Northern Ireland striker who was hoping to win his first trophy as Glens boss.
The east Belfast club’s wait for a first trophy since winning the Irish Cup in July 2020 goes on. With the club falling behind Linfield, Larne and Cliftonville in the title race, the Irish Cup is the club’s last shot at silverware.
Rhys Marshall and Seanan Clucas returned for the Glens but
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