AN opponent could be named for Paul McCloskey later today.

Light welterweight McCloskey’s promoter Eddie Hearn tweeted last night: “‘A full announcement will be made tomorrow re @Paul_McCloskey next fight and the inaugural ‘All Ireland’ Middleweight @PrizefighterUK !!!”

The Dungiven southpaw has been in limbo since facing Breidis Prescott in a WBA World title eliminator at the Odyssey Arena in September.

And in the last few months several names have been mentioned including Marcos Maidana and former Premiership footballer Curtis Woodhouse.

Talk of a World title fight was on the cards after the win against Prescott and it now seems a name is about to be released by Hearn for the clash at the Odyssey on May 5.

Hopefully it is one that will excite local fight fans.

Meanwhile it will be ‘brotherly glove’ on Saturday night as Mark and Ray Ginley take to the ring at the Emerald Roadhouse in Belfast.

The two brothers will fight together for the first time in their careers in the professional ranks.

Mark will be taking part in his third professional fight, while Ray will be making his debut.

And Mark is looking forward to being on the same bill as his brother.

“I think its brilliant we are fighting together. Its been a while since we boxed on the same night.

“When we boxed for Oliver Plunkett’s we often boxed along side each other. I can’t wait to do it again it will be a great start to 2012 for team Ginley,” he added.

“I can’t wait to get in the ring I’ve been sharp in sparring and feel great. I can’t wait to put on a show in front of the Belfast crowd. And myself, Ray and Anto (Cacace) where all in the same amateur gym under Patsy McAllister so we all know what its like to train together,” he added.

Tickets for the show can be purchased from fighters on the bill, the Emerald Roadhouse and at www.emeraldboxingpromotions.com

KEVIN O’Brien top-scored for Ireland as they cruised to a six-wicket win over Kenya in their first Twenty20 international at Mombasa.

Kenya batted first and were bowled out for 107 from their 20 overs with Tanmay Mishra the innings high scorer with 34.

George Dockrell was the pick of the Ireland bowlers with figures of three for 15 from his four overs while Alex Cusack and debutant Max Sorensen picked up two wickets apiece.

O’Brien scored 30 not out in reply and was supported by Ed Joyce, who scored 88 in Monday’s second one-day international win over Kenya on Monday.

Ireland raced past their target to reach 109 for four from just 15.3 overs.

It means they have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match series with the second match to be played at the same ground today.

Meanwhile, Brian O’Rourke’s tireless efforts for Cricket Ireland have earned him the prestigious ICC Europe Coach Award ‘Outstanding Contribution to Cricket Coaching’ for 2012.

The 41-year-old Leinster Development Manager has played a pivotal role in the promotion of cricket in the country for the past 17 years - developing talents such as Eoin Morgan, the O’Brien brothers, John Mooney, William Porterfield, Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling and George Dockrell.

It was under O’Rourke’s influence that Dockrell switched from a medium pace bowler to spin, a move which has turned him into one of the most highly rated youngsters in world cricket.

Clearly delighted that his hard work has been acknowledged by the ICC O’Rourke said: “It’s a fantastic honour not just for me personally but also Irish cricket.

“There’s a real buzz in the country about cricket at the moment, and the game is clearly on the rise.

“The numbers of coaches and participants are growing significantly, and there’s still a lot of talent out there to be unearthed.

“There are a lot of opportunities now for young cricketers and I’m confident that Ireland will continue to be a major player on the world circuit for generations to come.”

With Lisnagarvey and Cookstown already looking comfortable qualifiers for next season’s IHL, the question is who will be joining them?

Since the format of the IHL, it has always been the same five teams, with Banbridge, Annadale and Instonains making up the Ulster Five.

But this season it could be different.

There are only five points separating third and eighth places and the way results have been going this season, anything could happen.

Reigning Irish champions Banbridge also look likely to join Garvey and Cookstown, but two defeats on the trot and a narrow victory over Mossley has Mark Tumilty’s men, slightly wobbling.

Of course it would be unthinkable for the reigning Irish champions not reach the IHL.

But they need to start producing some consistency to their game, or they could be caught up in an IHL qualifying dog fight.

This week Bann take an unchanged side to bottom of the table North Down and they will be hoping to take all three points back to Havelock Park, just to ease the pressure.

Instonians had looked as though they could even miss out on a wildcard place but an inspired performance from former Irish International, Mark Irwin, last week saw his side defeat Bann 3-2 and haul them back into contention.

This Saturday they travel to Annadale, who also need to start notching up points.

This young Annadale side may be struggling to find form but if Andy Smyth can keep this side together, then next season could be really special at Lough Moss.

Kilkeel had looked to have an outside chance of taking a top five finish but their defeat by Garvey last week, and that they are running out of games, they might just miss out.

This week they are off to Cookstown who have jumped into second place and the Reds welcome back Paul Thompson, who has recovered from a bout of illness.

Cookstown can potentially overhaul Garvey’s lead, should they win their four games in hand and that promises to set up an exciting finale to the season.

Lisnagarvey travel to Mossley tomorrow night (8.15pm), knowing that they must keep winning if they are to keep their noses in front and they will have to do it without their captain Johnny Bell.

Mossley will be missing Phil Hamill who is celebrating his 18th birthday – happy birthday!

Antrim can lift the Senior One title and promotion to the Premiership for the first time, if they defeat South Antrim at the Antrim Forum.

Player coach Jonathan McMeekin will have a full strength side for what could be a history making game for the club.

But it is dog fight between, Raphoe, Newry, South Antrim and Bangor, who will take the premiership play off place.

Bangor have an outside chance but with only two games remaining against Antrim and Newry, they seem to have blown a swift return to the top flight.

This week Newry have the easier game, as they take on bottom of the table Cliftonville, whilst Raphoe have a tough game against visitors Armagh with both sides in with a chance there.

The Ireland team to play Italy in the RBS 6 Nations Championship at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday has been named and coach Declan Kidney has opted for an unchanged lineup.

THE pieces are beginning to come together again for Ulster head coach, Brian McLaughlin, as he welcomed Pedrie Wannenburg back into the squad following a short lay-off with a foot injury.

McLaughlin was also relieved that centre, Nevin Spence, who had just returned from injury was also given the all clear this week from the medical team as he named both players in a provisional squad of 30 ahead of Friday night’s game against The Ospreys at Ravenhill.

However, skipper Johann Muller and centre, Darren Cave, both remain on the injury list and the response was the same “we are waiting to see how they progress and the target is now the Edinburgh game next week.”

The presence of Chris Henry and Paddy Wallace at yesterday’s media conference, does mean that Ulster are able to maintain a degree of continuity during this ‘break up period’ of Six Nations, with both set to start against the second placed Ospreys.

However, winger, Craig Gilroy, was in Dublin this week, while Simon Danielli was back in Edinburgh, after call-ups to the Ireland and Scotland camps ahead of this weekend’s Six Nations games.

“It is great for Craig,” said McLaughlin. “We all felt I believe that he was unlucky not to be included in the initial training squad, but he has now been called up to two camps and it is a tremendous boost for him.”

The return of Wannenburg will mean a selection decision in the backrow, but the South African, rumoured to be heading to France at the end of the current season when his contract with Ulster runs out, is certainly going to get game time against the Welsh visitors.

With both Gilroy and Danielli away - but both due to be released by Friday to their club - it does present McLaughlin with a slight headache, but he is not expected to change things too much from the side which lost disappointingly 21-14 in Cardiff last weekend.

“We were disappointed with the performance,” said McLaughlin. “But I think if you look at it, there were a lot of individual errors and it is a matter of cutting them out before this weekend.”

The loss to the Blues has left Ulster in a tough position to qualify for the PRO12 Play-offs and the pressure is on to win all their remaining games to give them a realistic chance of finishing in the top four.

“All games are must win,” said McLaughlin. “But yes, if we are to achieve our goal then we will have to get into a winning habit, and it starts this weekend.”

ULSTER: Former English international player and Gloucester coach, Dean Ryan, is the latest name to surface in respect of the new head coach role at Ulster Rugby.

Speculation has mounted in recent weeks as to who current head coach, Brian McLaughlin’s replacement will be after Ulster Rugby confirmed he would be stood down at the end of the current season and moved to a new role within the Phoenix Ulster Academy.

Ryan, who coached at Bristol between 2000-02 and took the side to the Englisn Championship final where they lost to Gloucester, a club he moved to the following season as assistant coach and became head coach in 2008.

During his time at Gloucester, Ryan assembled a strong side which made quite an impression in the English Premiership, but never quite delivered what had been expected of him.

Ryan was understood to be in Belfast on Tuesday and would tick some of the boxes alluded to by Ulster chief executive office, Shane Logan, recently.

]]> 1.3545798 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:06:38 +0000 http://www.newsletter.co.uk/hughes_accepts_full_time_position_1_3545365

MICHAEL Hughes has been appointed permanent boss of Carrick Rangers.

Hughes had been acting as caretaker manager since the sacking of Stephen Small in December.

The former Northern Ireland international – who is majority shareholder at the Taylor’s Avenue club – recently admitted he was enjoying his new role in the Irish League.

Speaking to the News Letter, Hughes said: “I enjoy the training side of things. It can be quite frustrating at times.

“But overall, I think I am enjoying it. And if we survive it will be a great achievement.

“It will be tough to scrape ourselves off the bottom. I think we have a decent side and we have enough to give ourselves a chance, but it is a big challenge.”

Carrick continue to prop up the Carling Premiership following last week’s 3-1 defeat to Ballymena United.

This Friday night they entertain Donegal Celtic at Seaview.

Ironically, DC are now managed by the manager Carrick sacked before Christmas.

Carrick’s board said of Hughes’ full-time appointment: “The board would like to take this opportunity to wish Michael every success in his new role.”

SANDY Row’s Joe Hillerby is out to impress at the Emerald Roadhouse in Belfast on Saturday night.

The unbeaten light middleweight faces Aleksandrs Radjuks on the undercard of the Willie Casey versus David Kanales clash.

And Hillerby hopes Saturday night is the first step on the path to the Irish title.

“I want to win at least an Irish title this year, but the main thing is to stay busy and keep winning fights,” he said.

“The promoter I have signed with is hoping to have a number of shows this year and it will be great to be on those.

“The Irish title is vacant at the minute and that is my first target, but I want to get as far as I can,” he added.

And Hillerby, who defeated the tough Tommy Tolan in his last outing at the King’s Hall, is looking forward to taking to the ring in his home city once again.

“Four of my fights have been out of Northern Ireland, so it is great to fight back at home. The support at the King’s Hall that night was great and it should get better the more I fight at home.

“It was a tough fight against Tolan, but I stuck to my boxing and got the job done.

“I am looking to win on Saturday night and impress at the same time. It should be a good night,” said Hillerby.

And the Belfast fighter admits he knows little about his opponent.

“It has been changed, so I don’t know much about him. But I will just have to perform and get the job done. Training and sparring has gone really well and I am all ready for Saturday night.

“I want to get 2012 off to a successful start in front of a Belfast crowd,” said Hillerby

Saturday night’s bill - Anthony Cacace Vs Ben Wager, Mark Ginley Vs Johnny Greaves, Ray Ginley Vs Stuart Maddox, Gerard Healy Vs Oieksy Chukov, Joe Hillerby Vs Aleksandrs Radjuks and Willie Casey Vs David Kanales.

Tickets for the show can be purchased from fighters on the bill, the Emerald Roadhouse and at www.emeraldboxingpromotions.com.

MANAGER Tommy Breslin admits Joe Gormley probably deserves more game time with Cliftonville.

Gormley was on target once again on Monday night as the Reds secured a heroic 1-0 victory against St Patrick’s Athletic to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Setanta Sports Cup.

It sets up a last-eight clash with Shamrock Rovers, providing another stern all-Ireland test for the Carling Premiership representatives.

Gormley struck the winner in the 69th minute, the striker scoring from close-range after Diarmuid O’Carroll hit the crossbar with a header.

“Joe is an out-and-out goalscorer. He is also a good player who is now into double figures this season,” Breslin said.

“He probably deserves more game time, but when you have the likes of Chris Scannell, Liam Boyce and Stephen Garrett it is difficult to accommodate everyone.

“But it an excellent problem for us to have, because we have quality strikers.”

Reflecting on the quarter-final draw, Breslin added: “The draw is a tough one – it doesn’t get much tougher. The League of Ireland sides are always very fit – they are as close to full-time as you will get because they train two or three times a week.

“But we will give it our best shot because we want to try and progress. The aim will be to still be in the tie after the first leg.”

Cliftonville join Glentoran – who hammered Bray Wanderers – Crusaders and Linfield in the quarter-finals.

“It is good to see four Irish League teams in the last eight. Glentoran had a great win against Bray and there is also Linfield and Crusaders,” Breslin added.

“It is a great benchmark for local sides to see how much progress they have made. The League of Ireland teams are always fit and strong.”

Hello...

As an avid supporter of local sports, especially soccer and rugby, I’m just contacting you to let you know how much I enjoy the Monday ‘Sports Ulster’ pullout.

It contains all the information I need to know not only about local sport but also Scottish and English.

You have a great team of reporters/writers/contributers who week after week provide us with excellent reading.

Liam Beckett’s contribution is always the first page I turn to – he talks so much good sense and has such a knowledge of football – while Alex Mills’ column always brings back memories.

However, it is probably unfair to pick out individual writers as the overall quality is so good.

Keep up the good work,

Mr I. Sloan

Lisburn

MICHAEL O’Neill admits naming his first international squad was a relatively pain-free exercise.

O’Neill enjoyed the luxury of selecting a 24-man panel for next week’s friendly with Norway at Windsor Park.

The extended squad includes a number of names that have been conspicuous by their absence in recent times.

Burnley duo Michael Duff and Martin Paterson return to the fold, as does Kilmarnock midfielder Dean Shiels who scored the winner against Rangers on Saturday.

Newcastle United talent Shane Ferguson – who was reported to have had a difference of opinion with former manager Nigel Worthington – is another welcome addition to O’Neill’s debut squad.

“It’s important that players have a level of involvement,” O’Neill said.

“We need a larger pool of players. My focus is on seeing as many of the players first hand.

“There aren’t a lot of new faces in there, but everyone deserves their chance in the squad.

“Dean Shiels has had an impressive season at Kilmarnock. He scored against Rangers on Saturday and that’s nine goals this season.

“He is versatile, a good footballer technically and a player I’ve always liked. He gives us a good option and it’s nice to have him back.

“There’s never been any questions in my mind about what he’s capable of.

“His international career has maybe been a bit stop-start to date, but hopefully he can translate his club form onto the international stage. I’m looking forward to working with him.

“As for Shane (Ferguson) I contacted him shortly after taking over as manager and he outlined his commitment to playing for Northern Ireland.

“I spoke to the people at Newcastle and they are very pleased with the progress he has made. He is on the fringes of the first team and at a club that is having a very good season. He is regularly in their 18-man squads.

“He can play in a couple of positions. It’s a good opportunity for him and a good opportunity for me to see him first hand.”

“I have seen Michael (Duff) two times personally in the past month.

“We’ve had Burnley watched and in both games he played very well. I just felt, at the time, we have lost Craigan, a very experienced player.”

Two players missing from yesterday’s squad were goalkeeper Roy Carroll and versatile Fulham player Chris Baird.

“Chris is unavailable for personal reasons but he will be back,” O’Neill revealed.

“I’ll look to get Roy involved, maybe even for the Holland game in June. We have three keepers all playing first-team football in this squad, but we will continue to monitor Roy’s situation.”

Meanwhile, Chris Brunt and Kyle Lafferty both miss out through injury.

HURDLER Ben Reynolds must have propelled himself onto the Irish team for the World Indoors Athletics Championships in Istanbul with his third Under 23 record of the season.

The 21-year-old North Down performer improved his own standard by one hundredth of a second when he ran 7.74 in Ghent, Belgium to achieve the qualifying time.

He should now go to the Championships on a small team which includes the already selected former World champion womens hurdler Derval O’Rourke.

The side will be announced shortly.

“There is a lot more to come,” he said after his run.

“I will now have three weeks of solid training to improve.”

Ben was unlucky in the summer not to be selected for the British U23 side for the Europeans after running the qualifying time just one day after the deadline in spite of some previous precedents. He then switched to Ireland.

He ran three new Northern Ireland outdoor records culminating with 13.75, he will be aiming also at European selection in June.

Brian Gregan of Clonliffe Harriers also dipped under the 400 metre qualifying when he ran 46.66 in second place.

p Mo Farah could be a notable absentee when Great Britain name their team for the upcoming World Indoor Championships in Istanbul next month.

The world 5,000 metres champion revealed after running in Birmingham on Saturday he and his coach Alberto Salazar had yet to decide whether he would race over 3,000m in Turkey.

MICHAEL O’Neill believes Aaron Hughes’ return from international exile will give Northern Ireland football a “massive lift”.

Six months ago Hughes made the decision to focus solely on his club career with Fulham after earning 79 caps.

But now the 32-year-old has had a change of heart and decided to return to the fold under new manager O’Neill.

Hughes notified the Northern Ireland boss on Saturday night that he was ready to pledge his immediate future to the green jersey.

It followed “positive talks” between the player and O’Neill’s assistant Billy McKinlay – who is also on the coaching staff at Fulham.

“I am delighted with Aaron’s decision. We had a good meeting last week and he informed me on Saturday evening of his intentions to resume his international career,” O’Neill said.

“It’s a great boost for me personally as manager and for the squad as well.

“I had wanted to speak to Aaron from the minute I got the job. I got the staff in place first, but Billy had a feeling that Aaron was considering returning.

“I felt Billy would be a positive influence in the whole scenario. I went over and spent a couple of days at Fulham with Aaron and Chris Baird. We had a very positive hour and a half together. I was optimistic, but he was keen to come back as soon as possible.

“I left it with him and didn’t put any deadlines or ultimatums on the table. The pleasing thing was how swiftly he came back to me and the fact he is so keen to be involved in this game from the start.

“I had told him if he needed more time to make his decision, I was fine with that, but he was keen to make it now.”

O’Neill admits Hughes’ return came sooner than expected.

His initial target was to have the experienced defender on board for the start of the World Cup qualifiers in September.

“He was keen to come back from the start and for this friendly, so that was a real boost,” O’Neill added.

“There are no conditions attached to Aaron’s return. The conversation was purely down to football and it wasn’t around demands Aaron had or I had. It was purely down to how we can progress as a team.

“I impressed upon him how important a role he has, not only on the pitch, but in the squad. It was a very relaxed and easy conversation.

“There was no contention in it at all. There were no demands from either party. The bottom line was he is available and ready to play.”

It remains to be seen whether Hughes will once again be handed the skipper’s armband – he captained his country for eight years before his retirement last year.

“No, I haven’t decided at this minute in time who will captain the side.” O’Neill said.

“Aaron is one of a number of candidates. He has had the armband for a long time.

“He didn’t play in the last two Euro qualifiers and Steven (Davis) stepped up in that situation.

“That will be evaluated and confirmed over the next three games.”

DARREN Clarke, Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell have all been kept apart in the draw for the opening rounds of the Accenture match-play event, which gets under way in Arizona tomorrow.

The earliest any of Ulster’s three major champions can meet is at the semi-final stage but given the vagaries of match-play, that’s by no means a done deal.

McDowell has been drawn against Korean YE Yang, in the opening round. The Korean knocked GMAC out at the last 16 stage last year, and the 2010 US Open champion is determined not to slip up again,

“This is a good draw for me. When you have a field of the top 64 golfers in the world there is never such a thing as an easy draw,” said McDowell.

“Every opponent you face is going to be a top player so it’s just a matter of who grinds the match out better on the day.

“Yang is a top, top player and this is certainly a tough opener for me but I look at it as a good draw. Not that I needed added focus for any match I play in this format but I think it’s fair to say I have some unfinished business to take care of from last year.”

Victory over the Korean will put McDowell on collision course with either Zach Johnson or Hunter Mahan, the player he beat to win the Ryder Cup for Europe in 2010.

“Like I’ve said before, this can be such a great week, but can also be a really disappointing one,” added GMAC.

Rory McIlroy will face South African George Coetzee in round one.

“I’m looking forward to it,” said Rory who began his season by finishing second in Abu Dhabi and fifth in and Dubai.

“The Match Play is a nice event and a really nice course. I haven’t played that well there the last couple of years, so it will be nice to go and get a run in that.

“Playing the desert courses should help. It gets cold in the mornings in Arizona so the ball doesn’t go quite that far but it can go a long way when it warms up. I got on a nice run there in 2009, the year Ogilvy won it, and it will be a nice change to match play because we don’t get to play it that much.”

McIlroy has been trying to bed in a couple of minor swing changes and while he feels that it may take a few more weeks to get comfortable, he’s confident he can compete.

“I feel like I have taken big strides this year in my game and in the way I am swinging the club and in my consistency as well,” he said.

“So I’ve had a second and now a fifth. And even if you don’t have great weeks, but then you still managed top-fives, that’s not a bad thing.”

In contrast to Rory, Darren Clarke, is still searching for some decent form and made the decision to fly out to the tournament venue, the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain last Friday to get ‘acclimatised’.

Clarke has a superb match-play record and actually won this event in 2000, beating Tiger Woods in the process. If he can get past American Nick Watney tomorrow, he could well come face to face with the former world number one, that is if Woods can beat Gonzalo Fdez-Castano.

“I’ve never played the course at Dove Mountain before – but I have to say it does look absolutely stunning,” said Clarke prior to departure.

“Wobbly [Clarke’s new caddy Phil Morbey] is coming out early with me and I’m also spending some time with Dr Bob Rotella, who has kindly changed his schedule so we can fit in some work together.”

“Hopefully all the work that I’m putting in on my golf and all other aspects of my game will turn things around and I’ll be back up there in contention sooner rather than later. Patience is the key - which I don’t have an awful lot of – but I’m doing all the right things!”

TWO-time Isle of Man TT winner Cameron Donald has been confirmed as the latest name due to compete in the Supertwins Lightweight race at the Isle of Man TT in June.

Donald (above), who claimed his maiden victories on the Mountain Course with a sizzling Superbike and Superstock Double in 2008, will ride a Kawasaki ER6 for Mick Charnock’s DC Coldplanning team in the three-lap race, which is being incorporated into the TT schedule for the first time in 2012.

His entry at the TT raises the prospect that he will also compete in the class at the North West 200 in May.

The Supertwins race will take place on the Friday of race week at the TT, the final day of the festival, whetting the appetite for the showpiece Senior race later in the day.

Charnock and Donald have a successful history together on the Isle of Man having joined forces back in 2005 when the Australian made his TT debut.

The 34-year-old went on to finish 11th and 16th in the two Supersport races in his maiden year, receiving the coveted Newcomers Trophy for his efforts.

Donald has developed into one of the major players at the TT since his double victory in 2008 and last year he finished as the runner-up in the Dainese Superbike race on Wilson Craig’s Honda.

The Aussie has remained with Craig for a second season and is also part of the Honda TT Legends World Endurance Team alongside John McGuinness, Simon Andrews and Gary Johnson.

Northern Ireland’s Ryan Farquhar, plus John Burrows and Davy Morgan will also compete in the class, while the TT organisers plan to announce further entries from TT winners at the end of this month.

Paul Phillips, TT and Motorsport Manager, said: “We’ve already had a great reaction to the Supertwins class and a number of the leading teams and riders have confirmed, including a few surprises.”

]]> 1.3541783 Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:55:24 +0000 http://www.newsletter.co.uk/perfect_send_off_for_coyle_at_oval_1_3541787

CARETAKER boss Roy Coyle was last night given the perfect send off as Glentoran powered their way into the quarter-finals of the Setanta Sports Cup at the Oval.

Coyle, who has been in charge on a temporary basis since Scott Young’s departure last month, will today make way for a new manager, but he couldn’t hide his delight after this demolition of Bray Wanderers.

Darren Boyce grabbed two of the goals with Colin Nixon getting in on the act, which guaranteed the Glens the slot in the draw – adding to the four they bagged Carlisle Grounds last week.

Coyle made three changes from the team that grinded out a creditable 1-0 win over Cliftonville at the weekend.

Calum Birney, Stephen Carson and Boyce were drafted into the starting eleven at the expense of Aidan O’Kane and Jamie McGovern, while new striker Leon Knight was ruled out because of flu.

Elliott Morris protected Glentoran’s two-goal cushion by producing a wonder save practically form the kick-off. Calum Birney, picked up a needless booking for a hand ball infringement, which led to the inform Morris brilliantly pawing Dean Zambra’s 25 yard free kick over the crossbar.

Glentoran had the sparse home crowd on its feet on 11 minutes with Boyce’s opener.

Carson’s wickedly hit free-kick caused mayhem in the Bray defence leaving Boyce to glance home his 12th goal of the season at the back post.

Even though the goal practically killed off the Airticity League team’s hopes of progressing, they remained dangerous on the break.

Tricky Marty Waters cleverly jinked his way into the box and just as he was about to pull the trigger Glens skipper Nixon popped up to deflect the effort wide.

The Carson-Boyce partnership almost worked again on 36 minutes. This time the striker’s header was just too high following another teasing corner from his sidekick.

Glentoran ended the half on top and Andy Waterworth waltzed past Quigley in injury time, only to see his shot scuffed off the line by Dane Massey.

However, the Belfast boys were not to be denied. Carson was yet again was the provider – drilling the ball into the box for Nixon to power home with the flick of his head.

Wanderers, looking for some consolation, were gifted an opportunity on 55 minutes following an uncharacteristic error from Sean Ward, but Morris capably dealt with Dan O’Connor’s low drive.

Morris then produced a reflex save from Waters, who really should have hit the net from six yards.

But the Glens wrapped up a good night’s work on 75 minutes when Boyce hammered home from the penalty spot after Massey’s trip on Waterworth.

Former Glens defender Pat McGibbon and ex-Cliftonville boss Eddie Patterson are the front runners to take over the Oval hotseat.

Glentoran: Morris, Nixon, Clarke, Ward, Waterworth, Boyce, Carson, Hill, Callacher, O’Hanlon (E Murray 14), Birney (Howland 46, O’Kane 64).

Subs: Gibson, McGovern, M Murray, Hogg.

Bray Wanderers: Quigley, Webster, Knight, Mitchell (Sweeney 46), Massey, O’Connor, Hanlon, Zambra, Waters, Houston (Kelly 61), Kelty (Byrne 46).

Subs: Tresson, Butler, Brennan, Kane.

Referee: C Burns, Belfast.