GLENTORAN defender Sean Ward is doubly determined to wrestle the Premiership title away from Windsor Park this season.
The 23-year-old has been forced to endure three years of heartache in watching Linfield blitz all before them in the top flight.
The Blues recorded their third successive double in April this year, equalling a club record that dates back to the 19
th century.
Ward admits the unparalleled success story has left him envious of his Linfield pals, but it has also made him obstinate in his desire to prise the Gibson Cup away from south Belfast and back to The Oval for the first time since 2005.
"I have friends who play for Linfield, and I am not ashamed to say that over the years I have been very jealous of what they have achieved.
"It is the league championships and Irish Cups that every player in the local game wants to win, and I am no different," Ward said.
"Lifting a trophy like the Gibson Cup makes all the work that you have put in throughout the duration of a season pay off. That's what I want to experience and savour with Glentoran.
"Glentoran is traditionally a successful club, and the current bunch of players wants to be no different, and I think this year we have a great chance of winning some major silverware.
"The talent is in the squad to lift the title, I have no doubt about it. Last season we did very well for the first half of the campaign then we suffered a blip.
"But we only ended up three points off Linfield. We basically ran out of steam and unfortunately out of games at the end.
"I think this year everyone has a point to prove, and the competition for places is immense this time.
"We are gunning for trophies this season so everyone wants to be part of the starting XI every week.
"The difference is this year that, because of the strength of the squad, Alan (McDonald) is able to make changes on a week-to-week basis, but at the same time the side remains strong."
Ward believes the 'Blues, Glens and Reds' monopoly at the Premiership summit appears to be grinding to a halt.
Crusaders currently lead the way in the new 12-team top-flight, with Glentoran, Linfield and Coleraine making up the top four.
Cliftonville continue to struggle in ninth place and 13 points off the summit.
"I am excited this season because the league isn't turning out the way everyone predicted.
"Everyone said it would be the usual Linfield, Glentoran and Cliftonville battle, but it is far from that," the gifted defender added.
"There have been so many twists and turns so far, and there will be plenty more to come. And a lot of clubs are dropping points.
"Bookmakers usually know in advance how much money they are going to win or lose on the title, but this season they'll probably be waiting until the last day of the season.
"The new 12-team format is working, and I think every club in the Premiership has strengthened.
"No team is running away with the league. You have the Big Two, and you also have teams like Crusaders, Lisburn Distillery and Coleraine all plugging away.
