Conor McMenamin is the last-gasp hero for Glentoran

It looked like the second showdown of the season between the Belfast rivals was going to finish in stalemate until the former Cliftonville man – he moved to the Glens in last month’s transfer window -- broke the hearts of David Healy’s Linfield with that late party piece.

Amazingly, it was Glentoran’s first League win against the Blues at the international venue since 2014.

Although both sides displayed a huge amount of commitment and passion, there was a distinct lack of quality on show.

And, it developed into the proverbial game of two halves, with the Blues creating all the big chances in the first 45 minutes with their cross town rivals bossing the second half.

Blues boss David Healy reshuffled his pack following the scoreless draw with title rivals Coleraine at the weekend, reinstating skipper Jamie Mulgrew, Mark Stafford, Navid Hasseri and new on loan signing from Oxford United, Joel Cooper.

Mick McDermott made only one change to the team that collected full points last time out, drafting in Caolan Marron for Dale Gorman.

It was the home team who asked all the early questions. The diminutive Jordan Stewart twisted and turned on the edge of the penalty area only to see his goal bound shot glance off the head of Chris Gallagher.

Stewart was popping up all over the pitch and was beginning to cause problems to the Glens’ backline.

He produced another little bit of magic on the right and, when he drilled in a low cross, it was again cleared by a relieved Gallagher.

Niall Quinn was next to try his luck from distance, his shot blocked by Luke McCullough, which had the home players claiming for a hand ball, but referee Raymond Crangle wasn’t interested.

Glentoran were let off the hook on 26 minutes. In a lightning inter-change involving Cooper, Mulgrew and Nasseri, the former Glenavon midfielder’s cross crashed back off the face of the crossbar, with goalkeeper Dayle Coleing beaten.

It was all Linfield and McDermott’s boys had Coleing to thank for keeping the scores level on 33 minutes when he got down brilliantly to beat away a Stewart drive following a great piece of work by Shayne Lavery.

But the Northern Ireland international striker was guilty of missing the best chance of the half just two minutes before the break. Mulgrew’s sublime pass sent him hurtling through the middle but again Coleing got down superbly to beat away the striker’s low drive.

Coleing established himself once again on 52 minutes, producing another wonderful stop to deny Cooper. The tricky midfielder picked up a clever back heel from Stewart and, after leaving two opponents wanting with a cute drop of the shoulder, his thundering drive was superbly flipped over the top by Gibraltar international.

Glentoran at last began to threaten at the other end with Robbie McDaid flicking a header over the top before Hrvoje Plum was sent through the centre only for Chris Johns to race from his line to save.

Then, on 62 minutes, Robbie McDaid whipped in a cross to the back post, which was met by Jay Donnelly, whose header flew into the gloves of Johns.

But Johns then produced a save of the season contender on 70 minutes to keep the scores level. Donnelly threaded a pass inside to substitute Ciaran O’Connor and his 25-yard drive looked destined for the top corner until the big shot stopper managed to get a finger to the ball.

Linfield had another let off when Conor McMenamin’s cross found McMenamin at the near post, but Mark Stafford managed to deflect the ball for a corner kick.

But the Glens nicked it right at the finish. Big money man McMenamin clipped in a hopeful cross that evaded everyone and managed to creep in at the back post.

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