Glentoran star clear club 'have to keep pushing' in pursuit of Premiership title dream

Declan Devine’s side responded in perfect fashion to last weekend’s narrow BetMcLean Cup final defeat to rivals Linfield by beating Cliftonville 3-0 on Wednesday – a result which moved them to within two points of league leaders Larne.

The Inver Reds will have an opportunity to open up the gap once again and apply pressure with Gary Haveron’s men travelling to Glenavon on Friday night before Glentoran face Coleraine the following day.

Glentoran haven’t celebrated Gibson Cup glory since the 2008/09 campaign and have failed to finish above third in that 17-year period, but this term presents a prime opportunity to end their long title wait.

With just one match remaining before the split, Devine’s men will now only face fellow top-six clubs until the end of the season and Hoban knows they can’t afford to switch off.

"These last six games are going to be very tough indeed with Larne, Linfield, Cliftonville, Dungannon Swifts and Coleraine twice in our run of games," he said. "The teams are in the top six on merit and it is going to be very tough to call indeed.

"You can't afford to look too far down the line though.

"We've Coleraine up next and that's where our focus is. We've played them three times so far this season already and we've been fortunate enough to win all three.

"But I don't think the results really tell the full story of those games as they were on top for parts of those games and we were on top in the other parts.

"I think it will be much of the same come Saturday as they are a very good side packed with not only quality players but some real experience as well.

"They have players who can cause you problems and we know we will have to be at our best to make sure we come away with the three points.

"We are a side that's full of confidence at the minute and rightly so. We have won our last five in the league scoring 17 and conceding only once.

"We definitely have built up a lot of momentum in the league but we cannot afford to switch off now, we have to keep pushing."

Hoban has enjoyed a superb maiden Irish League campaign, sitting top of the Premiership goal charts with 25 in 26 appearances, while his brace on Wednesday moved him onto 30 across all competitions this term.

"As a striker you always want to score goals so it's nice to have reached that total in my debut season for the club, but hopefully I can chip in with a few more before the end of the season," he added. "It's not just me though, look around the team and we have scored a lot of goals all over the pitch, and you need that if you are going to be successful.

"We are a team which creates a lot of chances, and as a striker that is great because you know you're always going to get opportunities when you play.

"The three goals on Wednesday night took us on to 62 goals in the league, I think we're the top goal scorers now, which is another big plus for us.

"But we have also been pretty tight at the back as well. When you don't concede easily and create a lot of chances at the other end it's a very good mix to have. We just have to carry that on now in our remaining games."