Thrilling Premiership title race goes to final weekend after Glentoran and Larne play out stalemate

The pair couldn’t be separated in East Belfast with the Inver Reds carrying a three-point advantage into next weekend’s last match – they’ll be at home to Dungannon Swifts while the Glens travel to Coleraine.

Coleraine could yet win their first Gibson Cup crown since 1974 – they’re six points adrift of Larne with two matches left to go, including a trip to Linfield on Saturday.

Here’s the story of the match from Friday night:

TEAM NEWS

Glentoran: Mills, Cooney, Kamson-Kamara, Kane, Amos, Palmer, Malone, McEneff, Daniels, Stewart, Hoban.

Subs: Crellin, Thomson, Connolly, Burt, Larmour, Jenkins, Clarke.

Larne: Ferguson, Cosgrove, Wallace, Ridley, Donnelly, S Graham, Gallagher, McEneff, Millar, Lusty, Ryan.

Subs: D Graham, McKendry, O'Neill, O'Connor, Doherty, Sloan, Simpson.

Referee: Ben McMaster

FIRST HALF

2: Early warning for Larne as they concede a corner. Ryan Cooney’s cross finds Pat Hoban, who sees his shot deflected for a corner before Josh Daniels heads over from Aaron McEneff’s delivery.

18: Couple of big defensive clearances from MJ Kamson-Kamara, who has been tasked with marking Larne’s main threat Matt Ridley. Neither team has created a big chance as yet.

26: Jordan Stewart fires an effort just wide of the post – appeals for a corner are waved away by referee Ben McMaster.

28: Biggest chance of the match yet as Jack Malone breaks free before laying off to Pat Hoban, but the Premiership’s top scorer strikes into the side netting.

32: Spell of sustained Glentoran pressure as Josh Daniels earns a corner before Marcus Kane blasts high over the crossbar.

33: Aaron McEneff whips in a wicked delivery – Stewart only player in the box and Rohan Ferguson is able to claim.

34: Huge opportunity for Larne – against the run of play – as Sean Graham feeds the returning Leroy Millar, who fires over when bearing down on goal.

36: Larne break at pace through Matty Lusty, who has Jordan McEneff and Andy Ryan in support. He feeds the former but the play slows down and Glentoran clear their lines.

39: Glentoran forced into an early change as Aaron McEneff is replaced by Joe Thomson.

41: The hosts create another chance as Danny Amos’ shot from inside the box is deflected for a corner. He tries his luck again seconds later from distance – another effort blocked.

45: Three minutes added on.

HALF TIME: Glentoran 0 – 0 Larne

SECOND HALF

49: First booking of the match goes to Stewart, who is cautioned for a late challenge on Chris Gallagher.

56: Cosgrove drives into the box and his ball is cleared to Lusty, who shoots over when he had time to control.

57: Former Larne midfielder Thomson is booked for a foul on Jordan McEneff.

63: Ryan wins a physical battle against MJ Kamson-Kamara, getting the other side of the Glens defender, who applies enough pressure to result in the Larne striker firing his shot into the side netting.

64: Andrew Mills is forced into a fine save to deny Lusty’s powerful effort, palming it for a corner which the goalkeeper punches clear.

66: Larne make their first change as Leroy Millar is replaced by Ronan Doherty.

72: Double change for the Glens as Josh Daniels and Jack Malone are replaced by Jordan Jenkins and Ross Clarke.

77: Another change for Larne as Matty Lusty makes way for Paul O’Neill.

82: Jordan McEneff makes a crucial block from Thomson’s strike which would have troubled Ferguson, who has been booked for time wasting.

88: Gary Haveron looks to his bench again as James Simpson replaces Andy Ryan. Simpson immediately into the action as Mills denies him from close range.

90: Six minutes of added time.

90+3: Glentoran earn a free-kick in a dangerous area. Ryan Cooney hits the wall before Thomson’s effort flies wide.

90+6: Jenkins is brought down on the edge of the box by Logan Wallace in the dying seconds.

FULL TIME: Glentoran 0 – 0 Larne