Glentoran manager Declan Devine aims to end the club's trophy drought by lifting the Co Antrim Shield and establish the team as a force to be reckoned with in the Irish League.
Declan Devine has stated that winning the Co Antrim Shield tonight would be incredibly meaningful for him and the Glentoran club. There hasn't been any silverware at The Oval since the Irish Cup victory in 2020, and Devine recognizes the fervent desire of the fans to see that trophy drought broken.
However, the 51-year-old manager, who was part of Glentoran's Irish Cup winning team in 1996, emphasizes his ambition to use this potential victory as a springboard for sustained success, rather than a singular achievement. 'It would mean everything to me to win it,' said Devine. 'There will be nobody happier or prouder to see our team lift that trophy on Tuesday night. When you sign on the dotted line to become manager of Glentoran you know there is an expectation, and I've no problem with that. There is an expectation. I expect to get better every day of the week and improve the team, but I know we don't have a magic wand. Win, lose or draw, we'll be back in the next day, ready to work again. It's a process for us. 'Look at where Larne are at this moment in time, they're climbing up the league at a rapid rate, European group stages, two league titles, they are the benchmark. Even though Linfield are well clear at the top of the table, in recent years Larne have been the benchmark and we certainly want to make sure that we put ourselves back up there with the big boys.' Devine, however, has issued a stern warning to his squad, who are also in the running for the BetMcLean Cup title, reminding them that tangible success has yet to be achieved. 'There's no point getting through the early rounds if you don't end up with that trophy in the back pocket going home,' he cautioned. 'We've a long way to go, we're here, we deserve to be in the final, we deserve to be in the final of the League Cup and we deserve to be in the next round of the Irish Cup, but that's all. The club hasn't won trophies on a consistent basis for a long time and we're just trying to bridge that gap. 'It doesn't matter who we are playing, we have to give everything of ourselves and that's been the mantra all year. We have a squad now that is chomping at the bit, not just to be involved but to get into the starting eleven.
Glentoran Declan Devine Co Antrim Shield Irish League Trophy Drought Larne Linfield
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