The quarter-finals of this season’s Clearer Water Irish Cup will begin with a heavyweight tie later today.
The teams currently occupying top spot and second place in the NIFL Premiership are set to battle it out for a place in the last four of Northern Ireland’s premier cup competition.
Current league leaders Larne, seeking their maiden success in the Irish Cup, are due to face Glentoran in their own backyard (7.45pm kick-off).
The Glens, who have won the trophy on 23 occasions, will no doubt be hoping home advantage at The Oval in east Belfast will give them the edge.
Declan Devine’s side have yet to taste victory against the Inver Reds this season. The teams have met three times, with Larne securing two wins. The other game ended in a draw.
The Glens, however, have been in fine form lately and have moved within five points of Larne in the league – with a game in hand. And in Pat Hoban (pictured in action against Larne) they have the NIFL Premiership’s in-form striker. He has already netted 22 goals this season.
There’s a feeling in the Glentoran camp that tonight could be their night, however Gary Haveron and his Larne players will have other ideas.
“The one thing you can guarantee is the players we have at the club will be right up for it,” Devine told Glentoran’s media channel.
The Glens v Inver Reds cup clash is due to be livestreamed on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport NI website and on the BBC Sport app.
It’s the only all-Premiership encounter in the last eight of this season’s Clearer Water Irish Cup. All three ties tomorrow (7 March) are Premiership v Championship clashes (all 3pm starts).
Cup holders Dungannon Swifts are due to face Championship side Harland and Wolff Welders at Stangmore Park.
And Cliftonville, who were defeated by the Swifts in last year’s final, are heading to Lakeview Park to battle it out with Loughgall.
Limavady United, meanwhile, are set to take on Coleraine. That ‘home’ tie for Limavady is being played at Coleraine’s Showgrounds home, which is the temporary base for Limavady while a new pitch is being laid at Limavady Showgrounds.
In terms of league standings, Limavady (62 points) are currently vying with Annagh United (64 points) for top spot in the Championship, while the Welders (55 points) lie third and Loughgall (50 points) are in fourth place.
