{"id":1237847,"date":"2022-10-29T07:54:25","date_gmt":"2022-10-29T07:54:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/10\/29\/irish-premiership-glentoran-hammer-larne-4-0-to-move-top-of-the-table\/"},"modified":"2022-10-29T07:54:25","modified_gmt":"2022-10-29T07:54:25","slug":"irish-premiership-glentoran-hammer-larne-4-0-to-move-top-of-the-table","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/10\/29\/irish-premiership-glentoran-hammer-larne-4-0-to-move-top-of-the-table\/","title":{"rendered":"Irish Premiership: Glentoran hammer Larne 4-0 to move top of the table"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1\">\n<figure class=\"gs-u-mt0 gs-u-mb-alt+ story-body__media story-body__media--figure qa-story-body-media story-body__media--lead\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$video-1\"><span class=\"gs-u-display-block story-body__media\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$video-1.0\"><span class=\"gs-u-display-block gs-o-responsive-image\" style=\"padding-bottom:56.25%;\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$video-1.0.0\"><noscript data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$video-1.0.0.1\"\/><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"gel-brevier gs-u-ph+ gs-u-pv-alt story-body__media__caption story-body__media__caption--video\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$video-1.1\">Watch: Glens hit Larne for four to move top<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p role=\"introduction\" class=\"qa-introduction gel-pica-bold\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-2\"><span data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-2.0\">Conor McMenamin scored twice as Glentoran hammered Larne 4-0 to move two points clear at the top of the Irish Premiership table.<\/span><\/p>\n<div data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-3\">\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-3.0\"><span data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-3.0.0\">McMenamin\u2019s 10th-minute free-kick had the Glens 1-0 up at half-time, with Jay Donnelly\u2019s backpost header making it 2-0 and then Danny Purkis tapping in.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-4\"><span data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-4.0\">McMenamin\u2019s second of the game was deflected off the head of Fuad Sule.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-5\"><span data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-5.0\">Matt Fitzpatrick, Danny Wallace and Jack Malone with a penalty were on target as Glenavon beat Ballymena 3-2.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-6\"><span data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-6.0\">Jordan Gibson and Conor Keeley were the scorers for the Sky Blues.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-7\"><span data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-7.0\">The victory helps the eight-placed Lurgan Blues move four points clear of their opponents who sit one place below them in the standings.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure class=\"gs-u-mt0 gs-u-mb-alt+ story-body__media story-body__media--figure qa-story-body-media\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$image-8\"><span class=\"gs-u-display-block story-body__media\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$image-8.0\"><span class=\"gs-u-display-block gs-o-responsive-image\" style=\"padding-bottom:41.66666666666667%;\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$image-8.0.0\"\/><\/span><figcaption class=\"gel-brevier gs-u-ph+ gs-u-pv-alt story-body__media__caption story-body__media__caption--image\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$image-8.1\">Glentoran players congratulate goalscorer Conor McMenamin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-9\"><span data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-9.0\">Glentoran are now the only unbeaten team in the league after comfortably seeing off previously undefeated Larne at the Oval and Mick McDermott\u2019s side also have one game in hand over Tiernan Lynch\u2019s men.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-10\"><span data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-10.0\">McMenamin opened the scoring when his free-kick nestled in the bottom corner with the help of a post and the Northern Ireland international was also involved in the second when his looping pass found Donnelly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-11\"><span data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-11.0\">The striker made no mistake from close range, with his header proving too strong for Rohan Ferguson.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-12\"><span data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-12.0\">McMenamin also set up the third when his inch perfect pass left substitute Purkis with a simple tap-in from close range to guarantee all three points were staying in East Belfast<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-13\"><span data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-13.0\">The 27-year-old didn\u2019t stop there and he got his second and the home side\u2019s fourth when he broke free down the left wing with his strike taking a deflection and beating keeper Ferguson.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"story-body__crosshead\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$crosshead-14\">Glenavon come out on top in thriller<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"gs-u-mt0 gs-u-mb-alt+ story-body__media story-body__media--figure qa-story-body-media\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$video-16\"><span class=\"gs-u-display-block story-body__media\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$video-16.0\"><span class=\"gs-u-display-block gs-o-responsive-image\" style=\"padding-bottom:56.25%;\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$video-16.0.0\"><noscript data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$video-16.0.0.1\"\/><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"gel-brevier gs-u-ph+ gs-u-pv-alt story-body__media__caption story-body__media__caption--video\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$video-16.1\">Highlights: Glenavon 3-2 Ballymena United<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-17\"><span data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-17.0\">Glenavon overcame Ballymena 3-2 in a five-goal thriller at Mourneview Park. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-18\"><span data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-18.0\"> In a first half dominated by Glenavon, it was Ballymena that emerged with the lead at the break. Fitzpatrick had headed over the bar and Conor Scannell, Eoin Bradley and Peter Campbell all had shots blocked for the home team before Gibson\u2019s headed opener midway through the half against the run of play. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-19\"><span data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-19.0\">Despite the goal Glenavon continued to create chances, and Fitzpatrick had an effort saved by the feet of Sean O\u2019Neill before Bradley fired over the bar. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-20\"><span data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-20.0\">The best chance of the half then fell to Conor Scannell, who cut inside a defender and fired past O\u2019Neill but Ross Redman cleared off the goal line. <\/span><\/p>\n<figure class=\"gs-u-mt0 gs-u-mb-alt+ story-body__media story-body__media--figure qa-story-body-media\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$image-21\"><span class=\"gs-u-display-block story-body__media\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$image-21.0\"><span class=\"gs-u-display-block gs-o-responsive-image\" style=\"padding-bottom:41.66666666666667%;\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$image-21.0.0\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/_127416746_kellymalone.jpg\" alt=\"Josh Kelly and Jack Malone in first-half action at Mourneview Park\" class=\"qa-srcset-image\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$image-21.0.0.0\"\/><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"gel-brevier gs-u-ph+ gs-u-pv-alt story-body__media__caption story-body__media__caption--image\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$image-21.1\">Josh Kelly and Jack Malone in first-half action at Mourneview Park<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-22\"><span data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-22.0\">Glenavon finally got their reward when Fitzpatrick headed in an equaliser from a corner early in the second half, and Danny Wallace\u2019s acrobatic volley from another corner put them in front for the first time. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-23\"><span data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-23.0\">In an end-to-end match Ballymena responded with a well-struck Keeley equaliser through a group of bodies in the area, but Glenavon responded again. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-24\"><span data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-24.0\">Fitzpatrick was fouled inside the penalty area by Kym Nelson and Malone sent O\u2019Neill the wrong way from the penalty spot. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-25\"><span data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-25.0\">Back came Ballymena and McDaid was brought down to earn a penalty of their own, but Rory Brown saved Ryan Waide\u2019s effort. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-26\"><span data-reactid=\".7xnzpuoyga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-26.0\">There was still time for Ballymena to make a fourth goal-line clearance and Glenavon to hit the crossbar through Malone, but the visitors could not find an equaliser as Gary Hamilton\u2019s side capped a fine performance with all three points. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Watch: Glens hit Larne for four to move top Conor McMenamin scored twice as Glentoran hammered Larne 4-0 to move two points clear at the top of the Irish Premiership table. McMenamin\u2019s 10th-minute free-kick had the Glens 1-0 up at half-time, with Jay Donnelly\u2019s backpost header making it 2-0 and then Danny Purkis tapping in. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1237849,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[56],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1237847","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-world"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1237847","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1237847"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1237847\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1237847"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1237847"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1237847"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}