Glentoran striker Robbie McDaid believes is club is equipped to handle the ‘business end’ of the season.
Mick McDermott’s boys took another gigantic stride towards a possible double by dumping Queen’s University out of the Samuel Gelston’s Irish Cup at The Dub on Saturday.
McDaid was the tormentor in chief, bagging a deadly double sandwiched between goals from Michael O’Connor and Shay McCartan, who thumped home a stunning 30-yard free kick.
With their first League title in 13 years on the horizon, the East Belfast side will be hot favourites to book a slot in the semis when they face Championship side Newry City at the BetMcLean Oval next month.
McDaid, however, is taking nothing for granted.
“With the squad we have, why shouldn’t we think of winning trophies?” he queried. “But we take nothing for granted, there are a lot of good teams in this League.
“At the same time, we have to set our targets high approaching the business end of the campaign. We’ll take it one game at a time and hopefully come the end of the season it will stand us in good stead.
“The cup tie was the start of a big week for us. Our focus is now on Portadown on Tuesday night. They have a new manager and a few new signings. It will be difficult, every game in this League is the same.
“But we look after ourselves, we’ve got a great group of players . . . most of them are now fit and well. Just had to look at our bench against Queen’s to see the players who were not in the team, it’s frightening.”
McDaid, who scored an extra-time winner in the 2020 Irish Cup final against Ballymena United, freely admits the blue riband trophy has a special place in his heart.
“I love the Irish Cup,” he said. “I was part of the Glenavon squad when I was only 17 when they won it before I left for England.
“Then a couple of years ago I got the winner against Ballymena United in the final. Unfortunately, we didn’t really get the full enjoyment of winning the cup because of the Covid situation.
“There were only 500 fans at the game. Our incentive is to get back to that sunny day in May in front of a packed Windsor Park.
"It would be great to reach the final and I think we have squad to do it – I think we’ve a great chance.”
Queen’s University boss Peter Thompson admitted his boys were outclassed on the day as the Glens romped to a 4-0 win.
“Good luck to Glentoran,” he said. “There is a vast improvement in the team compared to the one we faced two years ago . . . they are well organsied, well drilled and play good football.
"They are massive specimens of men as opposed to our 19-year-old freshers.
“The best side won the football game, but you’ve got to put things into perspective they are a full-time football club, buying players for £120,000.
“In contrast we are a team of students, a vast majority of our players at studying, hoping to get their careers sorted out and play football as a hobby.”
