My first Belfast derby

It was a sign that it had to be done the weekend just gone. Cork City were playing away in Derry City on Friday and Saturday afternoon the big two in Northern Ireland of Linfield and Glentoran were playing in Windsor Park. No better opportunity to sample this derby fixture than this.
As it turned out well City were beaten by Derry in what I will describe as a "worrying" performance. Didn't play at all well and got what we deserved, nothing.

Saturday morning it was time to leave Derry and head for Belfast for this derby game. I've been to Shamrock Rovers v Bohemians, the big derby down south in the past so was looking forward to adding this clash to the list. Linfield are the historically dominant team in the Irish league with Glentoran being the second most successful side. The two clubs despise each other. Linfield are based in a very loyalist area south of the city while Glentoran are based in a loyalist area in the east. Linfield this season are chasing down Crusaders at the top of the table while Glentoran are pretty much just playing out fixtures with no chance of going down and no chance of getting Europe.

When I did the Shamrock Rovers v Bohemians derby in 2013 I maintained a neutral stance on the game itself. This one was no different although Linfield did have a familiar face out on the left wing. A certain Ross Gaynor was now whipping crosses in the box for Linfield. Gaynor was a left back predominantly in his time with City he joined us in 2014 in time for that season's title push scoring a wonder strike away at UCD on the way. Played with us in 2015 and left before Christmas to sign for Linfield. Glentoran had one familiar face themselves. Stephen Rice formally of Shamrock Rovers and Longford and the only one on the pitch who can claim he scored against Tottenham Hotspur.

We arrived outside the ground just before the 3pm kick off and by the time we eventually got into the ground the game had started. While scrambling outside looking for someone selling the bloody tickets we heard a cheer from the ground but as it turned out it was a disallowed Linfield goal. So we did get in at 0-0. Your usual hoards of police and riot vans were out in force as was the helicopter hovering above, it all just added a bit of spice to what was for a southerner anyway that bit more intimidating.

We got to the seats anyway just as Linfield were attacking the goal to our left in front of the Glentoran fans. For a derby game the section wasn't exactly full which was a bit strange. The entire stand across from us wasn't in use and the stand to our right wasn't completed. The stand we were in housed the Linfield support. The Blue Unity being on the far side of the stand close enough to the Glentoran fans, excellent for chants.
Linfield took the lead through a penalty that was given for handball which from our view anyway wasn't that clear. Ross Gaynor stepped up and sent Eliott Morris the wrong way, 1-0. Glentoran came out a bit after that but nothing threatening the Linfield goal. They did lack any quality up front. Linfield looked the more threatening throughout the game and then came the flash point. Glentoran's Calum Birney was sent off late on. Still I don't know what happened there. A few minutes later Glentoran's keeper, Morris gave away the ball to Linfield's Aaron Burns and he slotted home to make it 2-0 and game over. That sparked a massive clear out in the away end with flags gone as well. Ross Gaynor added a third in added time to seal a comfortable win.

It was certainly an experience anyway the whole derby. It certainly was felt throughout and probably what did let it down to a small degree was that Glentoran aren't doing as well as they have done in the past. However it was definitely worth it, to see what it was about. The other big fixture in the list is Linfield v Cliftonville which is also very much a derby game between two sides with polar opposite fan bases. Think I'll make that particular fixture next time around.