Larne move towards title with Glentoran draw

Irish Premiership

Glentoran 0 - 0 Larne FT

Larne took a huge step towards a third Irish Premiership title in four years as they drew 0-0 with nearest challengers Glentoran at the Oval.

Victory would have secured the Gibson Cup for Gary Haveron's side with a game to spare, while Glentoran needed three points to move to the top of the table ahead of the final day.

While a draw takes the title race to the final day of the season, Larne's three-point advantage at the top puts them in a strong position to lift the trophy on 25 April.

Glentoran, who are looking to end a 17-year wait for a title, travel to Coleraine on the final day of the season, while Larne host Dungannon Swifts in their last fixture.

The Inver Reds will need just a point to wrap up the title, while Glentoran must win and hope the Swifts, who face Coleraine in the Irish Cup final on 2 May, do them a favour at Inver Park.

The draw means the Bannsiders, who face Linfield in their penultimate match, still have a slim chance of the title.

Knowing they needed three points to put the destiny of the title in their own hands, Glentoran started well as Pat Hoban had an effort deflected over and Josh Daniels headed onto the roof of the net.

In contrast, Larne were happy to slow play down, which was agitating the home support, and the fast and flowing start soon faded out.

However, from the moment Jordan Stewart fired wide in the 25th minute, the game sparked back into life.

Hoban, who is the Glens' top scorer, had a glorious chance to put the hosts in front when he was played in by Jack Malone, but he could only hammer the ball into the side netting when many expected the net to bulge.

Captain Marcus Kane then blazed over from a corner on his weaker right foot, but Larne then had the best chance of the half when Sean Graham's teasing pass found its way into the patch of Leroy Millar by the stretching Ryan Cooney, but the midfielder's finish was poor and he fired high over the top when through on goal.

After losing Aaron McEneff to injury, his replacement was denied an immediate goal by a superb tackle from Chris Gallagher, before Danny Amos' powerful drive was deflected wide.