Hoban double helps Glens into next round

Two goals from stand-in skipper Pat Hoban saw Glentoran ease past Premier Intermediate League side Strabane Athletic and into the sixth round of the Irish Cup with a 4-0 win.

The fixture was originally due to be played on 10 January in Strabane, but was postponed because of a frozen pitch.

Moved instead to the Oval, new hosts Glentoran opened the scoring midway through the first half thanks to Jordan Stewart.

Danny Amos did brilliantly on the left to drill a low ball across the face of goal and there was Stewart to sweep the ball home first time from 12 yards.

Strabane Athletic should have been level just before the half hour when Niall McGinley was one on one with Glentoran keeper Billy Crellin but the midfielder's chip went the wrong side of the crossbar.

Pat Hoban, captain for the night for the Glens in the absence of Marcus Kane, made them pay with his 15th goal of the season deep into added time at the end of the first half.

James Douglas' initial shot looked to be going wide but Hoban reacted quickest to redirect the ball into the back of the net from a couple of yards out.

Hoban netted his second just after the hour mark when again he was in the right place at the right time and found the target after Strabane Athletic goalkeeper Shane O'Gara had saved Stewart's goal bound effort.

Defender Michael-John Kamara added a fourth and final goal 12 minutes from time with the centre-back powerfully heading home a Amos corner.

After what was a comfortable night for Declan Devine's side, the 23-times Irish Cup champions progress to a sixth round meeting with Northern Amateur Football League side Drumaness Mills that will be played on 7 February.