Glentoran coach Rodney McAree: We can't rely on two players keeping us in the title race

Glentoran first team coach Rodney McAree says the Big Two giants can’t continue relying on top scorers Jay Donnelly and Conor McMenamin to keep them in the title race.

Top scorer Donnelly, who was on target in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Ballymena United at the Showgrounds, has bagged 26 goals in all competitions this season.

Left winger McMenamin has also chipped in with an impressive 18 meaning the pair have contributed 44 of the Oval club’s 74 goals in all domestic competitions.

Even more stark is the fact that Donnelly and McMenamin have scored 41 of Glentoran’s 58 league goals, 71 percent of the club’s tally in the Danske Bank Premiership.

“We have to show a greater collective effort to get us over the line,” said McAree, who branded Saturday’s performance on the Braid “poor”.

“For us having such a good squad, too many times this season we have relied on Jay Donnelly and Conor McMenamin to pull us out of a hole.

“Other people have to be weighing in and contributing and giving a little bit more. If you’re an attacking midfielder, how many goals have you scored this season?

“If you’re a wide player, how many goals? Conor McMenamin has scored 17 or 18 goals from wide left, but what’s everybody else’s contribution?

“I don’t think we’ve had enough across the board. If we get a little more contribution from more areas of the pitch to help those two out, we might have a little more success.”

Saturday’s share of the spoils at the Showgrounds, Ryan Waide’s opener for United cancelled out by Donnelly's 54th minute penalty, saw Glentoran slip to third in the table.

With time running out, Mick McDermott’s men are a point behind Cliftonville, who have a game in hand, and five below reigning champions Linfield at the summit.

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