Late Murray equaliser keeps Glens in European hunt

Darren Murray scored a late equaliser to rescue a point for Glentoran in a 2-2 draw with Warrenpoint Town at Oval.

The result means Mick McDermott's side go into their final match knowing they can still make it into the European playoffs.

The Glens began the game knowing victory would ensure 7th place, but the opening period was lacking in creativity and urgency from both sides.

There was little of note until the 32nd minute when the visitors took the lead through their captain Simon Kelly, with the big centre back playing at the other end of the pitch in a striker's role. When a corner was only partially cleared, it was knocked back into the box to Kelly who turned and lashed home from 6 yards on the turn.

At the break, Glens manager Mick McDermott made a change, throwing Peter McMahon on in place of Steven Gordon as he looked to spark his side into a response.

They began the second half with renewed urgency, and soon pulled level. Point failed to deal with a cross into the box, and when it was scuffed clear as far as John Herron, he lashed home from 20 yards with the help of a slight deflection in the 49th minute.

However, it was only a minute later that Warrenpoint were awarded a penalty after Stephen Moan was cut down in the Glens box. Philip Donnelly hit his effort low and hard, and it had enough power to just about squirm over the line despite goalkeeper Elliott Morris getting a hand to it.

He almost made it 3-1 to Warrenpoint just before the hour when the ball broke to him on the edge on the box, but he placed his effort just wide of the far post.

The visitors were hanging on in an attempt to leave the Oval with all 3 points, but Darren Murray made sure that wouldn't happen in the 84th minute, getting ahead of his marker to glance a near-post header into the net from close range