Declan Devine is hoping one of his current crop of Glentoran players can provide "a bit of magic" to secure some silverware for the club, just like Glen Little back in 1996.

Little lit up a largely forgettable Irish Cup final on May 4 1996 with a typical spectacular goal to win the cup for the Glens. Devine kept a clean sheet that day in what was the last time he featured in a cup final for Glentoran.

Now he is preparing to face Larne in the Co Antrim Shield final as manager of the club which has rekindled memories of '96 and talisman Little.

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“That was the last time I was involved in a cup final with Glentoran and it took a stroke of genius from Glen to win the game, a very tight game against Glenavon”, said Devine.

“That team had to come together in the space of two years because at that time it was over a two-season period to see who would get into the Premiership. Glentoran had a stinker in 1994 and between '95 and '96 they had to accumulate so many points to get into it, which is mad.

“If you wanted a fight with that team you got it. We had boys who could put the foot in if you wanted, but you see at the top end of the pitch when you had Liam Coyle, Justin McBride, Trevor Smith and Glen Little you also had a chance of winning games.

“There was serious quality in the group, people like Michael Smith and John Devine...hardy, hardy boys. The spine of the team was really strong and you had a bit of magic out in wide areas and up front.

“What's mad about Glen is the week before he signed for Glentoran, Derry City had him in on trial but turned him down. Tommy Cassidy got wind of that and brought him up to The Oval to sign and the rest is history.

“Glen was one of those players who didn't know what he was doing himself. He would go past you for fun and then stick one into the top bin even though it probably wasn't on.

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“He scared people, he put them on the back foot, he was a fantastic dribbler. He was a really levelheaded lad, I met him a few years later when he was at Burnley and when he wanted to he had magic in his boots."

This current crop of Glentoran stars are hoping to end a five-year trophy drought at the club on Tuesday night at Seaview. Devine is expecting a tight encounter against Larne, who they narrowly lost out to in last year's final, but he is hoping someone in his squad can emulate Little on the night

“This could be similar to '96, it might take a bit of magic to win it,” he said. “We know it's coming, we can feel it coming – I've never had as many fit players, let's put it that way.

“Everyone is making themselves available, everybody's letting it be known they want to be part of it, and why not? That's what we're in it for. Last year, I was watching the final between Larne and Glentoran in Dublin and I thought Glentoran were excellent on the night.

“It was a horrendous night conditions-wise and fine margins won the game. I feel that it will be something similar again this year, it will be fine margins, it will be the team that settles best and gets a wee bit of luck.”

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