Declan Devine hails ‘outstanding’ Glentoran youngster after former West Brom, Aston Villa and Birmingham City playmaker

Declan Devine hails ‘outstanding’ Glentoran youngster after former West Brom, Aston Villa and Birmingham City playmaker helps secure Co Antrim Shied progression

Declan Devine lauded Finley Thorndike’s “outstanding” performance after the former young player for Birmingham City helped Glentoran defeat Carrick Rangers in the Co Antrim Shield quarterfinal. The victory sets up a matchup with current Premiership leaders Ballymena United in the final four.

Before moving to East Belfast on deadline day this summer with former Northern Ireland youth international Danny Amos, Thorndike spent time in the academies of Aston Villa, West Brom, and Birmingham. Tuesday’s success was only his second start for Glens.

The 22-year-old was chosen man of the match, and as the season goes on, Glens supporters will surely be hoping to see more of the gifted playmaker.

Prior to this, he made 22 appearances for Villa’s U21 team and scored four goals, including one in the EFL Trophy match against Charlton Athletic. Jaden Philogene and current Southampton striker Cameron Archer were among his teammates.

Thorndike further demonstrated his undeniable talent by playing 16 times for West Brom U21s. Devine commended his players for progressing to the Shield after Friday’s 3-1 Premiership victory over rival Linfield.

He said on the club’s media channel, “You look at James Singleton and Jay Donnelly with the effort and commitment they bring. Finley was outstanding, really creative, cheeky, expressive in his play.” “I felt that the victory was fairly easy to achieve.

“We had the opportunity to end the game sooner. It’s our sixth clean sheet in our last seven home games, I believe. I would have eaten your hand off if you had told me that we wouldn’t concede again until mid-October following the egregious goal we conceded against Crusaders on the first night.

“We had a strong desire to defend because we were up against talented players. I was a little worried that Friday night’s highs could have distracted them from the task at hand.

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