'A massive opportunity' - Drumaness skipper on cup trip to Glens

The bigger they are the harder they fall. Just ask fans of sixth-tier English side Macclesfield Town, who caused one of the biggest upsets in FA Cup history by beating holders Crystal Palace in the third round of this year's competition last month.

The draw for this season's Irish Cup round six has thrown up an opportunity for what would amount to an upset of similar magnitude in the context of domestic Northern Ireland football for potential giant-killers Drumaness Mills.

Forty-five places separate Drumaness from their illustrious top-flight opponents Glentoran, who are hoping that a win at the Oval on the rescheduled date of Tuesday 17 February will act as another stepping stone towards a first Irish Cup success since 2020.

Sitting 10th in the Amateur League Premier Division, the county Down side are the lowest-ranked team remaining at the last-16 stage and it is only the second time in their history that they have advanced to this point.

Drumaness captain Gary Murdock has played for the senior team since he was 16 after coming through the youth teams and says everyone at the club is excited about the prospect of facing the Premiership giants from east Belfast.

His uncle played for the club the last time they reached the last 16 in the 1992-93 season, Ards coming out on top on that occasion.

"Everyone is really looking forward to it and it's a massive opportunity for us to play on a big stage. It's brilliant for the whole club and the whole village," centre-half Murdock told BBC Sport NI's Nicola McCarthy before the biggest day in the club's history.

"Everyone will be excited, nervous, a whole range of emotions. Everyone's excited to get going and enjoy the whole experience in front of a big crowd at the Oval.

"It'll be really special and everyone is chomping at the bit to be in the squad. We'll give it our all and see what happens on the day."

Drumaness, formed in 1929, can take inspiration from the heroics of Newington, who as an Amateur League club, defeated the Glens 1-0 in 2022 to pull off one of the biggest shocks in the history of the Irish Cup.

The club have won the Northern Amateur League and the Border Cup four times, and the Clarence Cup on three occasions, but a favourable outcome against Declan Devine's charges would put those past achievements in the shade.

"We'll set up defensively to try to make things difficult for Glentoran and see what happens. We know they're going to have 80 or 90% possession so we'll let them have the ball and try to be hard to break down and look to go on the counter-attack," Murdock continued.

"We need to be at our best on the day and hope Glentoran have an off-day to have any chance. Suck up the pressure and try to keep them out for as long as we can and try and nick one on the break, from a corner, a set-piece or something."

Drumaness' Irish Cup campaign up to this point has seen them come through a penalty shootout against Desertmartin, defeat Fivemiletown United 6-4, beat Newry City and see off Armagh City 4-1 in round five.

"Our two best performances this season have come in this competition against Newry and Armagh so we're hoping for more of the same and for a wee bit of luck on the day," added Murdock.

"We've been looking at Glentoran's January signings and they have quality all over the pitch so it's going to be a long day, but we'll go out and enjoy it. Days like this don't come along often."