Northern Ireland international Conor McMenamin has made a sensational return to Glentoran in a shock transfer from Coleraine. The Belfast Telegraph reported the 31-year-old attacker's move, which comes just two months after he joined the Bannsiders from St Mirren in June. As part of the deal, Joe Thomson has moved permanently from the Oval to Coleraine.
Glentoran confirmed the signing this week, with McMenamin securing a long-term contract for his third spell at the BetMcLean Oval. The club currently sits 6th in the Premiership with 6 points from four games, four points behind leaders Coleraine. Their recent form shows four consecutive defeats, including a 2-1 loss to Linfield on August 15th.
Why did McMenamin leave Coleraine so quickly?
McMenamin told BBC Sport NI that his short-lived move to Coleraine "was not meant to be". He made only three substitute appearances for the club without starting a game. The player cited personal and family reasons for the swift departure, explaining the travel from his Downpatrick base was too difficult. "I couldn't commit to living up there," McMenamin said. "It was too far to travel, and I have family in Downpatrick, and it just wasn't working out."
He stressed there were no hard feelings, stating the situation was "nobody's fault". McMenamin admitted the last two months had been challenging and that he did not enjoy his time at the Showgrounds. The forward now says he has "got that spark back" upon returning to East Belfast.
What does McMenamin hope to achieve at Glentoran?
McMenamin returns to Glentoran with a clear ambition to win silverware. "I didn't win the league during my previous time at Glentoran and that is something I want to change," he told Belfast Live. He believes a club of Glentoran's size should be challenging for the title every season. The player brings experience from winning the Scottish League Cup with St Mirren in the 2025-26 season, beating Celtic in the final.
He aims to play with the same freedom and smile that characterized his previous successful spell at the Oval. McMenamin scored 43 goals in 114 appearances across his two earlier stints with the Glens. The team has scored 6 goals and conceded 4 so far this campaign, giving them a +2 goal difference. You can track the squad's progress on our stats page.
Where does Glentoran go from here?
The immediate focus shifts to halting a poor run of form. Glentoran's recent record reads zero wins, one draw and four losses from their last five matches. Manager Ali Pour and his staff will be looking for McMenamin's return to provide an immediate attacking boost. The team faces a tough test in their next fixture, an away match against Cliftonville on September 19th.
Cliftonville currently sits 7th in the table, making it a crucial early-season encounter. McMenamin's integration into the current setup will be watched closely as the Glens seek to climb the standings. His long-term contract suggests the club sees him as a central figure for the seasons ahead. The full schedule of upcoming matches is available on our fixtures page.
Glentoran's next opportunity to turn their form around comes on September 19th away to Cliftonville FC.
