Conor McMenamin has returned to Glentoran after his short-lived move to Coleraine did not work out, saying he has 'got that spark back' and is committed to playing well for the east Belfast side. The 31-year-old winger rejoined the Glens just days ago, having previously scored 39 goals in 80 appearances during his first spell at the club before moving to St Mirren in 2023. He made only three substitute appearances for Coleraine in the Irish Premiership and admitted the move was not meant to be due to family and travel reasons, speaking to BBC Sport NI about his decision.
How does McMenamin’s return impact Glentoran’s title ambitions?
McMenamin says he wants to bring the winning mentality he gained at St Mirren back to Glentoran, where he hopes to help end their league title drought. He was part of the Buddies side that beat Celtic in the 2025-26 League Cup final and believes that experience can inspire the Glens to push for silverware. Glentoran currently sit 6th in the Premiership with 6 points from 4 games, having won two and lost two, and are four points behind leaders Coleraine FC. McMenamin added that he has spoken to Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill about his international future and remains open to earning further caps.
What happened in Glentoran’s County Antrim Shield win over Linfield?
Glentoran progressed in the County Antrim Shield with a 3-1 victory over Linfield at the Oval, thanks to early goals from Jordan Jenkins who scored twice inside the opening six minutes. Cal Weatherup restored the two-goal cushion late on after Charlie Chapman had pulled one back for Linfield, securing the win for David Healy’s side. The result was reported by BBC Sport NI, with Jenkins’ early double setting the tone for a dominant first-half performance from the home side.
How did Glentoran respond after their Premiership loss to Crusaders?
Assistant manager Tim McCann said the team had to 'show a reaction' after their 2-1 defeat by Crusaders at Windsor Park, and the Shield win over Linfield demonstrated that resilience. McCann praised the Glens for sticking at it during a tighter second half despite conceding, and noted that Linfield showed plenty of fight in defeat. He told BBC Sport NI that the win was about stepping up after a tough weekend, and that giving credit to the opposition was important even in victory.
Glentoran will look to build on this momentum as they prepare for their next Premiership fixture away to Crusaders FC on 2026-12-19, aiming to improve on their current league standing and goal difference of +2 from six goals scored and four conceded this season. For more on the squad, see squad, and check the latest fixtures and standings.
