Glentoran defender Ciarán Coll says the squad is determined to deliver a strong reaction this weekend as the Glens return to The BetMcLean Oval to face Ballymena United in the Sports Direct Premiership on Saturday 18 October (kick-off 3.00pm).

Declan Devine’s side suffered their first league defeat of the season last weekend, falling 3–1 to Dungannon Swifts at Stangmore Park. Captain Marcus Kane’s header gave the Glens a first-half lead, but a red card for Jordan Jenkins on the hour mark proved pivotal, with the hosts taking advantage to score three unanswered goals.

That setback came just days before Tuesday night’s County Antrim Shield quarter-final, where Glentoran exited the competition after a penalty shoot-out defeat to Carrick Rangers.

With two defeats on the bounce, Glentoran will be hoping to rediscover the form that saw them make an impressive start to the campaign. Devine’s side opened the season with six wins from their first eight league fixtures and progressing to the Second Round of the BetMcLean Cup.

Now, with a return to the BetMcLean Oval, the focus is on producing a strong response in front of the home supporters and getting the team back on track in the NIFL Sports Direct Premiership.

Coll, who made a bright start to the 2025/26 campaign by starting Glentoran’s opening three matches before injury ruled him out until the BetMcLean Cup win away to Institute, says the focus inside the dressing room this week has been on putting things right.

Ciarán Coll, said: “We’re disappointed with the last two results, there’s no point dressing that up. As a group, we set high standards for ourselves and we know we’ve fallen short of those over the past week. The message has been clear all week. We regroup, we respond and we make sure we deliver a proper reaction.

“We’ve worked too hard over pre-season and the opening months of the campaign to let those results derail us. What matters is how we respond and this squad has the character to do exactly that. Saturday is an opportunity to get back on track, to remind people what this team is about and to give the fans a performance they can get behind.”

Since joining Glentoran in the January transfer window, Coll’s time at the BetMcLean Oval has been disrupted by injuries. But the experienced defender believes he is now building fitness and confidence and is determined to put together a consistent run of appearances that will allow supporters to see his quality on a regular basis.

Coll explains: “It’s been a bit of a stop–start spell for me since arriving at the Oval. When I’ve played, I feel I’ve done well and shown what I can bring to the team, but I know the fans haven’t seen enough of me yet. That’s been frustrating for me personally because I came here to play a big part and to help the club achieve success.

“The positive is that I’m feeling stronger and sharper with every session. I’ve had a good run of training under my belt, I’ve had minutes in recent matches and now it’s about staying fit and putting a proper run of games together. I know I have a lot to offer this team and to the supporters who’ve backed me from day one.”

The 34-year-old also spoke highly of the environment created by Declan Devine and his assistant Paddy McCourt, praising the professional standards set behind the scenes.

Ciarán said: “The set-up here is top class. Declan and Paddy have completely transformed the standards across the club and you can feel it every single day when you come into the building. Every detail is looked after. No stone is left unturned, whether it’s our preparation, the way we train, recovery protocols or the level of analysis we get before and after games.

“As players, we can have no excuses. We’ve got the best possible platform to work from, so the responsibility is on us as a group to deliver. We know what’s expected and we’ve got a squad full of quality and character. I want to play my part in that and contribute to a successful season for the club.”

The Glens have already faced Ballymena United this season, recording a 2–0 win at The Showgrounds in early September thanks to quickfire goals from Pat Hoban and Jordan Jenkins. But Ciarán Coll is under no illusions about the challenge that awaits on Saturday at the BetMcLean Oval, with the competitive nature of the league ensures that every fixture is a battle.

Coll added: “Ballymena will be tough, we know that from the last game. They made us work hard that day. We got the early goals, which gave us control, but they asked questions of us throughout the match. They’re organised, physical and they’ve got plenty of quality that can hurt you. We’re under no illusions that Saturday is going to be another big test.

“Every team in this league is capable of taking points off each other. That’s what makes it so competitive. There are no easy games and no fixtures where you can take your foot off the pedal. You have to be at it from the first whistle and sometimes you have to dig deep and grind out results.

“We know Ballymena will come here looking to make it difficult for us and rightly so. It’s up to us to impose ourselves on the game, set the tempo and make the most of playing at home in front of our supporters. We want to give them a performance they can get behind.”

For Glentoran supporters planning to attend Saturday afternoon’s Sports Direct Premiership fixture against Ballymena United at The BetMcLean Oval, match tickets are available to purchase online at: https://www.glentoran.com/tickets/home-tickets/