Declan Devine praised his players’ patience, commitment and desire after Glentoran opened their 2026/27 Sports Direct Premiership campaign with a 2-0 victory over Limavady United at The BetMcLean Oval.

Second-half goals from Jordan Stewart and Pat Hoban secured all three points for the Glens, who complemented an encouraging opening-day performance with a clean sheet.

Devine was particularly pleased with how his side remained composed after failing to convert several promising first-half opportunities.

“Getting the three points was so important, and I’m really happy with the result,” said the Glentoran manager.

“This league is unforgiving and, especially when we’re playing here, we have to make it difficult for teams.

“I thought our first-half performance was really good. We went in at 0-0 and there was a bit of frustration because we probably had four or five chances, while I felt we started the second half a little sluggishly.

“Overall, though, we were very much the dominant side. We played some really good football at times and cut them open on numerous occasions in the first half.

“The biggest factor is that it was the first league game of the season and it was imperative that we got the three points. To get a clean sheet into the bargain was really pleasing.”

Stewart made an immediate impact after being introduced from the bench, glancing home the opening goal in the 61st minute before Hoban doubled Glentoran’s advantage just two minutes later.

Devine believes the contribution of his substitutes underlined the importance of having strength throughout the squad.

“It was absolutely great that Jordan could come off the bench and get us the opening goal and that sums up the importance of the depth of the squad,” he said.

“Jordan is an outstanding footballer. I love him to bits and, hopefully, we can get whatever little niggles he has out of the way.

“I also thought JJ gave them something completely different to worry about with his runs in behind. There were a lot of really positive performances.”

Devine also highlighted the energy and application shown in midfield, as well as the controlled defensive display delivered by Marcus Kane and Zeno Ibsen Rossi.

“Effort, commitment and desire are things we speak about as a group,” he added.

“We talk about our supporters, what they want and what they need. This Club deserves effort, it deserves commitment and it deserves desire, and I thought Malone and Joe Thomson epitomised that.

“I thought the two centre-backs were also really aggressive in their work without the ball, but very controlled in possession and in moving it from side to side.

“We knew Limavady would sit off the game and make themselves difficult to break down. To be fair to the players, they stuck to the task and didn’t become frustrated when we failed to go a goal or two ahead earlier.”

Although satisfied with the performance, Devine insists there remains more to come as the Glens build their way into the new campaign.

“The players deserve huge credit because it is very difficult to train for eight or nine weeks while waiting for that first league game,” he said.

“We’ll continue striving to improve and there’s no doubt that we’ll get better as the weeks go by. Until we’re really up to full speed, if we can keep collecting three points, that’s all that matters.

“We’ve got three points in the bag, and now we go again.”