Glentoran’s UEFA Conference League journey came to an end on Thursday evening as a 2-0 defeat to Latvian champions RFS at LNK Sporta Parks saw the hosts progress to the second qualifying round with a 4-1 aggregate victory.

Trailing 2-1 from last week’s first leg at the BetMcLean Oval, the Glens travelled to Riga knowing they needed a positive result to keep their European hopes alive, but an early setback made the task significantly more difficult.

RFS took the lead after just five minutes. Daniel Larmour was dispossessed inside the penalty area and, although Billy Crellin made the initial save, Modou Saidy reacted quickest to convert the rebound from close range.

Jordan Stewart had gone close moments earlier with a strike from distance that drifted narrowly wide, while the home side almost doubled their advantage shortly after the opener when Lasha Odisharia fired over the crossbar.

Glentoran were then forced into an early change as Marcus Kane replaced the injured Larmour after 11 minutes.

The visitors gradually settled and began to enjoy more possession, with Ross Clarke causing problems down the right. One inviting delivery picked out Pat Hoban, whose header dropped just wide of the far post.

At the other end, Rostand Ndjiki headed narrowly wide as RFS continued to threaten, while Zeno Ibsen Rossi directed a header straight at goalkeeper Jevgenijs Nerugals from Ryan Cooney’s long throw before the interval.

With two goals required after the break, Declan Devine introduced Jordan Jenkins in search of fresh impetus, but RFS doubled their lead on the night just after the hour mark.

A misplaced pass from Crellin was intercepted by Ndjiki, who squared for Janis Ikaunieks to finish confidently and extend the Latvian side’s aggregate advantage.

Glentoran continued to push forward and thought they had reduced the deficit when Marcus Kane forced the ball into the net, but the effort was ruled out with the defender shown a yellow card for handball.

RFS remained dangerous on the counter attack, with Crellin producing another save to deny Marko Panić from a free-kick before Saidy flashed another effort wide as the hosts looked to add a third.

The Glens continued to battle until the final whistle and almost found a late consolation in stoppage time when substitute Josh Daniels tested Nerugals, who produced a smart save to preserve his clean sheet.

Despite the disappointment of exiting the competition, Glentoran can reflect on a campaign that marked the Club’s return to European football after a two-year absence.

Attention now turns to the countdown to the 2026/27 Sports Direct Premiership campaign.

RFS 2 – 0 Glentoran (RFS win 4-1 on aggregate)

Starting XI: Crellin, Cooney, Larmour (Kane 11), Rossi, Singleton, McEneff, Thomson, Malone (Kelly 72), Stewart (Daniels 72), Hoban, Clarke (Jenkins 57).

Subs: Mills, Donnelly, Lindsay, Weatherup, Gallagher, Sloggett, Douglas.