Glentoran striker Jordan Jenkins is determined to continue his goalscoring form as Declan Devine’s side prepare for a crucial Sports Direct Premiership clash against Ballymena United at the Ballymena Showgrounds on Tuesday night (kick-off 7:45pm).
The Glens head into the fixture unbeaten in 15 matches across all competitions, having recorded six wins and two draws in the league since November, while also lifting the County Antrim Shield, securing a place in the BetMcLean Cup Final and reaching the Clearer Water Irish Cup Quarter-Finals.
Jordan Jenkins has been a key player in that run of form, leading the Glentoran’s scoring charts with 12 goals and three assists this season. The 24-year-old striker has featured in 35 games this season and is enjoying his most consistent run of games in a Glentoran shirt.
After netting a superb opener in last Friday’s 2-1 victory over Coleraine, the East Belfast-born forward is determined to build on his momentum and continue delivering for the club he grew up supporting, as the Glens look to extend their unbeaten run to 16 games.
Jordan Jenkins said: “I’m really enjoying my football this season. I feel sharp, confident and ready to make an impact every time I step onto the pitch – whether that’s scoring goals, providing assists or giving everything for the team.
“Coming back to Glentoran after my loan spell at Dundela, I was determined to prove myself at the club I’ve supported since I was a kid. I love this club and I knew I had to take my chance, work hard and show that I belong here.
“As a striker, my job is to find the back of the net, and thankfully, I’ve been able to do that consistently this season. I always back myself to take my chances and with the quality in this squad, I know there will be plenty more opportunities between now and the end of the campaign.
“Working with Declan and the coaching staff has been a massive boost for my development. The belief they’ve shown in me has been incredible and that trust means everything. Every time I step onto the pitch, I want to repay it by delivering for this club and its supporters.”

With Glentoran competing on multiple fronts, including the BetMcLean Cup Final, the Clearer Water Irish Cup Quarter-Finals, and the push for automatic European qualification, Declan Devine further bolstered his attacking options in January by signing Nathaniel Ferris.
The addition of Ferris adds further depth to an already competitive frontline, ensuring Glentoran have the attacking firepower needed for the fixture schedule ahead. While embracing the competition for places, Jenkins remains fully focused on maintaining his form and delivering in the final third.
Jenkins said: “At a club like Glentoran, competition for places is exactly what you expect. It raises standards and makes us stronger as a squad. Bringing in a player of Nathaniel’s quality only adds to that and we’ve been pushing each other every day in training since he joined. I know I have to keep delivering to stay in the team and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“We’ve got real strength in attacking areas. Wassim and Nathaniel bring firepower through the middle, while David, Christie and Dylan are all pushing hard in the wider positions. The competition is fierce and that’s exactly how it should be at a club like this with everyone fighting for their place and driving each other to be better.
“As a striker, you live for scoring goals, and I’ll take them however they come – whether it’s a screamer or a tap-in, they all count. But for me, just as important is contributing to the team in any way I can. It’s about working hard, linking up play and making sure we get the results we need.
“We’re in a strong position in the league, we’ve got a cup final to look forward to and we’re still fighting for the Irish Cup, so there’s a lot at stake. I’ll keep pushing myself every day and if selected, I’ll be ready to make an impact and hopefully add another goal or two on Tuesday night to help us keep this run going.”
Tuesday night’s fixture marks Glentoran’s fourth meeting with Ballymena United this season, following a County Antrim Shield semi-final victory, a BetMcLean Cup quarter-final win, and a narrow 1-0 league defeat at the Showgrounds in September. Originally scheduled for Saturday 11th January, the match was postponed due to adverse weather and now presents another opportunity for the Glens to extend their unbeaten run to 16 games.
Despite currently sitting 10th in the table, Ballymena have already proven to be a difficult opponent for the Glens this season. In September’s league clash at the Showgrounds, a late Ben Kennedy goal secured a 1-0 victory for the Sky Blues against a 10-man Glentoran, following Marcus Kane’s second-half red card.
Glentoran have dominated Ballymena in cup competitions this season, knocking them out of both the County Antrim Shield and BetMcLean Cup. A 2-0 semi-final win in the Shield, courtesy of Dylan Connolly and Jordan Jenkins, set the Glens on course to lift the trophy. They followed that up with another 2-0 victory in January’s BetMcLean Cup quarter-final, with Jenkins and David Fisher sealing a place in the semi-finals.
Jordan concluded: “Ballymena are always a tough side to play, especially at their place. We know they’ll be right up for it and we saw how they pushed Linfield all the way the other week and almost got the three points. They’re well-organised, aggressive and they make life difficult for teams, so we need to be switched on from the first whistle.”
“That defeat earlier in the season was frustrating and we don’t want a repeat of that. We’ve grown as a team since then, our confidence is high and we’re in great form, but that counts for nothing if we don’t perform on Tuesday night. We’ll need to be at our best, stay disciplined and make sure we impose ourselves on the game. The lads are all up for it and determined to come away with all three points.”
For Glentoran fans planning to attend the Sports Direct Premiership fixture against Ballymena United, tickets are available for purchase at: https://eventlist.store/ballymenaunited/away
Note: Original tickets from the postponed fixture remain valid.