Glentoran captain Marcus Kane is relishing his return to action and is determined to help extend the Glens’ impressive unbeaten run when they host Dungannon Swifts at the BetMcLean Oval on Saturday.
Since losing to Portadown in November, Declan Devine’s side have embarked on a 13-match unbeaten run, recording four wins and two draws in the Sports Direct Premiership, while also lifting the County Antrim Shield, securing a place in the BetMcLean Cup Final and reaching the Clearer Water Irish Cup Quarter-Finals.
Despite the frustration of two league fixtures in 2025 being postponed or abandoned (away to Ballymena and at home to Larne), the Glens remain fully focused on closing the gap on Linfield at the top of the table while keeping hold of second place.
For Marcus Kane, Saturday’s fixture presents another valuable opportunity to regain full match sharpness following injury and suspension. The Glentoran skipper made his return as a second half substitute in the 2-1 league victory over Loughgall, before starting in last week’s dramatic Irish Cup sixth-round triumph over Linfield.
Marcus Kane said: “I was gutted to miss our dramatic County Antrim Shield win. Watching from the sidelines is never easy, especially with silverware on the line, but I couldn’t be prouder of the lads for getting us over the line and securing our first trophy in five years.
“Now that I’m back, my focus is on helping the team achieve even more success this season because there’s still so much to play for. We’ve got the BetMcLean Cup Final, a massive Irish Cup Quarter-Final against Bangor and crucial league fixtures ahead. These are the types of games a club the size of Glentoran should be competing in.
“To be honest, this is probably the strongest squad I’ve been part of during my time at Glentoran. There’s a real buzz in the dressing room and we’re all pushing each other every day to make this season as successful as possible.”

The January transfer window saw Nathaniel Ferris, Joe Thomson, Christie Pattisson, Ciarán Coll, and Shane McEleney further strengthen Declan Devine’s squad, adding to last summer’s significant overhaul at the BetMcLean Oval.
According to captain Marcus Kane, the mix of new arrivals from both last summer and January, combined with the club’s established performers, has instilled a fighting spirit that is driving every player to perform at their best.
Marcus said: “The new lads have come in with real hunger, adding extra quality and depth to the squad. Every single player knows their place isn’t guaranteed – if you’re picked, you have to give everything to keep the shirt.
“That competitiveness has created fantastic team spirit and you can see how we’ve all gelled after an inconsistent start to the season. We push each other every day in training and the results speak for themselves – an unbeaten run, our first trophy in five years and still fighting on multiple fronts. There’s a real togetherness driving this squad forward and it’s incredible to be part of it.”
Glentoran and Dungannon Swifts have already played each other twice this season, with each side claiming a victory. The Glens suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at Stangmore Park in September but responded with a 2-0 win at the BetMcLean Oval in October.
With honours even so far, Saturday’s clash could prove pivotal in the race for league positions. Just one point separates the teams, but Glentoran hold two games in hand over the Swifts.
Kane added: “We won’t be taking Dungannon Swifts lightly. They’re a strong, well-organised side sitting just behind us in the table. They’ve already taken points off the so-called bigger teams in the league this season, so we know exactly how tough a challenge this will be.
“Rodney McAree is a fantastic coach who has them playing the right way. They’re compact, difficult to break down and always carry a threat going forward, so we’ll need to be at our absolute best to get the result.
“We want to extend the gap between us and Dungannon, keep the pressure on Linfield and maintain our unbeaten run. Every game matters at this stage of the season and we’re fully focused on delivering another strong performance.”
For Glentoran fans planning to attend the Sports Direct Premiership fixture against Dungannon Swifts tickets are available for purchase at: https://www.glentoran.com/match-tickets-home-fans.