Wed 16 Sep 2026, 8:00
Paddy McCourt has called on Glentoran to build on the togetherness shown against Coleraine after a stoppage-time goal denied the Glens a point at the BetMcLean Oval.
Jordan Jenkins cancelled out Joe Thomson’s second-half opener with seven minutes remaining, but Lewis McGregor struck in the 94th minute to secure a 2-1 victory for the league leaders.
McCourt and Tim McCann assumed First Team duties following Declan Devine’s departure by mutual consent on Monday and oversaw a committed performance less than 24 hours later.
While encouraged by the players’ collective effort, McCourt was frustrated by the timing and manner of the two goals conceded.
“I thought the players really put a shift in and I was proud of the effort they gave,” he said.
“They stuck together, even after going 1-0 down, and found the goal to bring us level. I thought we then had opportunities to break forward and potentially win the game.
“That makes it even more disappointing to concede when we did. They were two really poor goals from our point of view and both came at bad times.
“We had worked hard to get ourselves back into the game and were beginning to build some momentum, so to then concede another avoidable goal was very difficult to take.”
Glentoran responded positively after falling behind to Thomson’s 72nd-minute strike and were rewarded when substitute Jenkins forced the ball home from close range.
The Glens looked capable of completing the turnaround before McGregor reacted quickest to a loose ball inside the penalty area and swept home Coleraine’s late winner.
“Losing any game is difficult, particularly at a club where you are expected to win more often than you lose,” McCourt continued.
“We put a lot into the game and got ourselves level, but we have come away with nothing. That hurts.
“Moving forward, we have to become more resilient. If we can cut out the goals we are giving away, performances like that will give us a much better opportunity to collect points.”
McCourt also reflected on a difficult 24 hours for the players following Devine’s departure, paying tribute to the former manager’s commitment to the club.
“Declan gave everything to the job and I know a lot of the players were very fond of him,” he said.
“This is a results business and we have all been in football long enough to understand that these things can happen, but that does not make it any less difficult on a personal level.
“Declan is a proud man who cared deeply about the club. Whatever conversations took place, the decision was made and our responsibility was to prepare the players for a very difficult game against the league leaders.”
Attention now turns to the next fixture, with McCourt clear about the standards Glentoran must carry forward.
“The effort, desire and willingness to stick together have to be the bare minimum,” he added.
“There is a lot of talent in this squad. First and foremost, we have to keep working for one another and then help the players perform at the level we know they are capable of reaching.
“This club should be competing for success. If we continue to stick together, keep digging in for each other and allow that ability to come through, there is no reason why Glentoran cannot still have a successful season.”
