Glentoran secured a hard-fought opening-day league victory as second-half goals from Jordan Stewart and Pat Hoban sealed all three points against Limavady United at The BetMcLean Oval.

The Glens enjoyed the better of the opening 45 minutes, with Joe Thomson twice going close to breaking the deadlock before the interval.

Limavady began the second half brightly and Philip Lowry passed up two promising opportunities before the hour mark.

Those missed chances proved costly as substitute Stewart made an immediate impact, glancing home the opener in the 61st minute before Hoban headed in a second just two minutes later to secure the victory.

Declan Devine handed Zeno Ibsen Rossi his league debut, while fellow new signings Greg Sloggett and Rhys Walsh were not involved. Andrew Mills and Josh Kelly also missed out through injury.

The hosts created the first opportunity after only two minutes, with Rossi firing straight at Limavady goalkeeper Marty Gallagher from outside the penalty area.

Joe Thomson then met Ross Clarke’s lay-off with a first-time effort that flew narrowly wide of the upright in the seventh minute, with Gallagher rooted to the spot.

Glentoran went close again in the 16th minute when Hoban’s bundled effort from another Clarke delivery was hacked off the line by Tiarnan Boorman.

Jack Malone let fly from distance shortly before the half-hour mark, but his effort was always rising.

The Glens created one more big opportunity before the interval as Thomson unleashed a powerful long-range strike, forcing Gallagher to react sharply and tip the ball behind for a corner.

Limavady started the second half with greater intent, with Oisin Duffy forcing Billy Crellin into a save just 20 seconds after the restart.

Lowry then lifted an effort onto the roof of the net before the experienced midfielder blazed over from Leon Boyd’s cross.

Stewart was introduced from the bench and made an immediate impact, glancing Ryan Cooney’s corner beyond Gallagher to give Glentoran the lead in the 61st minute.

The hosts doubled their advantage just two minutes later when Hoban arrived at the back post to head home Malone’s cross and put the result beyond doubt.

Glentoran 2–0 Limavady United

Starting XI: Crellin, Cooney, Kane, Rossi, Thomson, Clarke, McEneff, Hoban, Singleton, Malone, Jenkins.

Substitutes: Watt, Kelly, Stewart, Gallagher, Larmour, Weatherup, Faloona.