James Singleton says Glentoran are determined to deliver an immediate response to their first defeat of the season as the holders prepare to face Carrick Rangers in the ToalsBet.Com Senior Shield Quarter-Finals at Taylor’s Avenue on Tuesday 14th October (Kick-off 7.45pm).

Declan Devine’s side lifted the trophy last season after a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Larne at Seaview, ending a five-year wait for silverware, and are aiming to keep their title defence on track by booking a place in the semi-finals.

Saturday’s 3–1 defeat at Stangmore Park brought Glentoran’s unbeaten start to the season in all competitions to an end. Marcus Kane’s towering first-half header gave the Glens a deserved lead at the break.

However, the momentum of the match shifted dramatically on the hour mark when Jordan Jenkins was shown a second yellow card. Dungannon Swifts capitalised almost immediately to level the score before going on to secure all three points.

James Singleton says the players have addressed the setback quickly and are fully focused on putting the disappointment of Saturday firmly behind them as they return to cup action on Tuesday night.

James Singleton, said: “We weren’t happy with the manner of the defeat at Dungannon. I genuinely felt we were in control in the second half and pushing for that all-important second goal before the red card turned the game on its head. Once they equalised straight after, it became difficult to regain a foothold. It’s a tough one to take because we’ve set really high standards for ourselves this season.

“The manager was very clear with us after the game. He’s challenged us to regroup quickly and show our character to bounce back. As a group of players, we spoke about it immediately after the match and again over the weekend, and that’s exactly what we intend to do. We’ve had a strong start to the season and the focus now is on working even harder to make sure we get back to winning ways straight away.”

Singleton missed the final five months of last season after sustaining a serious knee injury in the Senior Shield Final against Larne. Following surgery and a demanding rehabilitation programme, he returned at the end of the campaign and has made a strong start to the 2025/26 season to re-establish himself as an integral part of Declan Devine’s starting eleven.

Singleton, said: “That injury in the Shield Final was incredibly bittersweet. To win a trophy with the team was a brilliant moment, but personally it was hard to take because of the injury. Then, to find out a couple of days after lifting the Shield that I needed surgery was tough. I felt I was playing some of my best football at the time, so to be ruled out for the rest of the season was devastating.

“I barely took a break over the summer because I wanted to come back stronger. The rehab was intense with a lot of early mornings, gym work and time away from the pitch, but I was determined to give myself the best possible chance to hit the ground running this season. To be back fully fit and part of the starting eleven again means everything to me.

“At a club like this, you can never take your place for granted. The midfield is full of quality and that competition pushes me to be at my very best. I’m grateful to be back out there this season, fighting for my spot and I just want to play my part in helping this club achieve something special.”

Tuesday’s opponents, Carrick Rangers, have enjoyed a solid start to the season under Stephen Baxter with four wins and four defeats. They bounced back from a BetMcLean Cup exit away with a 1–0 victory over 10-man Portadown at Taylor’s Avenue on Saturday.

The Glens were held to a 1–1 draw by Carrick in late August at the BetMcLean Oval, a match in which they had to come from behind to earn a point. Paul Heatley opened the scoring for Carrick before Jordan Stewart equalised on the stroke of half-time.

James concluded: “Carrick are always a really tough side to play against and Taylor’s Avenue is never an easy place to go. They made it difficult for us at the BetMcLean Oval earlier in the season and we know we’ll need to be at our very best if we want to book our place in the semi-finals.

“Carrick are a tough, experienced side. We’ll need to fight for everything, win our individual battles and be clinical when chances come our way. We’re hungry for trophies and that means winning games like this.

“This competition means a lot to us. Lifting the Shield last year was a special moment, as you could see what it meant to the supporters, and we want to give ourselves a chance to do that again.

“The fans have been brilliant all year and I’ve no doubt they’ll make the short journey in their numbers to get behind us. Their support means a lot to the players and we’ll be doing everything we can to give them a performance and a result they can be proud of.”

For Glentoran supporters planning to attend Tuesday night’s County Antrim Senior Shield Quarter-Final tie with Carrick Rangers at Taylor Avenue, tickets can be purchased via the links below: https://www.carrickrangers.co.uk/tickets.aspx