Glentoran boss Declan Devine was delighted to see an improved “intensity” from his players as the east Belfast side grabbed a 2-1 win away to Portadown in the Sports Direct Premiership on Saturday, thanks to an injury-time winner from super-sub, Niall McGinn.
Jordan Jenkins had given the Glens the lead after only nine minutes, but the Ports grew into the game and looked to have salvaged a point when substitute Ryan Mayse scored an equaliser with just over 10 minutes remaining.
However, the Shamrock Park faithful were left gutted, when in the 93rd minute, McGinn was given the time to get a strike away from 25 yards.
The ball took a wicked deflection off the back of defender Lewis MacKinnon and looped over ex-Glens man Aaron McCarey in goal and into the net.
Devine was pleased to see a vast improvement in his team from the laboured defeat to Crusaders on the opening night of the campaign last week.
“Full credit to the players, the focus levels are good for this stage of the year, they’re putting a lot in behind the scenes and the crowd were magnificent and stayed behind the team,” said Devine.
“Portadown would have got a lot of confidence with the chances we missed, we literally missed four or five chances which could have put the game to bed.
“That is something we need to get better at, but I can’t fault the application of the players and honestly I felt we played a really good brand of football.”
With 13 senior players having left the Oval this summer, the recruitment campaign remains very much alive and Devine hopes to add more names to the roster before the end of August, however, he is also pleased with the input from the new recruits that have already joined up with the squad.
“Yeah, we are certainly hoping to bring a couple more in, I think we need it for the depth in one or two positions.” The Derry native said.
“But the new players need to fit our system so we won’t be rushing out to buy just anybody. We are also aware that there is a lot of competition for signatures at the minute, especially in the lower leagues in England, so it is not at all straightforward.
“Dylan Connolly was exceptional today, and I’m delighted for Jordan Jenkins who was in the Championship last year, I wanted him back at the football club because I think he belongs here, and I’m delighted to see him take his opportunity.” He continued.
“We have to be aware that we let a number of players out this year, we are very much a work in progress and there are going to be highs and lows.
“We want to win every game we are involved in. We are only together as a group for seven or eight weeks, we are completely trying to change the style of play, we want to entertain our fans and we want to fight for our fans.”
Ports manager Niall Currie, whilst disappointed at the result, was also full of praise for his newly promoted side’s effort on the day.
“We limited Glentoran to very little over the whole game. I’m very proud of the players, they were magnificent,” Currie said after the final whistle.
“As I have said to the players, small margins make a big difference, and I don’t think anyone could say we didn’t deserve a point from today, but that’s football.
“The biggest word we’ll use this season is resilience and we are going to have to be resilient.”
Glentoran now face a huge game with Coleraine at home on Tuesday, and on the same night Portadown must dust themselves down for a mid-Ulster derby with Loughgall.
