Glentoran season preview

2024-25 League position: 3rd

Manager: Declan Devine

Opening fixtures: Portadown (A) - 9 August; Bangor (H) - 16 August; Glenavon (H) - 19 August; Crusaders (A) - 23 August; Carrick Rangers (H) - 30 August

For Glentoran, the 2024-25 season yielded joy and pain. In winning the County Antrim Shield, they pocketed their first silverware in five years, but failed to add another trophy when they lost the BetMcLean Cup final to Cliftonville.

Their Irish Cup campaign also ended in humbling fashion with defeat by Bangor, while they were knocked out of the European play-offs by Cliftonville.

Finishing 22 points behind Linfield in the league, however, encouraged the club to act decisively in the transfer market. Jordan Stewart has returned to the Oval, a decade on from leaving for Swindon, while Daniel Larmour has followed him to the Glens from Crusaders.

And in 34-year-old Pat Hoban, Glentoran have added a proven goalscorer who Devine labelled a "major coup".

As ever, Devine will be tasked with getting a good tune out of his new players to keep on the right side of an expectant fanbase.

2025-26 signings so far: Liam Burt (unattached), Jordan Stewart (Crusaders), Pat Hoban (Derry City), Daniel Larmour (Crusaders), Peter Urminsky (St Mirren, loan), Ryan Cooney (Crewe Alexandra).

2025-26 departures so far: Fuad Sule (Persis Solo), Kodi Lyons-Foster (Coleraine), Finley Thorndike (Crusaders), Wassim Aouachria (unattached), Jay Donnelly (Newington), Niall McGinn (Peterhead), Patrick McClean (Sligo Rovers), Daniel Gyollai (Kolorcity Kazincbarcika), Theo McToal (Ballyclare Comrades), Harry Murphy (Glenavon)