Second half goals seal opening day win for Glentoran

Irish Premiership

Glentoran 2 – 0 Limavady United FT

Second-half goals from Jordan Stewart and Pat Hoban made sure Glentoran kicked off the new Irish Premiership season with a win, but they were made to work all the way by new boys Limavady United.

It took until after the hour-mark for Glentoran to find the breakthrough with substitute Jordan Stewart nodding home only moments after coming off the bench.

Just two minutes later, last season’s top scorer Pat Hoban made the points safe when he headed home Jack Malone’s cross.

Against opposition making their first top-flight appearance since 2008, the hosts made a bright start with Marty Gallagher called into action inside two minutes to deal with new signing Zeno Rossi’s effort from outside the box after Aaron McEneff’s initial cross had been headed clear.

Joe Thomson spurned a great opportunity five minutes later as he whistled a low drive past the post following good work by Ross Clarke to tee him up.

The Roesiders had Tiarnan Boorman to thank for keeping the score goalless on 16 minutes as the defender got back to hack Hoban’s bundled effort off the line from another Clarke delivery.

The Glens continued to knock at the door towards the half-hour mark with Malone firing narrowly over from distance before James Singleton drilled another ball across the face of the Limavady goal that was just begging to be touched home.

Approaching the break, Declan Devine’s side were denied again as Gallagher reacted well to tip Thomson’s long-range effort over the bar.

Only 20 seconds into the second half Limavady showed their first attacking intent as Oisin Duffy found space in the box, but his shot from the angle was pushed away by Billy Crellin in the home goal.

Minutes later Glentoran were calling for a penalty as Clarke went down in the box after being crowded out by Boorman and Rodney Brown but referee Michael McKenna deemed it was the Glens winger who had committed the foul.

The Roesiders were growing in belief as Philip Lowry almost snuck in to grab a trademark goal on 53 minutes but his dinked effort looped on to the roof of the net.

The former Linfield man had an even better chance three minutes later after Leon Boyd had picked him out in front of goal, but Lowry uncharacteristically blazed over from 10 yards.

Devine then looked to his bench with Stewart coming on to replace Jordan Jenkins and he made an immediate impact, glancing home Ryan Cooney’s corner on 61 minutes.

That was the boost Glentoran needed as just two minutes later Pat Hoban got on the end of Malone’s cross to double their advantage and seal the opening day win.

What the managers said

Glentoran manager Declan Devine: “Full credit to Limavady, they dug in and made it difficult for us.

“A win’s a win and a clean sheet [too]. At times some of our play was really good.

“For the first competitive league game of the season it was mission accomplished and we’ll get back in on Monday and keep working hard.

“If you had have offered me a 2-0 win at the start of the game, I’d have bitten your hand off.”