Soccer

Best is still to come from Conor McMenamin - Mick McDermott

Glentoran's Conor McMenamin is congratulated by team-mate Daniel Purkis after scoring against Dungannon Swifts at the Oval on Saturday Picture by Desmond Loughery/Pacemaker
Glentoran's Conor McMenamin is congratulated by team-mate Daniel Purkis after scoring against Dungannon Swifts at the Oval on Saturday Picture by Desmond Loughery/Pacemaker Glentoran's Conor McMenamin is congratulated by team-mate Daniel Purkis after scoring against Dungannon Swifts at the Oval on Saturday Picture by Desmond Loughery/Pacemaker

Danske Bank Premiership: Glentoran 3 Dungannon Swifts 1

GLENTORAN boss Mick McDermott says Irish League player of the month Conor McMenamin has yet to reach his full potential but that he is the best place to do it given the quality starring alongside him at the Oval.

McMenamin scored twice on Saturday to help the Glens overcome Dungannon Swifts in east Belfast and back into top spot in the Danske Bank Premiership table. The former Cliftonville man had been awarded player of the month for October after his five goals had helped propel Glentoran’s title challenge into the winter months, and he shows little sign of easing off in November.

McDermott’s men had top spot taken off them on Friday night as in-form Larne overran Crusaders 4-1, but they weren’t about to turn down the chance of a return to the summit on Saturday. Although Gerard Bruno had equalised for the Swifts with a stunning lob from the halfway line after a Jay Donnelly penalty conversion, McMenamin was on hand with a brace to ease Glentoran home.

Although McMenamin also missed a penalty in the game, his all-round performance yet again underlined the talent the Glens have at their disposal as they go in search of a first Irish League title since 2009.

“Conor’s definitely getting a lot of praise at the minute and he deserves it as he’s been a big player for us so far this season,” said McDermott.

“He has shown so far this season what he can give us going forward and in front of goal, but I still don’t think he’s reached the top of his game yet. Conor has played for the likes of Linfield and Warrenpoint and Cliftonville and has made an impact wherever he’s been, but that doesn’t mean he has reached his full potential.

“This is no disrespect to the teams he has played in before, but the players he has around him now can help him get to a new level. When you have players around you who play to your strengths, who have stacks of quality themselves, then that allows you to perform to your maximum. The players we have at this club and the manner in which we play will allow Conor to shine, to reach the absolute top of his talent.”

McDermott was himself named manager of the month last week after an October in which his side win four from four in the Danske Bank Premiership and progressed in both the County Antrim Shield and the League Cup, scoring 23 goals in the process. However, McDermott knows through bitter experience that nothing is won in the autumn.

“It’s way too soon to be talking about who will win what come May,” added the Glentoran boss.

“Even half-way through, two-thirds of the way through the season, it’s still too early to be putting on your money on champions because football can change all too quickly. We’ve been top before at the end of January and, before we knew it, a bad spell has done the damage for us, so we’ll not be getting carried away.

“We’re happy with where we’re at and it’s fine to be happy without ever being satisfied. Let’s keep going.”

Elsewhere on Saturday, Cliftonville let a two-goal lead slip in the final seven minutes against Glenavon at Solitude. The Reds had gone two in front through a brilliant Ronan Hale strike and a Joe Gormley effort and looked to be cruising to the three points. However, the Lurgan Blues stunned Soltiude late on as they dragged themselves level via a Josh Doyle flick and a Jonny Addis own goal. A miserable end to the game for Cliftonville was complete when Odhrán Casey was given his marching orders for a challenge on Peter Campbell.

Linfield won 3-0 at bottom of the table Portadown, while Coleraine registered a 1-0 win away to Carrick Rangers.