Declan Devine, the manager of Glentoran, expressed that his team “truly earned” victory in their inaugural Boxing Day ‘Big Two’ derby at Windsor Park.
Joe Thomson clinched the win for the east Belfast side with an impressive goal in the 29th minute.
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The Glens have now achieved consecutive victories in the league after a prior stretch of five games without a win.
“I couldn’t be happier. I’m thrilled for our players who make significant sacrifices, especially during Christmas, and I’m glad for their families,” Devine told BBC Sport NI.
“I’m also pleased for our owner; he’s a fantastic person to work for. However, the most important thing is to send our incredible away supporters home happy so they can enjoy their Christmas.”
“Despite facing a challenging few weeks, they have continued to support the team. When I first arrived at the club, unity was essential, and today everyone leaves feeling positive.”
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“This was a crucial win, and rightly so, we deserved it.”
Thomson broke the deadlock after being given space in midfield, allowing him to drive forward and find the top corner with a superb finish.
This goal marks the midfielder’s first of the season, with Devine calling the strike “simply sensational.”
“Thomson’s performance has been inconsistent since he joined us, but we brought him in to score goals, and what a fantastic goal it was,” Devine remarked.
“The buildup leading to the goal—from one side of the pitch to the other, followed by the layoff and strike—was remarkable.”
“We asked the players to step up and become heroes today, and Joe truly deserves all the credit he gets.”