McMenamin joins Glens two months after Coleraine move

McMenamin transfers from Coleraine to Glentoran after just two months

Northern Ireland footballer Conor McMenamin has unexpectedly moved from Coleraine to Glentoran two months after signing with the Bannsiders. As part of the transfer, Joe Thomson will join Coleraine from Glentoran. McMenamin, a winger, signed for Coleraine on June 23rd as he returned to the Irish Premiership after a three-year stint in Scotland's SPL with St Mirren.

Despite a strong start, the 31-year-old, who has dealt with several injuries over the past two seasons, did not appear in a match during his short time at Coleraine.

Glentoran's signing of McMenamin, listed as a crucial player in Ruaidhri Higgins' impressive squad alongside Matthew Shevlin, Ben Doherty, and Joel Cooper, is unexpected. The move happens quickly, McMenamin remarks, but he is thrilled to return to Glentoran. This is McMenamin's third spell at the Oval; he previously played there from 2015-16 and again from 2021-2023, which led to his move to Scotland.

He earned his first 14 Northern Ireland caps in 2022 while at Glentoran and scored against San Marino the following year. However, he has not featured under manager Michael O'Neill since a brief appearance in a 5-1 loss to Spain in June 2024.

McMenamin celebrates his time at Glentoran, stating, "I played some of the best football of my career here, earned my first Northern Ireland call-up and secured a move to Scotland." He acknowledges that his three years with St Mirren were significant, and he is optimistic about his future at the club. Coleraine currently sit at the top of the Irish Premiership with three wins and a draw from four matches, while Glentoran is sixth with two wins and two defeats in their early campaign.