Glentoran welcomed Scottish Premiership club Kilmarnock to The Oval on Wednesday for a pre-season friendly designed to sharpen the squad ahead of their European campaign.
Head coach Declan Devine arranged the fixture against top-tier opposition to replicate the intensity of continental competition before next week's UEFA Conference League first qualifying round.
The Belfast side has already played warm-up matches against Caernarfon Town, The New Saints, and East Belfast, with another friendly scheduled against Dundela on Saturday.
Test Against Scottish Opposition
Kilmarnock, who finished tenth in the Scottish Premiership last season, brought a strong squad to Northern Ireland for their training camp.
Manager Neil McCann selected his first starting lineup of the 2026 pre-season for the match, using the trip to prepare for their Premier Sports Cup campaign starting July 14.
Glentoran defender Daniel Larmour highlighted the importance of facing a high-quality opponent at this stage of pre-season.
“They have been competitive games for us so far, but I think the Kilmarnock one will be a real test for us,” Larmour said.
“Kilmarnock obviously play at the highest level in Scotland and have plenty of good players throughout the squad so we know they will be a tough test for us.”
The defender noted that the coaching staff organized the fixture specifically to replicate the physical demands of European tournament football.
“But that’s key as we need to be pushed hard and get the most out of these games with that competitive game against RFS looming large,” he added.
European Return After Three Years
Glentoran is returning to European competition for the first time in three years, facing Latvian club RFS in the UEFA Conference League first qualifying round.
The first leg will be played at The Oval, with the return fixture in Riga one week later.
Larmour emphasized the importance of making the most of home advantage in the first leg.
“That’s so important as the first leg against RFS is only a week or so away and we want to hit the ground running to make sure we make the most out of our home advantage,” he said.
The defender acknowledged that RFS will be a tough opponent, having previously secured victories against fellow Irish League clubs Linfield and Larne.
“We know RFS will be a very tough test for us given their own record in European competition over the last few seasons,” Larmour said.
“So we are under no illusions that we are going to have to be at our best over the two legs to progress into the second round.”
Progressing through the qualifying rounds would bring substantial financial rewards alongside sporting prestige.
“As I said Europe is very important for this club given what it has achieved down the years, but as players we also know the financial benefits progressing through the qualifying rounds can bring,” Larmour said.
The squad is motivated by the return of meaningful competitive fixtures after a long off-season.
“It’s exciting and I can’t wait to be back into competitive action again.
As players that’s what you want as there’s nothing better than playing games which matter,” he said.
Building on Last Season's Progress
Glentoran finished third in the domestic standings last year behind champions Larne and runners-up Coleraine after a tight title race.
The team remained mathematical contenders until the penultimate matchday of the previous campaign.
“It was obviously disappointing to come up short in the race for the title in the end, but when you step back and look at the season as a whole there were a lot of positives to take from it,” Larmour said.
“That’s the closest the club has come in a long time and we have to take that as a real sign of progression.”
The defender believes targeted squad depth additions during the transfer window will sustain their upward trajectory.
“We have a good squad here and if we can add a couple more ahead of the new season then I don’t see any reasons why we can’t kick on again,” he said.
The squad plans to use the lessons from last season's narrow miss to fuel their upcoming campaign.
“With every disappointment you get in football the key thing is to learn from it and that is what we will certainly be doing,” Larmour said.
