Declan Devine feels European performance 'sets the marker down' for Glentoran
Declan Devine feels Glentoran’s performance during their 2-1 Conference League first qualifying round first-leg defeat to RFS “sets the marker down” for the rest of this season – and maintains belief his side can turn their European tie around.
Former Bournemouth defender Zeno Ibsen Rossi put The Oval outfit ahead just a matter of hours after his arrival was officially confirmed, but Latvian international midfielder Martins Kigurs struck either side of half-time.
It means RFS, who have successfully qualified for both the Europa League and Conference League in recent years, take a one-goal advantage back to Riga for next week’s reverse fixture.
Thursday night marked Glentoran’s first European outing in three years with Devine’s men handed one of the toughest possible draws against a side currently sitting top of Latvia’s top flight.
RFS are familiar to Irish League fans having defeated both Linfield and Larne on the continental stage – they beat the Inver Reds 4-0 in their last visit to Northern Ireland in 2024.
Devine was left delighted with his side’s performance in what was their first competitive match of the season, and insists the tie isn’t over.
"I thought we were magnificent,” Devine told the club’s media channel. “Zeno Rossi, what a performance on his debut, getting a goal and performing defensively the way he did, he was the only player we have that has 90 minutes under their belt since the last week of April.
"For the players to play at the levels they did against a side like that, who probably have a budget of six or seven times ours and are 24 games into their season, sitting top of the Latvian league, I thought we were magnificent.
"I thought our game plan in terms of having to sit off and hit them on the counter, and when the game opened up and evolved we have a right good go at the end.
"The boys are disappointed in there because RFS were on their knees at the end of the game, I thought we looked fitter, sharper, hungrier.
"If we had have won this tie tonight 2-1, it still would have been half-time, and we should take huge confidence out of it. Hopefully we can get through the round."
Glentoran are looking to compete for domestic silverware success this season with the ultimate aim of ending the club’s 18-year wait for Gibson Cup glory.
They face an uphill task against a team already 22 matches through their league campaign, but Devine insists the Glens have set the standards for the season ahead.
"They look like a basketball team they're that tall, I've never had to set up against four or five players who are six foot five, six foot six, six foot eight nearly,” he added. “They were a huge threat from set-pieces, but so were we.
"I thought our attitude and application, we spoke before the game about representing our fans on the European stage and each and every man gave absolutely everything.
"If we want to be successful, those are the levels we have to bring every week. It sets the marker down that we shouldn't fear anything, we should go after that performance in every game.”