Glentoran coach Tim McCann has hailed the impact of star striker Pat Hoban since joining The Oval outfit – insisting he brings far more to the table than just goals.

Hoban enters Sunday’s BetMcLean Cup showpiece decider against Linfield as the Irish League’s top goalscorer across all competitions, netting 28 times in 31 appearances, including a memorable six in the Glens’ 7-0 Premiership win over Carrick Rangers in January.

The 34-year-old had largely been deemed surplus to requirements at Derry City despite ending the 2024 Premier Division campaign as the League of Ireland’s most prolific marksman for the fourth time of his career, making just eight appearances during the 2025 season before joining Glentoran.

Hoban has been a revelation in East Belfast and could yet prove the difference maker in the club’s silverware hunt this term.

placeholder image — Glentoran coach Tim McCann. (Photo by Kirth Ferris/Pacemaker Press)

Not only did Hoban strike in Glentoran’s semi-final triumph over Coleraine to set up a first ‘Big Two’ cup final showdown in 16 years, but he has also contributed 23 league goals as Declan Devine’s men look to end the club’s 17-year Gibson Cup wait.

Hoban will turn 35 this summer but is currently enjoying the second-best season of his career in terms of league goals – he netted a whopping 29 for Dundalk in their 2018 title-winning run.

While attention naturally drifts to the sheer weight of goals, McCann insists Hoban has contributed significantly in other ways, helping instil a real sense of professionalism around the club.

"If you take his cup goals into account as well, he must be up to near 30...he ‘s having a fantastic season,” said McCann. “Decky knew what he was signing and what he was going to get.

"I don't know when the last time a Glentoran player scored 30 goals in a season was...he has been fantastic for us.

"It's not only his goals, it's his leadership, it's his professionalism, it's his demanding of other players in the changing room and training.

"Boys are looking after themselves in terms of what they're going to eat, what they're drinking, making sure that everybody's switched on, and he drives that.

"He's a guy that looks after himself and you can see that in his physicality.

"Players nowadays can play until 38 or 39 if they look after themselves, and when you look at Pat, I think he has loads of years left in him.

"Hopefully we're getting the best of him at the right time.

"His hold up play as well, you know, it all sticks with him. If you watch him playing, he chases defenders down….sometimes he runs around like a 23-year-old, which is great for us.”

Glentoran haven’t collected a League Cup crown since 2010 – they defeated Coleraine on penalties – and were beaten finalists last term, losing out to Cliftonville in extra-time at Windsor Park.

The BetMcLean Cup final has turned into one of the biggest days on the Irish League calendar and has an added bonus this season with the winner progressing directly to a European play-off final if required.

It’s expected to be a sell-out, and having learnt lessons from last term’s heart-breaking defeat, McCann is relishing another shot at glory.

"It's a massive occasion,” he added. “We were fortunate enough to play in it last year...the supporters in the street as we were leaving The Oval on the bus, those are memories that you never forget.

"The result didn't go our way, but I think over 14,000 fans were at the game, it was a packed stadium, it was a really, really good spectacle.

"To be part of that day, I think is something that pushes you on as well to get to this stage, to get to the final.

"It feels like – and it is – a big competition, it feels like an Irish Cup final – that's what it feels like.

"When you're doing team talks and you're in the quarter-final or in the semi-final, you just say, listen, ‘remember last year, remember the atmosphere’...you want your families enjoying it too, you want it to be a special day.”

Glentoran have enjoyed significant success against Linfield in recent seasons since Devine’s appointment – they defeated the Blues in both the BetMcLean Cup and Irish Cup last term alongside two Premiership victories.

Devine’s side also ran out victors at Windsor Park on Boxing Day before Linfield struck back with a narrow 1-0 triumph last month and McCann is well aware of the importance of producing for their loyal supporters on the biggest stage.

"It's incredible (that it has been so long),” he said. “It's great for the fans, it's a great spectacle with two big teams going head-to-head in a cup final.

"That's what everybody wants to see, that's what both sets of fans want to see, and hopefully they will fill the stadium...they could probably fill the stadium quite easily twice over. We’re really looking forward to it.”