'It's not an excuse': Paddy McCourt highlights what has 'hurt us and we've suffered' after Glentoran defeat

Sean Graham and Matty Lusty put the hosts two goals ahead before Aaron McEneff’s late penalty gave the Glens a lifeline.

However, the defending champions were able to see out the final moments to secure maximum points.

With Declan Devine missing the match due to illness, Paddy McCourt and Tim McCann looked after matchday matters.

Here’s what McCourt had to say after the game:

THOUGHTS ON THAT?

"Disappointing overall, really disappointing.

"I thought the first half was a game of very few chances, we didn't really test them apart from Ben's (Gallagher) header.

"They had a couple of half chances but at half-time we weren't overly disappointed, we probably thought we could have done better when we turned the ball over at times.

"But second half we gave away two really, really poor goals and that's really disappointing.

"Apart from the last seven or eight minutes we didn't threaten their goal anywhere near how often we should have done. So, it’s disappointing.”

MANNER OF GOALS CONCEDED MOST DISAPPOINTING THING?

"It really is.

"You come here and you play against good players, anybody in that front four or front six can hurt you.

"But the way we gifted them the goals was really disappointing.

"If someone turns and scores a worldie from 25 yards or (Matt) Ridley and (Dan) Bent are a real threat from set pieces, they can hurt you that way too.

"But to gift them two real soft goals was really disappointing.”

PENALTY WAS LIFELINE BUT LEFT IT TOO LATE?

“We went 4-4-2, matched them up with probably 15 minutes to go.

"Ross Clarke's struggling with an injury and to be fair he put himself forward but we could never use him for more than 15-20 minutes.

"So, we had a bit of a go and got the penalty, just couldn't really build on that momentum for the last three or four minutes.

"In fairness to Larne, they stopped the game a wee bit with a couple of throw-ins and a couple of fouls.

"We couldn't really get up into their final third to try and create that chance to try and get a point, so, disappointing in that respect too.”

HOPING TO GET SOME PLAYERS BACK AND TURN THESE RESULTS?

"Jack Malone is carrying a niggle, Pat's (Hoban) hopefully not too far away, Zeno Rossi, Greg Sloggett, Jarlath O'Rourke, all big players.

"It's been tough. It's not an excuse, you build a squad and players get a chance but when you have so many of your big players missing at once, it has hurt us and we've suffered.

"So, the sooner we get them back, the better.”

CONFIDENT YOU CAN TURN THIS AROUND AFTER TOUGH START?

"Of course.

"Firstly, we need to stop giving away poor goals. We're giving away really poor goals at the minute which is really disappointing.

"It's no individual in particular, it's as a unit, as a team, we're conceding poor goals.

"We need to address that first and foremost and then try and get some players back in the next few weeks and start picking up results.”