MANAGER'S VIEW: 'It's been coming' - Declan Devine celebrates team ethic as individuals shine in seven-goal Glentoran win

Carrick had Reece Glendinning sent off inside the opening half-hour period which featured the opening two goals for Hoban, with Liam Burt closing out the Glentoran scoring.

Here’s the verdict of Glentoran manager Declan Devine:

OVERALL PERFORMANCE...

"I think it's been coming...from the start of the season we've been threatening to score a few goals in a lot of games.

"We've been wasteful in front of goal on numerous occasions but today I thought, even when it was 11 v 11, a couple of goals up I felt there was more...we were really dominant in our play.

"We were aggressive in our play and I thought our system today really worked. "Pat (Hoban) will obviously get the headlines - he scored six goals in a 50-minute game really for him, it was something special.

"But Ryan Cooney was the first to tell me that he had six assists and that, to be fair to him, was incredible as well.

"Credit to the lads, I felt after the Larne game (1-0 loss, December 12) we were hard done by.

"Now a four-game winning streak, especially in the games that we’ve had - good Coleraine team, good Larne team, good Portadown team and a really difficult venue here in Carrick.

"That's testimony to the players and the commitment and effort that they put on over the Christmas period to come away with the 12 points.

"We made sacrifices over Christmas when a lot of people were partying and having a good time.

"We were in a lot, we prepared, we recovered, our attitude to getting the three points was key for us.

"Even today we never looked past the difficult conditions, difficult pitch...tough team Carrick, they took two points off us at home this season (1-1 draw, August 30) and it was important that we got those points back.

"Really delighted for the players and especially for their families as well because they made big commitments over Christmas. "It gives us a really good platform to build for the start of 2026."

SIX-GOAL PAT HOBAN... "Not surprised one bit...you give him the ammunition, you give him the service, he'll score goals.

"It's not just his goal-scoring, it's what he brings on a daily basis. "People don't see the standards he sets...he's working with ‘JJ’ (Jordan Jenkins), he's working with (Nathaniel) Ferris, he's working with the forward players, he's helping all the young players at the club. "He's disciplined in terms of sacrifices to be successful.

"He's been the most successful person at our club at the moment...the levels that he's played at - Champions League groups, Top Goalscorer, Player of the Year.

"He's just an outstanding individual and we're very fortunate to have him.

"He'll be the first to admit it's down to the service but at the same time there's more to come from him too, I know that.

"If we can keep him sharp, keep him fit, he can be a really good asset to the Irish League, never mind Glentoran. "We knew it's been a hell of a long time since a Glentoran player scored six goals...we challenged him at half-time.

"We were sitting on four, going back to 1977 I think was the (Glentoran) one before that (so) we challenged Pat...to not just accept that and to go out and score the two that he scored (in the second half), the area that he scores them from...it's just a predator instinct. "His headers and all the rest, his link-up play...second-to-none today.

"He's a fox in the box...his movement and his ability to play in the blind side is fantastic. "His reading of where the ball is going to go, his knowledge of how to use his body well...he brings that in buckets.

"Honestly, even after today, our fans will see a lot more of him in the years to come. "He's somebody I love coming in every day because he challenges you as well, I have to be on my toes to keep raising the standards that he wants.

"As I say, his record speaks for itself (but) we want him to set new records here now and to help us push on to another level."