Paul Owens clear 'we can't just come to these occasions and freeze' amid call for Limavady United belief

Two goals in as many second half minutes – Jordan Stewart got the opener before Pat Hoban struck – helped set Declan Devine’s men on track for victory.

Here’s what Limavady manager Paul Owens had to say after his club’s first top flight fixture in almost 20 years:

THOUGHTS ON THAT?

"I’m disappointed we've lost a game of football but I've no real issues with the result, I think Glentoran probably deserved it.

"But the disappointing thing for me was we came in at 0-0 at half-time and I just really wasn't happy with what I'd seen – it just lacked that wee bit of personality we've had in the side for the last couple of years.

"We just weren't brave enough to make any passes and the main disappointment was we came out from 45 to 59 (minutes) and I thought we were the better team.

"We were on the front foot and we started to build it up a little bit better.

"Phily (Lowry) had a real massive chance, which he has made a career out of scoring, that obviously would have made it a different game.

"Two minutes later the ball was in our net from a set-piece, which is a real disappointing thing from a management point of view.

"The second goal was a good bit of quality, came a couple of minutes after, and probably killed the game as a contest.”

THAT SPELL SHOWS THE RUTHLESS NATURE OF THE PREMIERSHIP?

"It does and I think I had a real jump at it (Lowry’s chance) because I had a great view of it and I would have put my house on it.

"I was just really encouraged with the start and the message that we said at half-time, I think the belief started to grow in the group, but to concede from a set-play is really disappointing.

"These full-time teams have a lot more time to prepare for these things than us but there are positives to take.

"I thought the younger players, especially in the top-end of the pitch all making their Premiership debut, done really well.

"We fought right to the end and created a couple of wee openings, wee half openings, but I have no issues with the result.

"We've had a tough pre-season. I just told the players, ‘it's not going to be like that every week, it's not the full-time teams every week’.

"We look forward to getting into the other batch of teams and hopefully have a little bit more territory, a little bit more ball, and show the qualities that we have going forward.”

WERE YOU HAPPY DEFENSIVELY WITH THE FIRST HOUR?

"We defended our box really well yes, but you don't want to defend your box as often as we did.

"I just would have liked us to have a wee bit more courage – the biggest thing I'm trying to batter into the side is belief.

"We came out of the Championship with record points and the last three years, the teams that came out have done really well.

"There has to be a belief here that we can't just come to these occasions and freeze and not take responsibility and not want the ball.

"I want my team to play a certain way and if it's good enough to stay in this league, it will be, but I've no interest in watching my side just panic and kick a ball away, which we probably did in the first half.

"There’s big encouragement from 45 to 59 and obviously a long way to go as well.”