The phone call came from Michael O'Neill, and Conor McMenamin knew he was coming home. After three seasons in Scotland, the Northern Ireland winger is back in a Glentoran shirt in Belfast — and he says he's got that spark back. "When I was in Scotland, I got a taste for winning trophies, and it was an unbelievable experience as a player, and this club deserves to win trophies," he said.
McMenamin left the Glens for Scottish Premiership side St Mirren in 2023, where he made 64 appearances. But the moment that changed everything came in the 2025-26 League Cup final, when St Mirren stunned Celtic to lift the trophy. That taste of silverware, he says, is exactly what he wants to bring back to his boyhood club.
"I'm here for a long time and, you know, I'm here to play well and I'm here to win games for Glentoran and I am excited for that," he said. "We have to be able to try and bring the league back here. That's what a big club should do and a big club should be ambitious to win trophies and I hope I can help fulfil that ambition."
The move matters beyond trophies. McMenamin has won 14 caps for Northern Ireland but hasn't pulled on the green and white shirt since June 2024. He's hopeful that rediscovering his best form in familiar surroundings might revive his international ambitions. And he's already talked it through with O'Neill.
"I actually spoke to Michael about the move," he said. "That is something as a player that I'll never close the door on. It's the best memories of my career. I now need to do well for Glentoran before any of that happens. So, I'll just look forward and do well for Glentoran and hopefully Michael will ring my phone again."
For Glentoran, a club with a proud history in Northern Irish football, McMenamin's return is a statement of intent. He brings pace, creativity and, crucially, the hard-earned knowledge of what it takes to win at the highest domestic level. His message to supporters is simple: he's here to play well, to win games, and to help a big club act like one.
The journey ahead won't be easy. The Northern Irish league is competitive, and the Glens will need more than one familiar face to climb to the top. But McMenamin isn't just back for a sentimental farewell — he's back with a medal in his pocket, a phone number on speed dial, and a clear picture of what success looks like. The spark, it seems, is well and truly lit.