Northern Ireland international winger Conor McMenamin has opened up about his brief and unsuccessful spell with Coleraine FC. The 31-year-old returned to former club Glentoran just two months after joining the Bannsiders in June, citing personal reasons for the abrupt departure.
McMenamin made only three substitute appearances for Coleraine without starting a single game during his short tenure. He told BBC Sport NI this week that the move "was not meant to be" primarily due to the distance from his family in Downpatrick and his partner being from Scotland. "I could not commit to living in Coleraine," he explained, while stressing he has "no bad things to say about the club" and that it was "nobody's fault."
Why did the Coleraine move fail?
Conor McMenamin's transfer to Coleraine FC from Scottish Premiership side St Mirren appeared a significant coup when announced in June. He signed a long-term deal with the Irish Premiership club. However, the winger never settled, with geographical and family pressures making the switch unworkable. "Before I went to Coleraine, Glentoran wasn't an option and, as soon as I found out that they were this time around, I said to my agent to get it done quick," McMenamin said in the interview published two days ago.
The player's history made the swift return to The Oval a natural solution. McMenamin had previously scored 39 goals in 80 appearances for Glentoran before his 2023 move to St Mirren. In Scotland, he made 64 appearances and was part of the side that beat Celtic in the 2025-26 League Cup final, gaining valuable experience of winning silverware.
What are McMenamin's ambitions now?
Back at Glentoran, Conor McMenamin says he has rediscovered his motivation. "I've got that spark back, I'm happy to be here, and I can't wait to get going," he stated. The winger emphasized his long-term commitment, saying he is "here for a long time" and wants to win games and trophies. He believes Glentoran deserves silverware and should be ambitious, hoping to bring his cup-winning experience from St Mirren to the east Belfast club.
His return comes as Glentoran sit top of the Irish Premiership. They have taken 10 points from their first four games, with three wins and a draw giving them a one-point lead over Carrick Rangers. Their strong start is built on a solid defence, having conceded just one goal while scoring eight. You can follow their progress in the standings.
What does this mean for his international future?
The 14-cap Northern Ireland international has not featured for his country since June 2024. McMenamin has spoken to manager Michael O'Neill about his club situation and acknowledges that performing well for Glentoran is the prerequisite for any recall. "I need to do well for Glentoran before any international recall," he admitted, focusing first on club form.
For Coleraine, the episode represents a missed opportunity to integrate a proven Premiership talent. The club must now look ahead without a player they had secured on a long-term contract just months ago. Their next challenge is an away fixture against seventh-placed Cliftonville FC on December 12th, a game you can find on our fixtures list. McMenamin, meanwhile, aims to play with a smile and freedom as he seeks to help his new-old club maintain their early season momentum, which currently shows a WWDW form pattern.
