When Connolly joined Glentoran at the start of the 2024/25 season, he arrived off the back of an intense first half of the campaign with Bohemians in the League of Ireland before going straight into pre-season in East Belfast. It proved to be a long and demanding year and the winger believes supporters only saw glimpses of his true quality during that time.
Determined to put that right, the former Bohemians, Morecambe, Northampton Town and St Mirren player has spent the summer and opening weeks of the campaign working behind the scenes to ensure he returned in peak condition and ready to make an immediate impact when the opportunity came.
Connolly said: “Last season was a tough one physically and mentally. I’d already played half a season with Bohs and went straight into pre-season here. I don’t think the fans got to see the real me. They only saw flashes of what I can do and this year I’m determined to make sure they see the best version of me.
“I wanted to hit the ground running and I was pleased with how I performed in those first two games, but I know there’s still more to come. Being back out there and hearing the crowd at the BetMcLean Oval is what I’ve missed the most. Playing matches is what every player wants to do and I’ve been counting down the days to get back to doing exactly that. I want to give the supporters the best version of me and repay the faith they’ve shown from day one.”
Glentoran head into Saturday’s clash on the back of a composed 2–0 win over Ballymena United with goals from Jordan Jenkins and Pat Hoban preserving their unbeaten home record and keeping Declan Devine’s side firmly in the mix at the top end of the table.
This weekend’s trip to Seaview promises to be another stern test, despite the Glens’ impressive 2–0 victory there earlier in the season. Devine’s side produced a dominant derby performance on the Shore Road in late August, with first-half goals from Jordan Jenkins and Josh Kelly securing a commanding win over Crusaders.
Dylan added: “We’ve made a really positive start to the season. Yes, we’ve had a couple of disappointing results, but the way we responded against Ballymena showed the character and quality in this squad. We didn’t panic, we trusted the way we play and we delivered a professional performance to get back to winning ways.
“Going to Seaview is always a massive challenge. It’s a tight pitch, Crusaders are a physical side and they know how to make it a difficult afternoon for anyone who goes there. We went there earlier in the season and put in a really strong performance, but we know it will be a different test this time. They’ll be up for it and so will we.
“I didn’t play in the last meeting between the two sides, so I’m really looking forward to hopefully being involved this time. I just want to keep getting minutes on the pitch and contributing to the team. We know it’s going to take a big performance and we’re ready for that challenge.”
For Glentoran supporters planning to attend Saturday afternoon’s Sports Direct Premiership fixture against crusaders at Seaview, match tickets are available to purchase online at: https://www.crusadersfootballclub.com/tickets
