Glenavon boss Gary Hamilton described Conor McMenamin as "the best player in the league" after the winger's hat-trick earned Glentoran a big win at Mourneview Park.
The Glens came from behind twice to record a crucial 4-2 win to return to the top of the Irish Premiership table.
They were helped on their way by McMenamin's treble, with leading goalscorer Jay Donnelly also on target in Lurgan.
Hamilton was frustrated after Glenavon conceded the lead twice, but was quick to credit McMenamin's impact in the six-goal game.
The Glenavon boss told the BBC: "We're obviously very disappointed - I thought we deserved more out of the game but in life you don't always get what you deserve.
"We were the dominant team in the second half but their second and third goals were really poor while in Conor McMenamin they have the best player in the league at this time."
McMenamin was quick to deflect any personal recognition after Saturday's win, praising Glentoran's collective effort in bagging maximum reward against a spirited Glenavon side.
"We knew it was going to be tough and to come back shows the character of this side," McMenamin said.
"We were ruthless, taking our four best chances. The boys have been brilliant - our strikeforce is unreal and up there with the best in the league."
Meanwhile, Glentoran manager Mick McDermott believes his players passed another "test of character" on Saturday.
The win keeps the Glens one point clear of Cliftonville, with Linfield - whose game was postponed on Friday night - a further two points behind in third.
McDermott said: "They were better than us in the first half. I knew at half-time with the wind change we had to get at them.
"Their second goal was a poor one to give way. To come back and finish 4-2 - this was a test of character. I said that to the boys before the game.
"We know we have a good team - we were depleted today, down five-six players through Covid and suspensions.
"So we knew this was going to be a test of character and the boys came up trumps in the second half."
