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Gareth Fullerton

Glentoran ace Conor McMenamin hails Kenny Bruce as "great man" as he opens up on friendship

Conor McMenamin has hailed Kenny Bruce as a "great man" and revealed the Larne owner regularly sends him well-wishing text messages.

McMenamin came close to joining Larne last year but opted for an eleventh hour move to Glentoran.

The 26-year-old says it was Cliftonville boss Paddy McLaughlin who advised him to speak with Mick McDermott after he had previously ignored the Glens manager's calls.

McMenamin told BBC Sportsound: "It was practically done to Larne. It has been well documented and everyone knows that.

"I spoke to Kenny (Bruce), Tiernan (Lynch) and Seamus (Lynch) and had agreed to sign for them. It was all done.

"To be fair Mick (McDermott) and Windy (Paul Millar) kept trying to ring me, but I had my mind up to join Larne.

"It was Cliftonville manager Paddy McLaughlin who said, 'look, will you just answer the phone to them and give them a chance?'.

"And I did.

"To be fair, I am glad Paddy said that to me. I have loved my time here and get on really well with Mick and Windy."

McMenamin admits there was some "awkwardness" with Larne's owner and management team in the aftermath of his move to Glentoran.

But he says Inver Park chief Bruce showed no lingering ill-feeling and has regularly kept in touch with the Glens ace.

"I felt really bad for Tiernan, Seamus and Kenny because they put in so much work to get me that month," McMenamin added.

"At the time there was that awkwardness when you met them. But to be fair Kenny has always texted me.

"When I was going to sign for Larne I always said getting a house for my wee girl was always the most important thing. And when I got one recently he said congratulations on getting the house.

"He texted me the other day, and he has wished me a happy new year and things like that.

"We get on really well. It is a sign of the man he is. He texts me quite regularly if I have done well to say well done and keep it going."

Glentoran lost out to Larne in the Premiership last night, with Lynch's side earning a 2-1 win at Inver Park to dent the East Belfast side's title ambitions.

McMenamin added: "I shook Tiernan's hand last night and said well done. It is a game of football at the end of the day.

"I went to Glentoran because I thought it was the best decision for me, and hopefully it turns out that well."

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