Gavin Peers has dedicated Glentoran's brilliant Big Two win to club captain Marcus Kane.
The Glens moved up to fourth in the Danske Bank Premiership with a 3-0 success at the Oval on Boxing Day.
Hrvoje Plum bagged a double - including a second-half penalty - after Elvio van Overbeek's cheeky back-heeled finish opened the scoring.
Both sets of players and fans stopped to applaud in the third minute of today's match, a mark of respect to Glentoran defender Kane following the recent loss of his baby son Harrie.
"I thought we did very well," Peers told the BBC.
"First of all, that win was for Moko (Kane). He asked us to leave everything out there, and I thought everyone did that to a man.
"So that was for him and his family.
"Rivalry goes out the window when it comes to something like this. It was such tragic news and puts everything in perspective."
Today's win moves Glentoran to within three points of new league leaders Cliftonville.
Asked if Mick McDermott's side were title contenders, Peers said: "Are we? I don't know where we are in the table. I just look at the next game.
"The gaffer has come in and put a decent squad together.
"It has taken us a few games to click but I think we have shown we can beat anyone now. We have beaten Cliftonville and started keeping clean sheets like today.
"We are holding our own."
Peers added: "It is tough because it is okay getting up for the big games, but we scored late in the game against Carrick which was a scrappy game.
"We can just go out and perform against every team.
"We are enjoying coming into work. I think I am playing as well as anyone and I am enjoying playing football again.
"That's all that matters."
Next up for the Glens is Ballymena United on Saturday.
"We can only concentrate on that now and perform as best we can," Peers added.
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