League of Ireland Premiership: Pat Hoban scores six goals as Glentoran win as Linfield beat Bangor

The in-form Hoban opened the scoring for the Glens after just nine minutes.

Ryan Cooney sent a low cross from the right and Hoban touched down before firing a low shot past Scott Pengelly into the bottom corner of the net.

The pair then combined to score Hoban’s second goal just five minutes later, with Cooney curling a free-kick into the heart of the Carrick Rangers defense as the former Derry City man leapt past everyone to head home.

Hoban duly completed his hat-trick four minutes before half-time, this time taking advantage of further lapses in Carrick’s defending to sweep home from 12 yards after Cameron Palmer had given him the chance.

He wasn’t done from there because just before half-time he got on the end of another Kone free-kick at the near post and curled a stunning header beyond the far post.

Incredibly, the 34-year-old simply picked up where he left off at the start of the second half, scoring his fifth goal of the afternoon from another Kone corner kick in the 50th minute.

A minute later he scored his sixth goal with a stunning personal performance, clearing the last man to calmly slot the ball home at the back post after Kone’s fifth assist of the day.

The tally made him the first player since Portadown’s Gary Hamilton to score six goals in a League of Ireland Premier League match after he scored a hat-trick in a 9–0 win over Omagh Town in October 2004.

Hoban was replaced to a standing ovation shortly after, but the scoring didn’t end there.

Midfielder Burt scored the goal of the match just after the hour mark, curling a fine shot over the head of the helpless Carrick goalkeeper Pengelly.

It was a day to remember for the home side, who lost Ryan Wade to injury early on and had Glendinning sent off after half an hour for a tough challenge on Jordan Jenkins.