Glentoran 0 - 2 Hibernian: Hughes' men stroll to victory in Northern Ireland

Hughes, though, would be disappointed his side didn''t go on to cash in on those first half strikes, the Easter Road outfit rarely threatenining the home defence throughout the entire second period.

Zemmama took just two minutes to open the scoring, drawing two defenders before stepping inside to unleash a terrific left foot shot which fizzed past Glentoran goalkeeper Elliott Morris and into the top corner of his net.

The little Moroccan went close to doubling his tally with a low effort which threatened to creep inside Morris' left-hand post before Colin Nish passed up a glorious opportunity to make it two, firing the ball over the bar after David van Zanten's overlapping run had left him in the clear only six yards out.

Riordan did, however, ease Hibs further ahead in the 22nd minute, leaving Elliott flat-footed as he rifled home a free-kick after Nish had been pulled back by Johnny Black.

While holding the upperhand Hibs, though, weren't getting everything their own way, a slack pass from John Rankin leaving Sol Bamba, who was partnering Chris Hogg in central defence, stranded as the ball ran through to Matthew Burrows. Yves Ma-Kalambay spared his team-mate's blushes by getting down well to block the home forward's low shot.

Burrows went close again as the first half drew to a close as Richard Halliday's tempting cross evaded his outstretched boot by millimetres with the goal gaping.

Hibs appeared to have dropped a gear after the interval as their hosts made wholesale replacements with Hughes, too maing full use of his substitutes throughout the second period, only 19-year-old Hibs goalkeeper Thomas Flynn left sitting on the bench.

Kyle Neill sent a header onto the roof of Ma-Kalambay's net as the "Pride of East Belfast" strove to restore a little dignity after their 10-0 aggregate hammering by Maccabi Haifa as their Champions League interest was brought to an abrupt end and Hughes would, undoutedly, have been disappointed to see his players struggle to lift the pace even although, in truth, they were rarely in danger.

Glentoran: Morris (Taylor 46), Nixon, Neill, Clark (Southern 69), Fordyce (Callacher 46), Halliday (Hamilton 46), Burrows (Waterworth 46), Fitzgerald (McCabe 46), Black, McBurnie (Harris 46), Hall.

Hibs: Ma-Kalambay, Van Zanten,(McCormack 65) Hogg, Bamba, Hanlon, Cregg (Thicot 73), McBride, Rankin (Murray 73), Zemmama (Galbraith 65), Nish (Byrne 65), Riordan. Subs not used: Flynn.

Referee: Trevor Moutray.