Defeat “hard to take” – OK

COLERAINE boss Oran Kearney admits the manner of Glentoran’s late winner was “hard to take” as they were edged out at The Oval last night…

The Bannsiders looked like securing a share of the spoils in East Belfast as Stephen O’Donnell’s header cancelled out Michael O’Connor’s opener.

However, with just a minute go, the hosts would earn all three points as Conor McMenamin was in the right place at the right time to stab home from Hrvoje Plum’s free-kick.

“It is disappointing to lose,” Kearney said.

“Last minute winners in football when they go for you there’s a great adrenaline rush and everything else, but when they go against you, it can be hard to take.

“Particularly how we held our way into the game, got our way back into the game and I think when we scored, you’re hoping we can have that grandstand finish and possibly go and nick something ourselves.

“It’s frustrating to just lose it in the final minute.”

Kearney admits McMenamin’s winner came slightly against the run of play as Coleraine looked like the more threatening team after the hour mark.

“The guys showed a lot of character in the second-half,” he added.

“I thought the first-half was probably dead as both teams nearly cancelled each other out.

“We flipped it on 60 minutes, gambled a bit I suppose and went three at the back.

“We got two strikers on the pitch to see if we could get some change from that and it worked and I think it turned the tide for us and allowed us to have a bit of momentum.

“Even after we got our goal, I thought we looked like the team more likely and had the ball in their half quite a bit.

“It just seemed with five minutes to go we eased off it again and they got out a couple of times and won a couple of free-kicks.

“You know with the quality they have it’s disappointing we don’t win the first or second ball and all of a sudden three points have dropped.”

Coleraine are back at home on Saturday as Linfield are the visitors to The Showgrounds.

“It’s a tough week, and whilst it’s a three-game week for everyone, when you have the Big Two mixed in amongst that as well it makes it even tougher,” he continued.

“That’s the whole reason why you’re in this league and what you want to be about.

“We’ll charge the batteries up and we’ll be ready for a big one on Saturday.”