Match Reaction

‘Bad day all round’ – OK

ORAN Kearney acknowledged that yesterday’s first-half performance against Glentoran ‘wasn’t acceptable’ as the Bannsiders found themselves three goals behind at the break…

A goal from Terry Devlin gave the Glens the lead after just two minutes on the clock before Niall McGinn netted a brace thereafter.

The second-half would yield no goals as the Bannsiders left The Oval empty-handed.

In a further blow, the Stripes would lose Adam Mullan to a serious injury with more than ten minutes remaining.

“Just a bad day all round,” Kearney said.

“Then to top that off, Adam Mullan’s injury in the second half means it’s been a bad day all round to be fair.

“It seems to be a kneecap – either dislocation or fracture – something in relation to the kneecap.

“He’s gone straight to the hospital in a lot of pain and a disappointing one.”

Despite players being visibly upset at Mullan’s injury, Kearney refused to use that disappointment to hide the first-half performance in east Belfast.

“An injury like that puts things in perspective but I’m not going to stand here and use it as a shield to defend the first half performance,” he added.

“The first half performance just wasn’t acceptable, simple as that.

“Yes, today might not have been as important for us but in a few weeks time, yes it is.

“We’ve a few bodies missing at this point in time that we’ve got to protect but we should still be strong enough to go out and perform.

“First half, parts of the performance were good where we created opportunities but we’re just not clinical enough.

“Whether it’s the final pass or the final touch has let us down.

“What chances they’ve had they’ve been ultra clinical with and that’s been the difference.”