Interview

Every Lynch counts in Cup final

LEE Lynch insists he is ‘striving’ to win trophies with Coleraine as the Bannsiders face Linfield in the final of the BetMcLean Cup tomorrow afternoon… 

The Stripes travel to the National Stadium for their third successive BetMcLean Cup decider as the first major prize of the season is up for grabs.

Lynch, like several other players, was signed by Oran Kearney in the summer and the Limerick native believes all the ingredients are there for success – both now and in the future.

“With the way we’re going now with the club we want to be fighting on all fronts for every competition,” he said.

“This is just a first one for us as we’ve a lot of new players in the door.

“Everyone has signed long term contracts which is positive for everyone so every year we’re going to try and grow, try and win a league, try and win an Irish Cup, try win a League Cup so hopefully we can do that this weekend.

“We all have a goal, the club has a goal, the owners have a goal – we want to be fighting on all fronts in all competitions.

“We’re not just here to finish fourth or wherever we do end up finishing.

“We’re still in the mix at the moment, we’re in a League Cup final, we lost to Cliftonville on penalties in the Irish Cup.

“We definitely want to strive to win trophies – I haven’t come here not to win trophies.

“We’ll keep on growing, year on year.”

The Stripes lost last year’s final to Cliftonville and being 2-0 up with less than 15 minutes to play.

However, Lynch is hoping that the hurt from that day will stand the Bannsiders in good stead twelve months on.

“Coleraine obviously felt that they should have won it last year,” he said.

“I watched that game and they were excellent in it and it was a typical cup final game, it was crazy.

“We will have the bit between our teeth going into the game and I’m delighted to be a part of it and hopefully get the boys over the line.

“The fans want to see it as well, it’s great for the club by reaching back to back cup finals.

“Having senior players like myself in every team helps.

“They’ll have definitely learnt from last year’s cup final.

“Obviously they were excellent, 2-0 up at the time, but cup finals can go that way.

“Oran’s experienced enough and we’ll be going into the final with a game plan.”