“Feels like a defeat” – OK

COLERAINE boss Oran Kearney admitted last night’s stalemate against Glenavon left him frustrated as the two clubs drew for a fourth successive time…

The Bannsiders would create plenty of chances after the break – including a missed penalty – but they were unable to find the back of the net against the Lurgan Blues.

Despite not grabbing that elusive first goal, the boss insisted he couldn’t “fault” his side for their want of trying and heaped praise on their response to Lowry’s miss from 12 yards.

“The first half was nip and tuck where they’ve hit the post a couple of times and we’ve hit the post and had other chances, and on another night it could have been 2-2 at half-time,” Kearney said.

“You get the penalty straight away, and whilst it was disappointing to miss, our reaction was brilliant as we got back on the horse and we’ve gone on and on and on.

“There were some interesting decisions, there’s been some controversy and plenty of talking points, but how we haven’t got the goal which would have got us the three points I’m not sure and it’s disappointing.

“The first-half was even but the second-half with the breeze I thought we kicked on a bit more and we created plenty of chances after the penalty in particular and that’s the frustrating side of it.

“Someone said before the game we were the top goalscorers in the league but sadly you’ve got to spread those out over the games and that’s the frustrating aspect.

“I can’t fault them, we fought right until the end and we have a really good changing room in there who are hurting at not getting over the line.”

Kearney remarked that he knew his troops were never going to get it easy against an experienced Glenavon side but wished they could have found a goal to send a bumper crowd home ecstatic.

“It does feel like a defeat as we could have gained ground on the clubs who aren’t playing this weekend but Glenavon have really put it up against the likes of Larne, Glentoran and Linfield, so we knew they had a big performance in them,” he insisted.

“People laugh when I say this but every team brings their problems.

“There was a plethora of league winners with experience in that Glenavon side tonight so we knew it was never going to be an easy shift.

“We have acquitted ourselves well, we are happy with our performance, it is another clean sheet but it’s highly frustrated with the chances and the massive crowd in attendance.

“You would have loved to have seen the ground erupt with a goal and make the fans leave happy but it wasn’t to be.

“I’m sure when the dust settles we will find a few positives to take.”