Full focus on season opener

COLERAINE defender Stephen O’Donnell admits the full-time edge was probably the difference in the Bannsiders’ elimination against FK Velez Mostar…

Oran Kearney’s men would lose both legs by two goals to one as they were denied a dream tie against AEK Athens.

Despite being seeds for the first round, Coleraine were always going to be underdogs against a side who finished third in last season’s Bosnian top flight.

O’Donnell reflected that it was “disappointing” not to progress after levelling the tie at half-time in the second leg.

“It is definitely disappointing not to go through,” he said.

“It is even more so after the position we got ourselves into and the fact we were leading 1-0 at half time.

“We were having a real go at them in the first half and it’s disappointing we weren’t able to step up a few gears and raise that level of intensity that we needed to go through.

“I think it’s been a mammoth effort from everybody involved across the two legs so we can have no complaints over the work rate, desire and energy we put into it.

“I think across the two legs there was probably that full time element and extra bit of quality that FK Velez had due to the standard of the league and the players they have.

“I thought we acquitted ourselves very well, especially in the second leg, when we put it up to them and asked a few questions and they were on the ropes for a while.

“They have a lot of the quality in the final third which shone through and won the tie for them.”

The fixture marked O’Donnell’s first appearance since suffering a punctured lung against Crusaders last season but he acknowledged that he still has work to do to get to the required fitness levels.

“On a personal level, I was delighted to be back and involved,” he added.

“The boys gave me great information about what they were like and I was involved with all the preparation work.

“It was my target from the minute I suffered a punctured lung against Crusaders was to be back and play in Europe.

“It was definitely difficult as there was a long rehab and process to get back to fitness, and to be honest, I’m probably still a bit short to where I want to be.

“I thought the lads helped me, especially big Rodney beside me and Ronan at right-back.

“It was brilliant to be back out with the lads and playing in front of fans as it feels like we are getting back to normal.”

The Bannsiders now have six weeks of preparation before the league starts on August 28 against Larne and O’Donnell hopes that the extra time means that they can hit the ground running.

“Since the league ended, our whole focus has been on the two legged European game,” he concluded.

“I think for us, the focus now turns to the opening game against Larne and we have six weeks to be prepared and ready.

“There will be some players who need a break as there was a quick turnaround from the end of the season and they didn’t get the rest their bodies needed.

“There are other players who might need to get more work in and I’m certainly in that category. For the last eight weeks due to injury and other circumstances, I haven’t got as much work in as I usually have at this stage.

“For me, it’s about building up and getting the legs ready for a big season ahead and we are looking forward to it.

“As disappointed as we are to go out of Europe, I think we are more experienced from last year and we suffer from a European hangover again.

“With the extra week or two week break we can go into the season fresh and have a good rattle at it.”