Kearney: ‘Lyndon looked like he had never been away’

COLERAINE manager Oran Kearney admits he was ’emotional’ seeing Lyndon Kane return from injury as the Bannsiders earned a 2-0 win over Glentoran…

The full-back made his first appearance of the season following a broken metatarsal and helped the Stripes keep a clean sheet. Speaking after the game, Kearney admitted it looked like Lyndon ‘had never been away.’

“I’d say it was more emotional seeing Lyndon back on the pitch,” Kearney said.

“It was his first big injury and it was the toughest six or seven months of his life, never mind his career.

“It was difficult for him to deal with that as the team was doing well in his absence and there have been some dark days.

“However, he will be the first to tell you that he has a good changing room in there and backroom staff that have rallied around him.

“It was great to get him back out there and the biggest credit I can give him is that it looked like he had never been away.”

The Bannsiders boss took full responsibility after the confusion over who would hit the penalty – which was ultimately scored by Ciaron Harkin.

“I have apologised to the players after the game for my part,” Kearney added.

“As much I have my beliefs in football and how things should happen, it was remiss of me to not have a penalty taker planned before the game.

“The unwritten rule in football is that you hit until you miss and if you miss, and someone else wants to take up the mantle, then you step aside.

“That has always been the way with me and it was my mistake as when Darren missed his last penalty I didn’t address it after the game or in training.

“I have apologised to Darren because we have drilled into the players about responsibility and as much as Darren missed the last penalty, he wanted the responsibility of hitting the spot-kick.

“He didn’t understand my ethos because I hadn’t shared it with him and I’ve apologised to both players.

“Unfortunately, it put Ciaron under a little bit more pressure, but it’s a big boy league and if you have the confidence to go up and take a penalty, you better make sure you slot it home and to be fair Ciaron done that.

“I spoke to Darren after the match and he’s a very emotional guy. Now the dust has settled, he has accepted what I had to say in relation to if you miss a penalty, you have to wait your turn and he is 100% on board with that.

“I want to see passion and I want to see heart.

“It would have been scarier if nobody stood up and wanted to hit the penalty.”

Kearney – who will find out the extent of injuries sustained to Brad Lyons and Stephen Dooley – revealed training this week was ‘competitive’ as he had a fully fit squad available bar James McLaughlin.

“The players are all enjoying it and it’s brilliant,” Kearney continued.

“Training this week was the first time we had everyone out there bar James McLaughlin.

“The standard and competitiveness of Tuesday and Thursday night was frightening.

“I said to the players as much as training was good this week, we needed to step it up another notch this afternoon.

“They love it, the big games and the hype, so how could they not enjoy it?

“We keep drilling into the players to do their job and winning three points.”