Kearney: ‘McGonigle is going nowhere’

COLERAINE boss Oran Kearney addressed the media after watching his side defeat Dergview 8-0 in pre-season action…

The Bannsiders put the Bluefin Sport Championship side to the sword and Kearney gave an injury update to Darren McCauley after the winger came off midway through the first-half, as well as James McLaughlin who had to be withdrawn in the early stages against Portstewart on Friday night.

“Darren had a wee niggle going into the game but he was keen to play,” Kearney said.

“As the match went on he wasn’t content with it and we took him off as a precaution.

“Apart from that there were no injuries and that’s the key thing from a pre-season game.

“James just had a twinge of the hamstring and it’s one of those at this stage of the season where the player comes straight off the pitch.

“Obviously with him coming back from a serious injury, you’re going to get some ups and downs that come with that.

“He was in with Alan Millar today and doesn’t seem too bad, but we will know more on Tuesday night about where he is at in relation to next weekend.

“The deluge of rain was great because it speeded the pitch up to the levels which suited us and I thought we moved the ball very well.

“We created a lot of opportunities and scored with some fantastic finishes, so it was a worthwhile exercise for us.”

The Stripes had a look at the talent coming through the youth set-up as Ben Moore, Alexander Gawne and Jack Bradley impressed at The Showgrounds, with talented midfielder Andy Whiteside also waiting in the wings.

“The three lads plus Andy Whiteside have done really well and I wanted to get them more involved with pre-season but they couldn’t do any more training due to the SuperCup tournament and we wouldn’t stand on their toes because of that,” Kearney added.

“It gave us a chance to have a look at them and see how they’ve developed and I thought Alexander was great he came on and young Ben was assured at full-back.

“It’s great for us and gives us a bit more depth which is important.

“It’s so important that we have players making the breakthrough and they are all local lads as well.

“Alex is from Portstewart and Ben is a Coleraine lad, so I think it’s vital that we keep that conveyor belt coming.”

The Irish Cup holders will commence their Danske Bank Premiership campaign next weekend at home to Warrenpoint Town, and boss Kearney insists his side’s heroics last season are now condemned to the ‘history books.’

“Last season is done and dusted and it’s very much in the back of my mind and in the history books,” Kearney continued.

“It’s about getting off to a great start next week and getting three points in the bag and moving on from there.

“It’s been a good pre-season, the European games have been brilliant as they’ve really upped the tempo and have left us in good shape.

“There are no easy games at this level and Warrenpoint will be out to impress and try to get off to a great start like every other team.

“It is important that we are at our best and firing on all cylinders.

“We are not a huge squad, but thankfully bar the players who are suspended, we are largely injury free.

“It does leave us with maybe 13 or 14 players, but on the same stretch, we were in that position many times last year and I think the strength of our squad was that strong that players were able to step in and do a job.”

Coleraine rejected a bid from Crusaders for Jamie McGonigle through the week and Kearney reiterates that the Northern Ireland under-21 international is not for sale.

“The bid being rejected is absolutely the stance that we have taken,” Kearney concluded.

“We are probably financially, across all areas of the club, in the best shape we have been in since I’ve been in charge.

“We are not in a position where we are in dire straits and need the money, so it’s important that we can flex our muscles and show that we are serious about staying and competing at the top end of the table.

“It was a very simple conversation that lasted all of about 10 seconds between me and Colin. I think the reply was short and sweet as well and I hope that’s the end of it.

“We’ve worked for seven years to get into this position and the last thing we want to do is let players go and strengthen other sides.”