Kearney praises squad for showing their mettle
COLERAINE manager Oran Kearney was delighted to see his players produce a thrilling comeback to draw 3-3 in a match that had everything at The Showgrounds…
Kearney believes the excitement and adrenaline from Saturday’s fixture was one of the best in his time in charge of the club. The manager was also impressed with the huge crowd at The Showgrounds and queries if anything can be done to accommodate this on a regular basis.
“I’m here nearly seven years and that match is in the top three in terms of excitement and drama,” Kearney revealed.
“I think of the Sky game against Linfield in which Stephen Lowry scored in the last minute and the Irish Cup tie against Larne Tech Old Boys.
“People always question about how we can improve the local game and get bigger crowds, but all junior football and morning football was called off today.
“You look at the crowd and it makes you wonder if something could be done to allow spectacles like this.
“Hopefully everyone who got a taste of that today will come back at some stage.”
The Bannsiders were in control for the first half hour of proceedings but Kearney rued individual errors that gifted Crusaders a two goal cushion at half-time, but was delighted with his side’s response after the break.
“Up until the 35th minute we were quite pleased with how everything had gone,” Kearney said.
“You’re nearly preparing your team talk at half-time to tell the players to have more of the same after the break.
“But we shot ourselves in the foot with two errors that gift them the two goals.
“The first goal I think Aaron Traynor dives in on Gavin Whyte and with a player of his calibre you have to stand up and make it harder for him.
“The second one, Ciaron and Adam mess up a quick free-kick and it was crazy after how we managed the first half hour of the match.
“Credit must go to our lads as we asked a few questions at half-time and we queried if they had the mettle to give that wee bit more.
“They did that and more in the second-half and that’s pleasing.”
Crusaders were reduced to 10 men just after the hour mark and Kearney credited his squad for making the extra man count.
“I suppose getting a goal back so early gave us adrenaline and we left holes at the back and got punished with the 3rd goal,” Kearney added.
“The momentum changed with the red card but you still have to put the ball into the net.
“We’ve played against 10 men before and haven’t made the extra man count, but I felt we made the pitch nice and big and made it count.
“We created chances and it was great to see the shots hit the net.”
The Stripes had late chances to win it through Stephen O’Donnell and Eoin Bradley, but Kearney believes a draw was the fair result after 90 minutes.
“You would have loved to have got all three points in the end,” Kearney continued.
“I think overall that a draw was a fair result.
“It would have been to have stolen it at the end, but we will take the point and move on.”
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