Kearney upbeat following Seaview stalemate

COLERAINE manager Oran Kearney praised his side’s efforts after Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with Crusaders in the Danske Bank Premiership….

In what was a frantic night in North Belfast as it was the Stripes who gained the advantage when Jamie McGonigle fired the Bannsiders into the lead from the penalty spot on 67 minutes.

This was not all she wrote as Crusaders grabbed a late equaliser when David Cushley popped up inside the area with only six minutes remaining to salvage a draw for Stephen Baxter’s side.

“I think when you go ahead in a game of that magnitude and you’re going into the last ten minutes having defended set pieces so well all night it’s disappointing to not come away with three points.

“All season we’ve defended well and we know how strong Crusaders are from set pieces and tonight we dealt with the ten or twelve set plays but there’s one at the end were we don’t deal with all three phases – we don’t win the first header, we don’t clear the second and we don’t get a bite at the third,” said Kearney.

Despite conceding late on the Bannsiders boss highlighted the importance of the result and the fighting spirit demonstrated by his team.

“In the context of the ninety minutes and if I step right back out of the game a draw is a fair result but it’s just a pity we couldn’t hold out for one more corner.

“I could stand here all night and praise the players because they have been superb to a man.

“I thought tonight all over the park in a hostile environment and in a massive game which we haven’t played too many of in recent years the players acquitted themselves very well which is fantastic,” Kearney added.

The result means it’s as you were at the top of the table with a narrow two point margin separating the sides with only four league games remaining but the Stripes boss is relishing the opportunity.

“The message is very simple, there’s a huge amount of football left in this and to gain something as big and beautiful or as prestigious as what we’re trying to chase we can’t expect it to be handed to us on a plate.

“I want the tension and all the aspects of it and sometimes you have to go through the mill and do it the ugly way and take it right to the wire.”

The Bannsiders are back in action on Saturday as they face Cliftonville at the Showgrounds in what will be a dress rehearsal for the Tennent’s Irish Cup Final.

Coleraine will be hoping to chalk up another win to keep the pressure firmly on Crusaders as the sides battle it out for the Gibson Cup.