Kearney: ‘The second-half was one of the best halves of football since I’ve been manager’

COLERAINE manager Oran Kearney speaks to the club website after watching his side beat Cliftonville at the weekend…

After taking the lead through David Ogilby’s free-kick, the Bannsiders were pegged back as Rory Donnelly struck home unmarked to level the scores. However, the Stripes’ winner was to arrive early in the second-half as Joe McCready pounced to leave Kearney ‘proud’ of his players.

“I knew if we were to get a result today, it would be a monumental one,” Kearney said.

“The energy expended against Linfield and Crusaders, you don’t get any bigger games in this league and to come to Cliftonville who do most of their damage at home, we knew it would take a gritty performance.

“We weren’t pretty and we struggled.

“We didn’t have much legs which was to be expected as the wide men and strikers have played all three games this week.

“I thought we were tough and at half-time we said that number one we needed to get something to keep hold off and and number two it’s about digging in.

“That 45 minutes of the second-half was one of the best halves of football I have had since I’ve been manager of this club.

“We ended up with four centre-halves on the pitch with two of them playing centre-midfield and we fought for each other and threw bodies on the line.

“That 2-1 victory brings as much pride as a 4-0 win as the boys were feeling tired at half-time and I was unsure if we would get a win.

“I think the adrenaline kicked us on when we scored early and we coped well with their fire power.”

Kearney was forced to shuffle his pack at half-time with David Ogilby running the risk of being sent-off, as well as Darren McCauley who was struggling with a knock. Furthermore, Scot Whiteside was also brought on as Coleraine ended the match with two defenders playing in centre midfield.

“We won’t train on Tuesday night and the boys will report in for massages and steam room,” Kearney added.

“Adam Mullan and Ian Parkhill were seizing up, Darren McCauley had to come off at half-time and our front two were carrying aches and pains coming into the match.

“We knew we were in a fight and I threw on four centre-halves to kick and fight for every ball. We knew and they knew we weren’t pushing for the third goal.”

The boss was quick to heap praise on his players for their togetherness and believes the club’s acquisitions in January and the summer have been the catalyst for the Bannsiders’ terrific start to the season.

“We recruit wisely and do a huge amount of homework in the players we sign, not just as players but more importantly as people,” Kearney acknowledged.

“Stephen O’Donnell is the prime example as people in the Championship would have said he was a good lad but has lapses and is a great leader.

“But as soon as you meet him, your gut tells you there is something about him and has leader qualities beyond his years.

“For as much as there is player limitations that I’ve yet to see, the person of Stephen O’Donnell, as well as Ciaron Harkin, Josh Carson, Aaron Traynor and I could go on, they are great people and there is a great vibe in the changing room and they love training.

“There is a great spirit amongst them all and when Joe McCready scored his first league goal everyone bar Chris Johns was there celebrating with him.

“You can’t teach players to do that, it’s just emotion and feeling because there is a real connection between the players.”

Kearney admits he isn’t under any pressure as the Stripes top the Danske Bank Premiership and remembers when Coleraine were fighting for survival under his management.

“It’s a buzz and its brilliant, but I remember we played Warrenpoint a few years ago to secure our survival five games before the end and I’ve never felt pressure like it as a manager or a player,” Kearney revealed.

“I’ll never forget that day as I knew the history of Coleraine Football Club and knowing the club couldn’t afford to be a Championship club and it would ruin the area for football.

“This season it has been a buzz and you can’t wait to play Linfield, you can’t wait to play Crusaders and it was the same today.

“Our players love training and they can’t wait to go at it and they want to keep going.”