Interview

PK enjoys first team experience

colerainefc.com caught up with Patrick Kelly who was named in the matchday squad for the final two games of the season…

The 16-year-old, who is currently in fifth year at Loreto College, was an unused substitute in the recent fixtures against Linfield and Larne.

So how does the lifelong Coleraine fan feel about sampling a taste of being involved with the first-team?

“I have been at Coleraine since I was five or six-years-old, so to be called up to the first-team was excellent,” he said.

“I couldn’t believe the news as it came out of nowhere. I was training with the under 18’s and was told the Monday night that I would be in the squad for the Linfield match.

“My family was as proud as I was as they’ve been going to games all their lives and it was great to be a part of it.”

Kelly was quick to thank his coaches throughout his career and has hailed current first-team player Lyndon Kane as the ideal role model.

“Training at the under 18’s and 20’s with Ollie Mullan and Gary Devenney has been great and we have a good team,” Patrick added.

“I would say my best position is playing as a number 10 or in central midfield as I like to get on the ball, run at people, make assists and score goals.

“Thankfully, I have had so many good coaches during my time at Coleraine and there are too many to mention, so I don’t want to leave anyone out.

“I look up to the likes of Lyndon Kane and Brad Lyons as they came through from the Reserves and have gone on to have great careers.

“I was training with Lyndon in the off season with Andy Law and he is certainly a player who I’d like to replicate.”

So what’s next for Patrick?

“I will simply be keeping my head down, working hard and training as much as possible,” he concluded.

“There are a good core of young players at the club and there have been a few who have been called-up to the first team so it’s up to us to take that opportunity.”