Match Reaction

Win down to basics – OK

COLERAINE boss Oran Kearney spoke to the club’s media channel after yesterday’s 2-0 success against Portadown at The Showgrounds…

An own goal by Paul Finnegan in the first-half gave Kearney’s side the lead before they were made to work hard to secure all three points as Matthew Shevlin pounced in the 90th minute.

Despite admitting that it wasn’t a classic performance by his troops, Kearney once again pointed out that there are no easy games in the Danske Bank Premiership.

“We are more than happy with the win,” he reflected.

“I’ll be the first to say it wasn’t free flowing and it maybe wasn’t at the levels of previous weeks and everything else.

“I think with that you’ve got to give Portadown credit as well as they came here and were very solid and hard to break down.

“However, more importantly, we’ve got another clean sheet, two goals and we are delighted with the three points.

“There are no easy games in this league.

“We have played the team statistically 12th last week and statistically 11th this week and they have been two hard 2-0 victories.

“We have had to wait until the 92nd minute today to get our second goal.

“We know how hard it is, we are in this game long enough to understand that and whilst it wasn’t free flowing today, I thought Gareth kept the back door shut as he does very well and we’ve taken our chances when they’ve arrived.”

The deadlock was broken on 28 minutes as Finnegan turned the ball into his own net from Shevlin’s cross but Kearney highlighted the impact of Cathair Friel for the goal.

“It’s very important to get the first goal in games like this,” he added.

“It’s a great run by Matthew who gets in and the ball he plays across is smart but it’s not just Matthew’s run that’s a great one, you’ve got to give Cathair a huge amount of credit as well.

“He has absolutely bust a gut to get into the six yard box and unless the defender can see him out of the side of his eye and knows that he’s there, then he must reach out for the ball, so it’s a massive run from his point of view.

“We will take any goal and it doesn’t matter how it comes.”

A minute’s silence was held before kick-off and a round of applause was visibly heard on 59 minutes after the sad passing of Alan McLean on Friday.

Kearney once again paid his tribute and admits the day gave him a lump in his throat.

“It was brilliant to hear the clapping on the 59th minute,” he continued.

“It was a lump in the throat moment before kick-off with all the stewards as that was a family to him in relation to the relationships and friendships built up over the years.

“I’m sure it’s as tough for them as anybody.

“It’s been a sad day for the club but we are delighted to deliver a small gesture of three points to everybody.