Skipper Ogilby offers up no excuses
FRUSTRATING AFTERNOON: Coleraine skipper David Ogilby
COLERAINE captain David Ogilby simply had no excuses following his team’s disappointment performance in the IRN-BRU League Cup final.
He said: “Crusaders deserved to win it. We simply didn’t show anything near the form we have been producing over the past few weeks. They are defensively strong . . . we probably played into their hands at times. It’s hard to put your finger on where it went wrong.
“We were happy being only 1-0 down at half time – we were still in the game. Over this past few months we have been fairly strong in the second half. We were still confident we could pull something out of the hat.
“It just wasn’t to be. One of the most annoying things is the fact we never really created one clear cut opening – we didn’t threaten at all.
“There is a lot of young players in the dressing room. It was there first experience of a cup final. Some of them may have been affected with they hype and build-up to the game.
“Crusaders that that little bit more experienced than us.
“Hopefully, we can learn from this. It’s not nice being beaten, but we have to use that as a motivation for the future – in the league and Irish Cup.”
Goalkeeper Gavin Cullen admitted his team were struck by a bout of stage-fright in Saturday’s colourful IRN-BRU League Cup final against Crusaders at the Showgrounds, Ballymena.
Chris Morrow’s first half strike, sent the Bannsiders spinning to their first defeat in 14 outings.
“We are bitterly disappointed simply because the game passed us by,” said Cullen. “We certainly didn’t do ourselves justice.
“Crusaders had a good shape about them – they dealt with everything . . . first ball, second ball. They are better than us on the day. I thought we would have lots of energy and put them (Crusaders) under pressure, but it just didn’t happen.
“It’s probably the first time this season, we never created one decent opening over 90 minutes. I think we managed only one shot in the second half that forced Sean O’Neill into making a save. We never really cut them open at all.”
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 11 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
