IRISH LEAGUE: Kearney left feeling a bit frustrated

Oran Kearney admitted he was left frustrated after his Coleraine side slipped up on their bid to move into second place on Friday night.
By The Newsroom
Published 30th Oct 2016, 21:23 BST
Updated 31st Oct 2016, 09:55 BST
©/Presseye.com - 28th October 2016. Press Eye Ltd - Northern Ireland - Danske Bank Premiership - Coleraine V Dungannon Swifts Dungannon's Chris Hegarty scores. Mandatory Credit Photo Lorcan Doherty / Presseye.com©/Presseye.com - 28th October 2016. Press Eye Ltd - Northern Ireland - Danske Bank Premiership - Coleraine V Dungannon Swifts Dungannon's Chris Hegarty scores. Mandatory Credit Photo Lorcan Doherty / Presseye.com
©/Presseye.com - 28th October 2016. Press Eye Ltd - Northern Ireland - Danske Bank Premiership - Coleraine V Dungannon Swifts Dungannon's Chris Hegarty scores. Mandatory Credit Photo Lorcan Doherty / Presseye.com

Twice the Bannsiders were pegged back by a dogged Dungannon Swifts side and they had to make do with a share of the spoils in the end.

The sides exchanged penalties, which neither manager was happy about, before Brad Lyons gave the hosts the lead at the break after a slip by Chris Hegarty.

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The defender made amends in the second half though heading home an equaliser for Rodney McAree’s men.

“It was a frustrating night all round, the big motivation was to go second,” said Kearney afterwards.

“We knew we had 24 hours to do that and I think mentally it would hae been great for us to do that.

“We had three or four good chances, we hit the post, if we had managed to get the third goal then for me I think it would have been game over.

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“2-1 is that score which means they still ahve something to play for, a set-piece or anything can undo that, and so it proved.

“It’s frustrating as Gareth McConaghie wins the header, but it hits off their guy and ends up in the net.

“Any of the wee things that could have gone against us tonight have, we just needed that wee bit of luck.”

Swifts boss McAree felt his side were fully deserving of a point, and he hopes it will stand them in good stead ahead of a difficult month.

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“We’re happy with a point, I don’t think we deserved any more than a point, but I don’t think Coleraine deserved any more either,” he said.

“Coming away from The Showgrounds with a 2-2 draw is no embarrassment.

“Our second half performance was more positive than our first.

“We showed good character, we kept fighting and we got back into the game.

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“We have a very tough November. We play Cliftonville, Linfield, Ballymena and Crusaders as well as the League Cup quarter final in the middle of it all.

“But these are the games everyone wants to play in. As a player you should be relishing pitting yourself against the best in the country.

“If we have any aspirations of finishing in the top six we have to look at picking up points in these games, we have to challenge ourselves.

“We won at Solitude earlier this season which broke a long record for ourselves, we will be looking to build on that and get back-to-back wins.”

Related topics:BannsidersColeraineBrad Lyons