IRISH LEAGUE: Shane McCabe frustrated by Ballinamallard United's inconsistency

Shane McCabe believes Ballinamallard must be a nightmare to manage.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Feb 2016, 11:35 BST
Dungannon Swifts' Alan Teggart (left) celebrates scoring against Ballinamallard UnitedDungannon Swifts' Alan Teggart (left) celebrates scoring against Ballinamallard United
Dungannon Swifts' Alan Teggart (left) celebrates scoring against Ballinamallard United

A roller-coaster season for the Fermanagh side took another dip at Stangmore Park, where they lost this relegation six-pointer.

Goals from Alan Teggart and Ryan Harpur gave Dungannon victory.

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It came just five days after the Mallards produced a strong performance to beat Portadown.

The previous week, they crashed 3-0 at home to Warrenpoint.

After this defeat on Saturday, manager Whitey Anderson admitted he was scratching his head at their inconsistent form.

And McCabe said: “It’s disappointing – there seems to be a bit of Jekyll and Hyde with us.

“It must be very frustrating to manage us because one week we’re very good, the next week we’re very bad.”

A dreadful game produced two goals and little else.

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The mallards fell behind when Teggart struck in the 28th minute.

The home side doubled their lead in the 62nd minute.

Douglas Wilson’s free-kick deflected off the Mallards’ wall and dropped to Harpur, who stuck out his left boot to turn the ball home.

McCabe added: The first goal was a mistake by us.

“I thought Dungannon just out-battled us.

“They showed a bit more eagerness and hunger, which is disappointing. We just didn’t get going today.

“We had a good result on Monday night which should have set us up. We should have been coming here buzzing, but for whatever reason we were flat.

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“We started a wee bit poorly. A couple of passes went astray.

“I don’t think we created many chances or hit the target. Their goalkeeper didn’t have a save to make.

“That’s not just down to the front three - it’s the team as a whole.”

This was far from a classic performance by Dungannon too, not that it will concern Rodney McAree.

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“Going into our last three games, against Carrick, Warrenpoint and Ballinamallard, if someone had offered me seven points I would have snapped their hand off,” he said.

“I have to be very pleased. The boys have shown great commitment and character.”

DGN SWIFTS: Coleman, Montgomery, Hegarty, Armstrong, O’Rourke, Wilson, Fitzpatrick (Lowe, 70), Harpur, Teggart (Hazley, 69), Burke (Glackin, 81), Mitchell

Subs not used: Addis, Liggett

BALLINAMALLARD: Rouse, McMenamin, Friars, Dykes, Falconer, McCabe, McKenna (Currie, 79), Lecky (McCartney, 64), Mayse (Lafferty, 70), Sproule, Campbell

Subs not used: McCusker, Elliott

Referee: Ian McNabb (Newtownabbey)