Kearney has sights set on Coleraine cup run

The Bannsiders entertain north-west neighbours Limavady United in the second round of the competition tonight (Tuesday) with the hope of going one step further than last season.

“To get to the semi-finals last season only to be dumped out by Ards was very disappointing for us,” said Kearney. “It put a big dent in our season to be honest with you.

“I always feel we have unfinished business with the League Cup.

“We got to the final in my first full season when Crusaders beat us, and we’ve come close on a couple of other occasions to get to the final.

“So it’s very important for us and we know that Limavady will be up for it and they will be determined to cause an upset.

“I know Paul Owens very well, he played for me and I know exactly what he will bring to the table.”

Ballymena United manager David Jeffrey wants a professional performance when his side face Newington YC at the Showgrounds.

Jeffrey’s Sky Blues were in excellent form last Friday night as they brushed aside Carrick Rangers 4-1 in the Danske Bank Premiership at the Loughshore Hotel Belfast Arena.

United will be favourites for the cup tie but Jeffrey is taking nothing for granted.

Ballymena’s preparations for the tie have included multiple scouting missions of Newington.

“I am not going to talk about respect for Newington,” said Jeffrey. “Any opponent we face gets the same respect.

“It does not matter if it is Linfield, Crusaders, Glenavon or whoever.

“It doesn’t take an historian to remember Newington beating Glentoran in the Irish Cup not so long ago.

“We are preparing for this game as we do for any other game and that is how we are going about it.”

Kick-off across both second-round ties will be 7.45.