Oran Kearney hopes Coleraine are raring to go again

The Bannsiders, like the rest of the Irish League sides, have been playing pretty much every Saturday and Tuesday since football resumed in January.

It has been a lung-busting schedule but Kearney’s men have met the challenge head on and have the opportunity to cut the gap to league leaders Linfield to two points with victory over the Crues at The Showgrounds.

“We were pleased to have six or seven days off,” said the Bannsiders boss.

“I think the Dungannon game was our seventh in the past four weeks.

“It is nice that our boys who are out on their feet both physically and mentally had a few days off.

“The way it has gone the last month or two we have been playing teams who have been fresher so hopefully we can use it to our advantage.

“Everybody plays the same games but the thing that makes it tricky is nothing to do with COVID, but the weather.

“Carrick’s game against Glentoran was their ninth in 27 days because of all the catch up games that they are playing.

“Everybody by the end the April will have played the same amount of games but it’s the configuration of how that looks.

“It’s always a tough game home or away to Crusaders and we are not expecting anything different on Friday night.”

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