Ex-point midfielder Lynch eyeing a return to the game

FORMER Warrenpoint Town midfielder Matty Lynch is keen to return to Irish League football in 2021.

The 21-year-old left Milltown a day after the last transfer window ended and will be available to play again in January when the next window opens.

Championship clubs are interested, with Ards understood to be keen, while some Premiership clubs will be alerted to his availability as a free agent.

Under Stephen Mcdonnell at Warrenpoint, Lynch was a key figure in the middle of the park when Town reached the Irish Cup semi-finals, but since Barry Gray arrived on the scene, chances have been limited.

“Leaving Warrenpoint, it wasn’t a case of throwing the head up because it was something I’d been thinking about for a while,” explained Lynch, who is studying at University of Ulster, Jordanstown and in the final year of his Sports Studies degree.

“There has been interest, and obviously ideally I’d like to play in the Premiership, but the Championship is appealing too because there are good sides in that league and a lot of good managers who like to play football.

“I really enjoyed my time at Warrenpoint and under Stephen Mcdonnell I played a lot of games and his style suited me.

“I didn’t play as much under Barry Gray but there are no hard feelings. I got on well with Barry, and his man management was good, but I didn’t get opportunities and that’s why I felt it was time to move on.

“I believe I have plenty to offer, like to get the ball down and play and pass it and build, and I can’t wait to get back to playing football again.”

Lynch s ays he has been pleased to see old pals like Fra Mccaffrey, Danny Wallace and Alan O’sullivan enjoy an impressive start to the season with Warrenpoint.

Gray’s side will be aiming to maintain that bright opening at Coleraine tomorrow.

A few weeks back, few would have predicted that the Bannsiders would enter this game four points and places behind Warrenpoint in the table.

In their last two outings, Town stunned champions Linfield 2-1 at Milltown and dominated at Carrick Rangers, leaving the Belfast Loughshore Hotel Arena with a 3-1 win. The Point’s team performances have been exceptional, with O’sullivan and the creative Kealan Dillon in fine attacking form.

Contrast that with Coleraine, who were hoping to mount a serious title challenge this season. November proved a shocking month in which they picked up just one point from a possible 12, and December started the same way with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Dungannon Swifts last Friday night.

Kearney will demand a reaction from his team, but Warrenpoint may be a tough nut to crack.