Welcome break has served us well: Kearney
COLERAINE have just had the luxury of eight days without a match but Oran Kearney knows that will be the last break until the end of this unique season.
They go into their game at home to Carrick Rangers today in second place in the Danske Bank Premiership table, 11 points behind Linfield but with three games in hand and two more to play against the leaders.
It’s a scenario the Bannsiders boss has been preparing for as they continue their chase for a first league title in 47 years.
“The break has been really important,” said Kearney. “Aaron Traynor and Stephen O’donnell got a game under their belts last week, James Mclaughlin is also back and we will need everyone because after Carrick we have six weeks of Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday games.
“We couldn’t afford to risk those guys against Dungannon, Portadown and Warrenpoint as we can’t afford to lose any more bodies.”
Today’s game should be the home banker of the day with Coleraine on a winning run of five — and unbeaten in 15 — and Carrick without a win in nine and on a losing run of four, in which they have conceded 18 goals. The Bannsiders have also won the last 10 games between the teams and Carrick have lost all eight Premiership games at the Showgrounds.
Coleraine’s latest result opened up a seven-point gap on Crusaders, a performance that delighted the manager.
“To get a result against Crusaders you have to be eight or nine out of 10 and I thought we had that level,” said Kearney. “The onus is on the home side and it’s tough without a crowd but we were on the front foot from the word go.”