HERO O’DONNELL IS CAPTAIN FANTASTIC

WARRENPOINT TOWN

COLERAINE O’donnell 66, 80

COLERAINE skipper Stephen O’donnell struck twice in the second half at Milltown to boost Coleraine’s title chances.

Things looked grim for Oran

Kearney’s side when Kealan Dillon’s wonder strike shot Warrenpoint Town into the lead, but O’donnell (right) bulleted home two headers to pinch three vital points.

“Some people are quick to underestimate the role of captain,” said Kearney. “But it’s something I put a lot of thought into. That’s why Stephen is captain and Lyndon Kane is vice-captain because they are leaders by example in all they do.

“Stephen sets the standards in everything he does and, for me, it was fitting he scored twice.”

Warrenpoing Town boss Barry Gray said: “Our game management, once we went a goal up, was poor. But that’s three times we’ve played Coleraine – a team pushing for top spot – and they have again narrowly beaten us, so that’s progress.”

WARRENPOINT TOWN: Sava, Deasy, Ball, Dillon, O’sullivan, Mccaffrey, Swan, Hutchinson, Wallace, Byrne, Doyle. Subs; Coleman (not used), Gallagher (not used), Carroll (replaced O’sullivan 73), Mullen (not used), Cowan (not used), Evans (not used), Quinn (not used).

COLERAINE: Gallagher, Kane, Lowry, Bradley, Wilson, Tweed, O’donnell, Parkhill, Glackin, Traynor, Nixon. Subs; Mullan (not used), Douglas (not used), Jarvis (not used), Carson (replaced Parkhill 56), Beverland (not used), Brennan (replaced Nixon 77), Shevlin (replaced Wilson 65).