Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
STEADY PALMER
Young midfielder’s performances are impressing all at Windsor 5
2
BY
ONLY 14 weeks into his Linfield career and a week shy of his 21st birthday, Cammy Palmer is staring at a memorable double in his debut season at Windsor Park.
David Healy’s men are fast closing in on a third successive league title while Saturday’s 5-2 win over Dungannon Swifts propelled them into the quarter-finals of the Irish Cup.
Palmer, who joined the Big Two giants in January, provided two assists, was on the scoresheet and picked up the man of the match award after another dynamic display.
Afterwards the midfielder drew high praise from his manager (inset) who has been impressed by the 20-year-old’s early impact in the Irish League.
“Sometimes you are wary when you bring a young player in from across the water,” said Healy. “Is there a mentality, hunger and drive still there?
“At a place like Linfield you also have to prove to the other players that have been here for a long time that you can help take the team forward.
“Cammy has more than done that already.
He’s a confident boy on and off the pitch and has earned the respect of senior professionals in the dressing room.
“I think he started off a little slow against Dungannon, but as the game wore on, he got stronger and he has that natural athleticism to go and win the ball back.
“He’s always snarling at people and nipping in and his performances since arriving here have been very good. I thought he was outstanding.”
Palmer sent Navid Nasseri racing clear for the opener, before Dungannon hit back with a superb equaliser, Caolin Coyle heading home at the end of a slick passing move. Stephen Fallon stabbed home to make it 2-1, before Andy Waterworth pounced for two goals in five second half minutes to put the tie to bed.
Palmer, who teed up Waterworth for his second of the day, fired home in the 90th minute, before Shane Mcginty found the top corner with a stunning late consolation for the Swifts.
Linfield’s reward is a quarterfinal with Loughgall at Lakeview tomorrow night, with a potential semi-final and final lying in wait on May 18 and 21.
“I’m pleased to get through,” said Healy. “We were aware Dungannon would come and play and as a game I thought it was a spectacle and a very good game of football.”
Swifts boss Dean Shiels was content with how his team kept the ball in the wide open spaces of
Windsor, but a couple of defensive lapses left them chasing the tie in the second half.
“We moved it quite well and our game plan was working to an extent but we switched off for their two goals in the first half,” he said.
“And when you then go 3-1 down, you have a decision to make. Do you just protect yourself or go for it? We had a go, but it wasn’t good enough in the end.”
LINFIELD: Chris Johns, Pepper, Newberry, Callacher, Clarke, Fallon (Jamie Mulgrew 73), Cammy Palmer, Joel Cooper, Navid Nasseri, Christy Manzinga (Jordan Stewart 73), Andy Waterworth. Subs not used; Moore, Quinn, Haughey, Lavery, Millar.
DUNGANNON SWIFTS: Roy Carroll (Johnston 66), Coyle, Smyth, Mcginty, Glenny, Teggart (Mcalear 55’), Patton (Ben Gallagher 70), Smyth, Mcginty, Carvill, Patterson. Subs not used; O’kane, Campbell, Convie, Conway.