Kearney will face Scottish side again
Ex-St Mirren boss Oran Kearney can’t wait to take on former foes Motherwell but has warned his Coleraine side the Steelmen have significantly improved from when he faced them before.
The Bannsiders boss puts that down to the abilities of his counterpart and good friend Stephen Robinson.
Well have struggled at the start of this term with only two points out of 18.
But Kearney insists Robinson’s team will still be big favourites when they travel to Northern Ireland for a one leg September 17 Europa League shoot-out.
Motherwell hammered Glentoran 5-1 in the last round and will be searching for an Irish League double, while Coleraine recorded one of the best results in their history defeating Maribor on penalties in Slovenia following a 1-1 draw.
When Kearney kept St Mirren in the top flight in the 2018-2019 campaign, he had a record of one win, one draw and two defeats against Robinson’s Well, although there were no home victories in any of the four games – which would suit the Fir Park outfit this time.
Kearney said: “It’s a great draw for us against a club and a manager I know well, which can be a rarity for Irish League clubs in Europe.
“Robbo’s a really good guy and has been very good to me over the past few years so it will be fantastic to see him again and also to take him on in an important game for both sides.
“We obviously have confidence from beating Maribor but that won’t stop us being heavy underdogs when we play Motherwell.
“They finished third in a very strong league last season which tells you about their capabilities and even though they haven’t started this season the way they’d have liked they are a good side with an excellent manager. I have immense respect for what they have achieved.
“When I was at St Mirren we had some good contests with Motherwell but they have evolved over the last 12 to 18 months both in playing personnel and results.
“That is down to Robbo so I expect to be playing a totally different animal than
I previously faced.”
Kearney, who led St Mirren to Premiership survival in 2018, would not rule out a return to Scottish football in the future but for now is totally focused on the Bannsiders doing the business against a Scots side.
Coleraine’s domestic season is not due to start until October but Kearney added: “We’ll look to play a game, maybe two, prior to the Europa League game and we will be ramping up training.
“It was a heck of a feat from the players to go to Slovenia and come away as winners.
“There was a great mentality about the team and from when we flew home the boys have been feeling good about it.
“But now we have to readjust and that means focusing on the task ahead and being mentally strong for when Motherwell arrive at the Showgrounds.
“It will be another massive night for the players and we will prepare right and have them ready to go on September 17.
“This is a new script forus and we intend delivering another strong performance.”