Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
CHRIS SHERRARD
Tobermore boss wary of Bannsiders test
TOBERMORE United are preparing for “their cup final” as they go to Coleraine in the sixth round of the Irish Cup on Saturday.
Just 25 miles down the A29 separates the two clubs but there’s also 26 league positions and a whole lot of different expectations between them.
The Bannsiders are one of the favourites to go all the way and win the competition this season.
A burgeoning young side harnessed by one of the finest managers in local football, on their day they’ve been a match for anyone.
Trophies and plaudits have been thinner on the ground for Tobermore, whose last serious cup success game seven years ago in the regional Craig Memorial Cup.
But they’ve been impressive in the Irish Cup this season; the trip to the Showgrounds their reward for knocking out higher-ranked Annagh United in the fifth round.
A 2-0 win that day in Portadown followed a 6-0 win in the previous round at home to Shorts.
They also hit six in the second round of this year’s competition with only a single Wakehurst goal in round three getting past them so far.
Whiteside is well aware that is likely to change this Saturday but he’s told his team to believe in their own abilities. He told Match on Tuesday: “It doesn’t get any bigger for Tobermore United than to go and play a top-four Premiership club like Coleraine in the last-16 of the Irish Cup.
“It’s a big achievement for us to even be at this stage of the competition.
“And really this is our cup final. “As long as we go there and do ourselves justice then I can’t ask for any more from the boys.
“There’s absolutely no pressure on us; Coleraine will be expected to win this game very comfortably.
“But it’s a cup match and they give the smaller teams a chance.
“If the luck’s with us, anything can happen.
“I know Oran Kearney (inset) and he’s done a brilliant job with Coleraine.
“Hopefully he rings the changes and gives some of his fringe players a chance.
“And hopefully they miss their chances and we take ours and you never know.
“Ultimately we’re going to go to Coleraine and enjoy the occasion.”
The league remains the focus for Tobermore this season, regardless of how
Saturday’s cup tie transpires.
They were, and still are, well placed for a push for the title.
But a poor run since
New Year’s Eve left them treading water and at the weekend their heads went under slightly when they slipped to seventh. Those four defeats have also seen United fail to find the back of the net on any occasion.
And a recent defeat to then bottomof-the-table Sport and Leisure should serve as wake-up call for the team, according to the manager.
Whiteside added: “It’s more to do with the inexperience of the players than anything else. “I’ve a very young squad and they’ve probably lost focus on the league games since the Irish Cup draw.
“I’ve been in that situation myself as a player so I know how it can happen.
“I changed things up a bit on Saturday to make sure we’re properly prepared for the Coleraine game. “I don’t like making excuses but we have been missing a few with injuries and my captain had been away through work.
“This league is so tight, anyone is capable of beating anyone on their day.
“We have to try hard to get back to winning games again and if we can do that we’ll be challenging again. “The boys have been working hard and they’re learning all the time.”