Oran Kearney wants Coleraine to go on a run in the opposite direction after ending winless streak

Lyndon Kane celebrates. Credit: Desmond Loughery/Pacemaker Press

Pacemaker Press

Lyndon Kane celebrates. Credit: Desmond Loughery/Pacemaker Press

Steve Jones

January 24 2022 11:00 AM

Coleraine boss Oran Kearney insists there was no panic buttons hit after his side recorded their first win in eight Premiership outings.

The Bannsiders looked like contesting for their first Gibson Cup crown since 1974 – but seven successive games without a win ended their challenge.

Kearney’s boys still have a BetMcLean League Cup final on the horizon, as well as two other avenues to secure European football and gained some much-needed momentum as Rodney Brown and Lyndon Kane netted for the hosts – either side of a Steven Gordon own goal.

It marked a first Premiership win since November and Kearney hopes it can help kick-start a winning run of their own.

“On winning runs, we never get too carried away from a victory or a run,” Kearney said.

“Likewise, in the last three or four weeks, we’ve just got back to basics. For all the good runs that you go on, we’ve all experienced the tough ones as well, and I’ve said that to the players.

“You learn as much about ourself and everybody else around you during those times, possibly more than you do when you’re winning games.

“There’s been no team meetings, there’s been no clipboards out, no power points. We know what makes us tick and we know what we need to do through the week to get performances and results on a Saturday.

“So, there’s been no big drama, there’s been no big carnage.

“Likewise, if we were seven or eight games unbeaten, there would be no big drama, no big carnage either.

“It’s great, of course, and hopefully that’s up and running again and we can go on another run in the opposite direction.”

Carrick now drop to 10th in the standings and have only picked up seven points out of a possible 48.

However, boss Stuart King was left dismayed by the award of a free-kick that led to the opening goal.

“For 30 minutes we were really good,” he said.

“Ben Tilney should score, Jordan Gibson is one-on-one and doesn’t hit the target. But the game has changed on a refereeing decision..”

COLERAINE: Deane, Kane, Mullan (Traynor 79), Brown, Jarvis, Lowry (Kelly 79), McLaughlin (Shevlin 79), Carson (Wilson 72), O’Donnell, Glackin (McKendry 72), Allen.

Subs not used: Gallagher, Parkhill.

CARRICK RANGERS: Skeet, Forsythe, Surgenor (Chambers 62), Ervin, Gordon, Cushley, Cherry (E Kelly 62), Glendinning (Kalla 70), Gibson, Tilney, Anderson.

Subs not used: Shields, Quinn, Magill, Hunter.

Referee: Diarmuid Harrigan

Man of the Match: Jamie Glackin

Match Rating: 6/10