KEARNEY’S DELIGHT AT CUP WIN

It sparked off wild scenes of celebration on the Coleraine bench, with Kearney at the heart of it.

“I have it in me to celebrate like Mourinho,” laughed Kearney after the enthralling game. “It was just great to get the result after the recent tough times we have been through.

“I had a feeling when we got the corner. We haven’t scored from a corner for a long time, and I felt something would happen.

“It was a nice moment, but most of the subs and backroom team were passing me.”

The game almost didn’t take place after some heavy rainfall during the night. Referee David Malcolm spoke with both managers before the game asking for their views on whether or not it should go ahead and Kearney had no hesitation to give his view.

“David came to Spike and me and asked if we wanted to play,” he revealed.

“There was no hesitation in wanting to go ahead with the game. It is the Irish Cup and I love the competition. I didn’t want it put back a couple of weeks because we also have Setanta commitments.

“When it went to 2-2 after 88 minutes we thought we would end up with a replay anyway, but we managed to get over the line.”

Kearney’s delight was in sharp contrast to that of Glenn Ferguson who was gutted to have snatched away from him so late on.

“It was a horrible 30 seconds at the end,” said Ferguson.

“I thought at 2-2 we were going to get what we deserved in the end. Over the course of the 90 minutes I don’t think either side deserved to lose it. A draw and replay would have been the fair outcome.

“When we got the equaliser, maybe we thought we had earned the replay, but then Coleraine score and there is no way back.

“It is a cruel way to lose a cup tie but we move on.

“It was a scrappy winner, and we are disappointed to concede from a set piece.

“It bounced off the shins of players, but they reacted quicker than us. So it is about taking responsibility.

“It’s cup football, and things like this happen from time to time. We have to learn from it.”

*More reaction in this week’s Coleraine Times out Tuesday