IRISH LEAGUE: Coleraine boss happy to win ugly

Coleraine's Eoin Bradley celebrates his goal against Glentoran on Saturday. Photo Lorcan Doherty / Presseye.com

Goals in either half from Eoin Bradley and Jamie McGonigle helped the Bannsiders see off Glentoranand close the gap on third-placed Cliftonville to a single point.

The hosts failed to reach the heights of the previous week’s demolition of Ballymena United in the Irish Cup quarter-finals, but they still had enough in their locker to see off the Glens.

Speaking after the game Oran Kearney praised his side for the maturity they showed to win ugly.

“That’s the maturity we are looking for,” said the Bannsiders boss following the hard-earned success thanks to Bradley and McGonigle on target at The Showgrounds.

“Everyone knows it wasn’t going to be that type of performance like last week, it was one to grind out.

“But in some ways they are the more pleasurable ones, and for the young lads it’s a great experience for them to come through and it will stand them in good stead for the future.

“We weren’t at our best, it certainly wasn’t up there with one of our best performances of this season, but I think more than anything else we kept them at bay, Chris (Johns) certainly didn’t have a big amount to do, and we got our goals at the right time,” added Kearney.

The Glens huffed and puffed for large spells at The Showgrounds on Saturday without causing the home side too many problems.

They were eventually undone by in-form marksmenBradley and McGonigle who scored in either half.

Bradley converted from the spot after Marcus Kane was adjudged to have brought him down.

It was one of a number of decisions from referee Evan Boyce which the visitors disputed, and their frustration bubbled over near the end as Eric Foley was shown a straight red for dissent, while six other Glens men were shown yellow.

“It’s very disappointing as a number of decisions went against us today,” said Haveron.

“Frustration got the better of the players near the end. I’m not happy with it, especially when a players gets sent off because of it, but when you’re constantly on the receiving end of poor decisions it’s only natural to feel a sense of frustration.

“The refereeing decisions today leave me baffled. Davy Kee committed countless fouls today but didn’t get booked, yet the ref dishes out yellow cards to our boys like confetti.

“I seriously think it needs looking at.”

Coleraine: Johns, Kane, Mullan, Harkin, Ogilby, McCauley, Kee, Lyons (Parkhill 86), Edgar, McGonigle (McLaughlin 81), Bradley (Allan 76).

Subs: Douglas, McCafferty.

Glentoran: Morris, Kane, Magee, Allen, Lavery (Gordon 52), Foley, Harmon (Novo 52), McAlorum, McAuley, Redman, Ferrin.

Subs: O’Flynn, Birney, Smith.

Referee: Evan Boyce.