Coleraine’s Oran Kearney ready for Oval test in high-stakes league run-in

The Bannsiders managed to leapfrog Glentoran in the standings with a weekend win over Cliftonville thanks to Ben Doherty’s penalty double.

Now Kearney and Coleraine visit the Glens aiming to strengthen that hold on second - and potentially increase the pressure on defending champions Linfield.

“We have to get ready for another big effort,” said Kearney following Saturday. “This is why you want to be involved in it and you keep encouraging the players that this is where they’ll get reputations and earn the right to call themselves a good Irish League player.

“I don’t think us moving ahead of Glentoran changes anything ahead of Tuesday.

“Today was about getting the business done and put a bit of distance on the teams behind us, whilst keeping tabs on those above us.

“We have done that today and that’s all that we can do...Tuesday night will take care of itself and it’s up to us to recharge the batteries and get ready for it.

“Credit to our boys, I thought we stepped up to the mark and there were a lot of big performances throughout the team that you need in games like this.

“It is a big moment for us as there is a huge amount at stake in the top-six games.”

FIXTURES: Carrick Rangers v Ballymena United (7.30); Cliftonville v Larne, Dungannon Swifts v Warrenpoint Town, Glenavon v Portadown, Glentoran v Coleraine, Linfield v Crusaders (all 7.45)