Oran Kearney in defiant mood as injury-hit Coleraine face Carrick clash

Matthew Shevlin is the latest Coleraine player on the treatment table

Coleraine chief Oran Kearney says the Bannsiders have no time to feel sorry for themselves as they deal with an injury crisis at The Showgrounds.

The treatment table on the Ballycastle Road got busier after the defeat against Larne last Friday as Matthew Shevlin and Andy Scott had to be withdrawn in the first-half due to injury.

The pair have joined Lyndon Kane, Adam Mullan, Stephen Lowry, Stephen O’Donnell, Lee Lynch, Darren Cole, Rodney Brown and Lee Harkin at being unavailable in recent weeks.

However, ahead of the visit of Carrick Rangers to the north coast this afternoon, Kearney is hoping other members of his squad can help give his side some momentum for the busy schedule ahead.

“I would say Matthew will be out for a month or two,” said Kearney.

“Andy looks like he’s tweaked his hamstring which could be a few weeks and I hope a knock to Graham Kelly isn’t serious as we can’t afford to lose any more bodies.

“It will be another tough game this afternoon. It’s been so stop-start for Matthew with suspension and injury, and now another injury that looks to keep him out for another few weeks at least.

“It’s been hard to gain that bit of momentum that we would like. We’re big boys, it’s a big boy’s league, and we’ve got to dust ourselves down and gather the troops.”

Meanwhile, Coleraine’s plans to obtain funding for a new redevelopment at The Showgrounds were discussed at the House of Commons this week.

Despite the club being unsuccessful in the second round of Levelling Up funding in January this year, the Bannsiders remain determined to enter the last phase of bidding which would develop the Ballycastle Road venue as the North West Regional Stadium