Defender Munster savouring return to United line-up

David Munster (right) has been an impressive performer since his return to the Ballymena United team. Picture: John McIlwaine.

The veteran defender spent the summer in limbo as he waited to see whether the funds would be available within United’s wage budget to offer him a new deal.

“I only signed again the Thursday before the season started,” recalls Munster.

“I spoke to Glenn over the summer and he said he wanted me to stay and asked me what I thought. We agreed I wouldn’t played as many matches this season.

“I’ve had a bit of a back injury so we said I wouldn’t play on a Saturday and then again on a Tuesday but we’ve ended up doing that in the last few weeks!

“As long as I feel alright I’ll play on. If I’m not able to train on a Tuesday and a Thursday then I don’t feel I should be playing on a Saturday because it wouldn’t be fair on the other boys but Glenn says as long as I’m playing well, he’ll continue to pick me and if I feel a bit tired he’ll take me out for a few weeks and put me in again which is fine by me.

“But I’m loving it at the minute - we’re winning games, keeping clean sheets and we have a semi-final to look forward to so I see no reason why I shouldn’t be playing.”

Munster’s return to the team in recent weeks has seen him rekindle the central defensive partnership with Johnny Taylor which was one of the bedrocks for United’s excellent early-season form last season but the 34-year-old insists the reason for United’s improvement is simple.

“It’s down to hard work - we have really been putting it in in training and it’s starting to show in our results.

“We’ve played better in games than we played against Ards and Warrenpoint and lost them so things are starting to turn for us.

“We seem to be getting a wee bit of luck as well - I thought the sending off of the Warrenpoint player on Saturday was a bit harsh.

“We expected to go out and score more goals in the second half but it doesn’t always work out that way - sometimes the team with ten men lift themselves that little bit more.

“Cush’s goal was a great strike and the second goal was a brilliant move - Jenks has done brilliantly for us up front in the past few matches and it was good to see him get a goal.

“It was good to keep another clean sheet - we haven’t kept too many this season.

“I think in the second half Stuarty Addis only had one save to make so I thought we were solid enough in front of him,” added Munster.