FOOTBALL: Kearney weighs up Martyn deal

Martyn featured for the Bannsiders in Saturday’s pre-season friendly with derby with Institute.

The former Derry City player endured a frustrating spell at the Oval after suffering a cruciate ligament injury in September 2010.

Martyn was subsequently released by the Glens at the end of last season but could be set for another spell in the Irish League with Coleraine.

“We contacted Ciaran last week and invited him down. He hasn’t played since last season so it was tough going for him on Saturday,” Kearney said.

“But we won’t be judging Ciaran on Saturday. He is a quality player with heaps of experience.

“He played European football with Derry City, so he is definitely the calibre of player we would be interested in.

“But any deal would have to be right for Coleraine and also Ciaran.

“Hopefully we will get a look at him in the next friendly game and see where we go from there.”

Meanwhile, Kearney is confident Lee Colligan and Ryan McIlmoyle will shake off injuries sustained during Saturday’s game with Stute..

“Lee tweaked his thigh and we brought him off straight away,” Kearney said.

“He has just returned from America where he was coaching, so it will take Lee a while to get back into gear.

“But he has come back in good shape – he just needs some solid training and game-time under his belt.

“Ryan is another we hope will recover quickly. We think it will be a matter of days rather than weeks.

“We have had some tough training sessions in the past week, probably the toughest since I arrived at the club.

“So picking up the odd niggle or two is expected during pre-season.

“The lads have put in the graft and there will be more to come. But that’s pre-season.”