Gaffer to ring the changes for Intermediate Cup encounter

The Waterside men take on Coagh United, in the Coca/Cola Intermediate Cup quarter-final, at the Riverside Stadium, on Saturday (KO 1.30pm) and although Kee wants to maintain his side’s tremendous run in the competition, he admits he needs to look at the bigger picture.

With Colm McLaughlin and Stephen O’Flynn both likely to miss out again with a hamstring and groin problems respectively, the ’Stute gaffer concedes that the likes of Stephen O’Donnell, Robbie Hume, Ryan Varma, Tom Carlin and Martin Gallagher all need game time.

“I told the players after the Lisburn Distillery game that there would be some changes and getting players minutes under their belts in the Intermediate Cup,” he stated.

“We’ll be resting two or three players for the Coagh tie and that isn’t being disrespectful to them, it’s just that boys are training really well and they have made big efforts and doing well.

“The likes of Tom Carlin and Robbie Hume can feel a wee bit aggrieved that they haven’t been in the squad but the most important thing is that they stay part of it and stay central to what we are trying to do and that’s develop that winning mentality.

“Robbie in particular has been very unlucky, he has training very, very well and has been unfortunate not to get into the last two squads, but as I said we want everyone to stay together.

“I was really pleased with the way we went about our business against Distillery and the players deserve credit, because there was a massive effort, commitment and players were battling for each other and we need that from now until the end of the season.

“I was really pleased with Parkie (Stephen Parkhouse), he had a bit of a bad night and wasn’t feeling the best, but he still came out and put a good shift in, which we needed.

“Again I was pleased with John Curran, when it got a bit nasty at the end, he went and headed the ball, he got his challenges in and that’s what we needed at that stage of the game, so that’s a credit to him.”

Despite the expected changes the Drumahoe man wants his players to remain focused and keep their momentum going.

“We are defending champions of the Intermediate Cup, we won it last year and we haven’t lost in it for a number of seasons and I want that run to continue,” Kee added.

“The most pleasing thing for us is that we have had consistency with our results over the last number of weeks and winning breeds confidence and breeds good habits, unfortunately losing also give you habits, but they are bad ones, but thankfully at the minute we are winning.

“Now the players can see the Championship One table this week and it’s basically up to them now. We are top of the league and it’s ours to lose now, yes granted there’s teams who have games in hand on us, but I would rather have the points on the board.

“There is no question that Bangor and Dundela are probably slightly ahead of us but at the same time all that we can do is try and beat what is in front of us and that’s what we’ll be looking to try and do for the rest of the season,” concluded the ’Stute boss.