GOALS WERE EMBARRASSING - KEARNEY

The Bannsiders found themselves out of the contest by half time after goals by Kirk Millar and Jimmy Callacher.

Speaking afterwards Kearney said the goals were ‘embarrassing’.

“Getting at 2-0 at half time would have probably have left us with some kind of an incentive for the second half,” the Bannsiders’ boss told Times Sport.

“We would have had a chance to try and get something out of the game.

“But to concede so early in the first half and then so late in the first half was a big blow.

“To be honest the manner of all three goals were embarrassing, that would be the best way to describe them.

“You can’t come to places like this, and put in a first half performance like that and expect not to be punished.

“It was a disappointing day. We just weren’t at the races. We showed a lot of naivety. We have progressed greatly this season, but this was a backward step.

“The only saving grace is the fact that we still have a chance of claiming a European place via the play-offs. To do that, we must produce a lot more than we did at Windsor.”

The Bannsiders travel to Glenavon tonight (Tuesday) before going to champions-elect Crusaders on Saturday.

Kearney would like to get back to winning ways again before the European play-offs, but he wants to be going into those games with a fully fit squad.

“Of course it would be nice to be going into it on the back of a winning streak, but in the same stretch I think it’s important we go into it fully fit,” he said.

“We don’t want our best players sitting in th stand watching the semi final.

“It’s been a long season, especially for some of the young lads.

“This is the league and there’s a semi final of a cup coming up.

“The next few games for us are about preparing for those games.

“We’ve players like Ruairi Harkin who are carrying a few aches and pains, who we decided to rest so they can hit the ground running in that semi final.”