INSTITUTE: Deery thrilled with late show which saw off Loughgall

The Drumahoe men scored twice in the final five minutes to claim the three points and with four games remaining their play-off hopes are still alive.

“We have scored four goals in the last ten minutes from our last two games and that shows the character in the squad,” he said.

“We managed to score two goals in injury time at Lurgan Celtic and we kept persevering on Saturday and got our rewards.”

Deery did concede that he felt his side were better in the first half against Loughgall.

“I felt our first half was technically better but in the second half we got a wee bit ragged,” he added.

“They sat really deep on us, but when you are a fit team and you pride yourself on your work-rate and the stuff you do off the pitch, then you get your rewards and that’s what they got.”

Striker Gareth Brown, who scored the stoppage leveller at Lurgan Celtic a few weeks ago, scored the all-important first goal on 85 minutes, much to Deery’s delight.

“It’s great when a striker scores goals, but I felt Gareth’s all round display was his best this season,” he said.

“His hold up play and all round number nine role, in terms of bringing boys into play, I felt he was super.

“The confidence he’ll take from those two goals will be great for him. He’s a very passionate character and you need those type of boys in the dressing room.

“As he has went through a wee drought and as he’s a young man, he can be a wee bit hard on himself, but we always put trust in him and he has been a great asset to us all year, so we are delighted for him and long may his goals and performances continue.”