Institute: O’Flynn dreaming of perfect season

Stephen OFlynn celebrates his goal for Institute against Dungannon Swifts, earlier in the season.

The Shore Road men currently sit six points clear at the top of the Premiership and face Glentoran in the Irish Cup semi-final but O’Flynn isn’t taking anything for granted.

“To be honest in an perfect world Crusaders would complete the double and Stute would stay up and that’s what I’m hoping,” said O’Flynn.

The 32-year-old also believes that Stephen Baxter’s side can’t afford to be taking the Drumahoe men lightly.

“We talked about our next few games before the split and I just mentioned to the lads that two times Institute should have beaten Crusaders,” he added.

“(Aaron) Walshy missed a penalty at Drumahoe and I missed a penalty at Seaview when I was at Stute in our first game between the sides and those penalties could have turned the games around.

“So we can’t show any complacency when we go into Saturday’s game and obviously they are fighting for their lives so we wouldn’t be taking anything for granted.

“We nearly got egg on our face against Carrick last Saturday, as we started off pretty poorly and there was a few home truths said at half-time but we came out after the break and in the end we ran out comfortable winners.”

The ex-Derry City man comes up against his old team-mates this weekend as Premiership leaders Crusaders face bottom side Stute at Seaview and while Stephen Baxter’s side will start the game as massive favourites, the Cork native is concerned about his old club.

The Drumahoe men haven’t had a league victory in 17 games and because of that O’Flynn is worried their run of results could come to an end this weekend.

“We have to make sure that mentality is right in the group and we don’t take things for granted,” he added.

“It will be strange playing against Stute on Saturday, but in saying that I have to try and get into the squad and I’ll be looking to get any type of game time, but the main thing is getting the three points.

“I know that Institute haven’t won a game in the league for a while, but I think the longer a team goes without winning the more dangerous they are, because eventually that run will come to an end and from our point of view I’m hoping it isn’t Saturday.”