Kee happy with point

Some people may feel after racing into a two goal lead that the Drumahoe side will feel it’s two points dropped rather than one gained, however Kee feels the home side deserved a share of the spoils.

“Last Saturday was a nice start, especially being 2-0 up after 13 minutes was nice.

“It was just a pity that we didn’t get to half-time with that score-line because we had a fair amount of control, in fact we looked like we could have scored a few more goals. To be honest we could have been 3-0 or 4-0 up before they even had a chance.

“So to concede the goal was a bit disappointing and then it gave them a bit of initiative and in fairness to them they just kept putting it on top of us all the time and we are still formulating ourselves defensively and it’s something we are going to have to hit the ground quicker.”

Kee felt sometimes in the second half his side were struggling to cope with the intensity of Michael Hughes’ team were showing.

“In the course of the season it might turn out to be a good point for us,” he admitted.

“We struggled to deal with Carrick’s intensity in the second-half. They threw a lot at us and there was a lot of changes and they put the ball in and around us.

“We didn’t take the responsibility that I would like to see in our defending; we were a bit slow at certain things and Carrick capitalised on that.”

The former Northern Ireland U17 gaffer, who prior to Saturday’s opener at Dixon Park, was happy with ’Stute’s pre-season preparations, but he conceded at times that Rangers seemed to be fitter than his side.

“They were in the ascendency, so, a draw is probably a good result but I’m sure they are disappointed they didn’t get the three points,” Kee added.

“We didn’t get going in the second-half. I have to admit that Carrick were fitter than us.

“We have boys who have been on holidays and players who have been injured and we are playing catch-up.

“Carrick looked sharper and had more intensity in their play; they were quicker to the ball than us and we just didn’t get any rhythm going. We didn’t get hold of the game like we did in the first half-hour.”