Walsh returnsfor NW derby

INSTITUTE manager Paul Kee feels this Saturday’s encounter at neighbours Limavady United (KO 3pm), is the perfect game for his players to return to action.

The Waterside men, who haven’t played since they defeated Dergview 1-0 in Irish Cup a few weeks ago, lost earlier in the season in the Craig Memorial Cup at the Showgrounds and that performance still annoys the ’Stute gaffer.

“Every derby always has a little extra edge to things and Saturday will be no different,” stated Kee.

“Obviously our last performance against Limavady was very disappointing and I would probably say that was our worst performance of the season, to be honest I took a lot from that game that night, but since then I think we have been able to move on significantly.

“We have to go there with the right type of attitude and meet the enthusiasm that Limavady will have, because that is what they had in the last game, they had physical strength, which we’ll have to meet and if we can do that, then we’ll look to try and inflict our own game onto them.”

Kee also believes that while his side were just starting a wee unbeaten run before the break, he feels the lay off will possibly benefit his players.

“Sometimes a wee break does players the world of good and if I was a player that is the way I would be looking at it. I also feel because we haven’t played in a while the players will be looking forward to it.

“Yes you like the competitive edge at least once a week and not that we haven’t played a competitive fixture in over two weeks.

“We played Sport & Leisure in a friendly in Belfast and that helped us look at a few younger players, while Aaron Walsh, Graeme Taylor, Sean Roddy, Neil Harkin and Ryan Semple all got some game time, which was pleasing.

“We trained on Thursday night, we trained on Saturday and then we played a good decent practice match.”

With Walsh getting some minutes under his belt after returning from a serious ankle injury, Kee is delighted to have got the experienced midfielder back.

“Aaron trained this week and last week; in fairness to him he has trained well and he looks as if he hasn’t been away.

“Joe Gray has been having a bit of a problem with his hamstring, while Michael McCrudden has a calf problem, so we’ll see how they are later in the week.”

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