Kilrea's good run doesn't impress Doherty

Kilrea's James Kielt

KILREA are one of just three teams who have a perfect record in division one in Derry this year, however, their manager Peter Doherty said that the league was never their priority.

His team have defeated Steelstown, Glen, Dungiven, Greenlough and Coleraine in their opening five matches of the campaign.

Of course Doherty was pleased with that success, but he felt that it was important to be realistic so early in the season, particularly when his team have had favourable circumstances in those matches.

“Dungiven had been badly hit by injuries, Coleraine were hit by injuries too and they have a very small panel,” said Doherty.
“We are not going to get carried away with it. We have to guard against complacency.”

Instead, Doherty chose to point out that their incoming run of games, which includes matches against Slaughtneil and Ballinderry, will be very difficult.

Unfortunately his team is without a number of key players. James Kielt, Brian Og McAlary, Justin Nelson, Eamon Morgan and Gavin McWilliams are four of seven players currently unavailable to Doherty.

But surely the fact that his team are capable of winning without so many important players suggests that they are a force to be reckoned with?

“We have a good panel of players, that is important at senior level. I think that we have brought in players who have stepped up to the mark. They all seem to be level headed.”

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