Derby next up for ’Stute

They go into the New Year’s Eve clash full of confidence, after they secured their second trophy of the season at Tobermore United, on Boxing Day, but Paul Kee now wants them to give it a big push as they continue to try and catch leaders Ballinamallard.

The Drumahoe club have defeated the Roesiders three times already this season - twice in cup competitions and once in the league - but Kee is expecting a tough encounter this weekend.

“Derby matches are always tight and difficult and I can’t see Saturday’s match being any different,” explained Kee.

“Limavady will be smarting, because we have beaten them three times already this year and because of that there is going to be no bigger incentive for them to try and beat us.

“It’s good to win the Craig Memorial Cup, as it gives the players a big bonus and it gives them the belief that we can achieve.”

The Northern Ireland Under 17 gaffer also acknowledges that his players know that they have 12 league games remaining and if they harbour any hopes of clinching one of the top two spots, then they probably have to win most of their remaining games.

“We realise now that we have 12 cup finals and that’s the fact of the matter,” declared Kee.

“We have 12 finals, home and away, to try and get up the Championship One table, our aim is to try and get into the top two.

“We are just sitting nicely at the minute, so the objective now is every game is a cup final. We are at the top of the hill and we are making our way down, so we want to gather momentum, speed and strength from every game we play and Monday’s win will help us.

“The team has come through a mentally and physically tough game at Tobermore, some players have performed very well, we have another winners medal, that’s two cups this year, so that proves that the players are putting the effort in, the staff is putting the effort in and we are getting somewhere.”

Going into the derby, defender Sean Roddy misses out as he’s away on a short break to Egypt, but Neil Harkin returns from suspension, but Thomas McBride and John Curran are both still struggling with shoulder and knee problems respectively.