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Steven Crawford

Oran Kearney's pre-match chat helps ease match-winner's frustration

Oran Kearney has revealed the pre-match message delivered to Conor McKendry before his impressive showing in the 2-0 win over Larne.

McKendry would probably be the first to admit his form in recent months has not hit the heights of the that he would have hoped.

Kearney admitted the mercurial winger can be "frustrating" given his undoubted talent and his high levels in training.

Read next: Conor McMenamin injury confirmed as winger ruled out for two months

The Bannsiders boss though is more than happy to be patient with the 24-year-old.

And that patience paid dividends as he produced a goal and an assist against his former employers on Friday evening thanks to Kearney's pep talk beforehand.

"Conor has such ability and is such a talent," he said.

"He's been like that in training and he frustrates the life out of us and himself probably at times as well.

"I have said to him that we have got to keep working hard with him and he's got to keep working hard with us to try and get the best out of him and try and get those performances.

"The instruction tonight was for him to go and pretend it's Tuesday or Thursday night and go and go and do what he does in training.

"He has lit up training over the last few weeks to a point where he's forced my hand and I've no choice but to put him in.

"He played as a striker but it was pretty much a free role.

"The instruction was to go and get on the ball and go and create."

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