DC boss hits out at McCann as Whites lose

DONEGAL CELTIC boss Pat McAllister hit out at his counterpart and friend Tim McCann following his side’s relegation-battle victory over Lisburn Distillery yesterday.
By The Newsroom
Published 4th Apr 2013, 15:00 BST
The New City Whites Supporters Club held their first ever fund-raising event yesterday at half-time in the game against Portadown, a suitably themed Easter one too - Guess the number of eggs in the jar. The event was won by Bobby Radcliffe from the Grosvenor Whites Supporters Club who correctly guessed that the jar contained an amazing 83 eggs. The New City Whites have thanked all those supporters from both clubs who entered the fundraising event and say that they have more events lined up for the future. Pictured are David Todd, Daryl Connery, Colin Winton, Les Clarke, Paul Connery, Glenn Smith and winner Bobby Radcliffe. Picture: David Hunter.The New City Whites Supporters Club held their first ever fund-raising event yesterday at half-time in the game against Portadown, a suitably themed Easter one too - Guess the number of eggs in the jar. The event was won by Bobby Radcliffe from the Grosvenor Whites Supporters Club who correctly guessed that the jar contained an amazing 83 eggs. The New City Whites have thanked all those supporters from both clubs who entered the fundraising event and say that they have more events lined up for the future. Pictured are David Todd, Daryl Connery, Colin Winton, Les Clarke, Paul Connery, Glenn Smith and winner Bobby Radcliffe. Picture: David Hunter.
The New City Whites Supporters Club held their first ever fund-raising event yesterday at half-time in the game against Portadown, a suitably themed Easter one too - Guess the number of eggs in the jar. The event was won by Bobby Radcliffe from the Grosvenor Whites Supporters Club who correctly guessed that the jar contained an amazing 83 eggs. The New City Whites have thanked all those supporters from both clubs who entered the fundraising event and say that they have more events lined up for the future. Pictured are David Todd, Daryl Connery, Colin Winton, Les Clarke, Paul Connery, Glenn Smith and winner Bobby Radcliffe. Picture: David Hunter.

After Stephen O’Neill’s second-half goal gave Celtic a five-point cushion over the Whites at the foot of the Danske Bank Premiership, McAllister cited comments attributed to McCann in a newspaper, claiming Celtic players banged on doors and jeered following their recent league win over Distillery at Celtic Park.

Ironically, Distillery gained the points from that game after it was discovered Celtic’s Sean Cleary played while serving a suspension.

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After dominating the first-half, O’Neill drilled a loose ball into the top of the Distillery net in the 54th minute.

Victorious boss McAllister added: “I took exception to what Tim McCann said in a newspaper before the game; that my players were cheering and banging on doors after the game at our ground. We were cheering because Oscar Knox, a young cancer patient whose name is on our shirts, came into our dressing room.

“While our motivation was to win this game for Oscar, Tim McCann made it a heck of lot easier with his comments.”

While McCann, a league title winner with Cliftonville and Glentoran isn’t giving up the fight to stay in the Premiership, he conceded: “I told the boys before the game that it was a battle and they had to go to war. But they just didn’t seem up for it, which is surprising given their effort and commitment to draw with Portadown last Saturday.

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“In games like this it boils down to who wants it more, and they (Celtic) wanted it more.

Lisburn Distillery: Windrum, Smyth, Harkness, Hunter, McCullough, Davidson, McCann, Garrett, Hughes, Gordon, Boyd

Subs: Halliday, Traynor, Melly, Ferguson, Withers

Donegal Celtic: Connelly, Keegan, McShane, Bannon, Burns, McAreavey, Downey, Cleary, O’Neill, Miskimmin, Bradley

Subs: Hughes, Devine, Gargin, Deans, McCann