IRISH LEAGUE: '˜Big Davy' still the benchmark for Healy

Linfield manager David Healy is convinced David Jeffrey is the right man to lead Ballymena United back to the big time in the coming years.
Ballymena manager David Jeffrey with Linfield's David Healy .(Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye)Ballymena manager David Jeffrey with Linfield's David Healy .(Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye)
Ballymena manager David Jeffrey with Linfield's David Healy .(Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye)

Former Northern Ireland striker Healy watched on as his Blues side saw off United 4-1 in the Danske Bank Premier League at the Showgrounds on Tuesday night.

But only a few weeks before United had beaten the Belfast club by the same scoreline in the League Cup.

United - under Jeffrey’s watch - are sitting third in the league standings and Healy says ‘Big Davy’ is the right man for the under-achieving Sky Blues.

“I said to the players on Tuesday night, and I have said to them before, if you don’t turn up here with your ‘A’ game, fight and battle you will be found out.

“Ballymena are big and strong, they have threats all over the pitch and they are a good side. And they have got the best manager in the Irish League with the success that he has had.

“I knew it was going to be difficult going to the Showgrounds after the last time and because of the game we had on Saturday against Glenavon,” he added.

And Healy admits that United strikers Cathair Friel and Johnny McMurray will cause some damage in the coming months.

“I saw them early in the season when they beat Carrick 4-1. I knew very little about Friel and I knew McMurray from Warrenpoint Town. I saw that night, that they were a threat and they gave us the round around the last time we were here and they score lots of goals.

“They are a threat, they are good players and they score goals. And if you can nullify them you are doing well.

“There will not be too many games this season that one of them does not score goals,” added Healy.

And Tuesday night’s win against Ballymena and Crusaders draw with Glenavon brought the Blues closer to league leaders Crusaders. But Healy says he is not concerned about the Seaview outfit.

“I don’t talk about Crusaders when I am losing, winning or drawing. We have to do our job and win games. And if we had won on Tuesday night and Crusaders had won - we had done our job and that is all I am focused on,” said Healy.