Kee happy with fast start

The victory, which sees them into the Coca/Cola Intermediate Cup quarter-finals, was the perfect response to their Irish Cup exit.

Kee was particularly pleased with the way his side started their tie at the weekend.

“That is probably the best we have started this year in terms of the first 15 or 20 minutes,” stated Kee.

“We definitely looked good in the first half hour, but in fairness to them, most teams normally kind of capitulate in the second half against us this season, but they didn’t they kept going, but that’s brilliant for us, because it tests us better defensive qualities and basically players have to work harder, so it keeps their level of fitness up.

“It was definitely a good tie, it was a good performance from us and we had the right attitude from the players.

“We just trained all week and didn’t talk about the Kilmore Rec game, then we said before the game on Saturday that ‘yes we are all disappointed about the Irish Cup, but we have to move on and this is a prelude to the Dundela game’.

“Thankfully we won on Saturday and played well, the win also means we have another game in the season, but we have nine big league games remaining and we have to make sure that we are up for them.”

The ’Stute gaffer also made a few changes to his starting line-up with experienced duo Stephen Parkhouse and Ryan Semple both dropping to the bench, while defenders Dean Jarvis and Sean Roddy both returned to the side, while young pair Robbie Hume and Darren McFadden also got some much needed game time.

“While the Intermediate Cup is a good competition for us, it also meant that we could play (Dean) Jarvis. Declan (McKeever) and Sean Roddy also got 90 minutes under their belt and we also gave some game time to both Darren McFadden and Robbie Hume, because they haven’t featured much recently.

“Robbie in fairness hasn’t done a lot wrong, he had a bit of sickness last week and because of it his training was a wee bit up and down. He scored against Tobermore United and then he didn’t play in a couple of matches and because of that he was a little bit flat, but he has got time and he did well on Saturday.”

Once again Michael McCrudden was in the thick of all things positive for the Waterside out-fit, while Joe Gray also produced a tremendous display in midfield.

“McCrudden particularly in the first half he was very creative, McCauley was steady Eddie as everyone knows he’ll does his bit and Joe Gray has got a goal and he played a part in the other two goals.”

The only down side to the victory was the knee injury youngster James McClay picked up.

“We are hoping it’s just a block and he’s just a bit of a shock reaction like thing to his knee,” admitted Kee.

“But the physio Mervyn (Kirkwood) doesn’t know yet, it looks like it’s his cruciate ligament but hopefully he’s all right, but we are going to have to wait and see how things are this week,

“Unfortunately we had a few illnesses in the camp this week, with a lot of players vomiting and diarrhoea, in fairness to Parkie (Stephen Parkhouse) he had it, Robbie Hume, Corey Hegarty and Darren McCauley had that bug too, so we are lucky we got through the tie.”