VIDEO: United youngsters impress Ferguson in weekend defeat

Glenn Ferguson believed that the young players he brought into the Ballymena United line-up were the main positive from Saturday’s Danske Bank Premiership defeat by Dungannon Swifts.
Eoin Kane was one a number of youngsters who impressed in Ballymena United's weekend defeat by Dungannon Swifts. Picture: Press Eye.Eoin Kane was one a number of youngsters who impressed in Ballymena United's weekend defeat by Dungannon Swifts. Picture: Press Eye.
Eoin Kane was one a number of youngsters who impressed in Ballymena United's weekend defeat by Dungannon Swifts. Picture: Press Eye.

But Ferguson believes that some other more senior players missed their opportunity to stake a claim for a place in the Irish Cup semi-final squad this weekend.

“It was a chance for us to have a look at players on the fringes of the squad and see what their fitness levels are like and to get that up in case they are needed.

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“To be honest, it was the younger players who really stood out.

Eoin Kane was one a number of youngsters who impressed in Ballymena United's weekend defeat by Dungannon Swifts. Picture: Press Eye.Eoin Kane was one a number of youngsters who impressed in Ballymena United's weekend defeat by Dungannon Swifts. Picture: Press Eye.
Eoin Kane was one a number of youngsters who impressed in Ballymena United's weekend defeat by Dungannon Swifts. Picture: Press Eye.

“Macauley Cairns did well in goal - he was a bit erratic in his kicking but he made a great save in the first half with the ball moving around in the wind and he probably couldn’t do anything about the goals.

“Caolan Loughran was outstanding at centre-back - he went and won things, he put his head in where central defenders usually like to put it and his distribution was pretty good.

“Leroy Millar showed in flashed what he has unfortunately he was curtailed a bit by the injury to Michael Ruddy and didn’t play his normal position for a large chunk of the game.

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“Eoin Kane came on at half-time and was excellent - he’s a good passer of the ball and knows how to keep the game simple.

“Some other players did OK but it for others it was just an average performance. It was a lack-lustre end of season post-split game.

“The ball was like a hot potato in the first half and over the course of the 90 minutes I don’t think I’ve seen such a lack of quality in two teams at this level and it probably epitomises the split - something needs to be done to keep games going until the end of the season.

It was my choice to make the changes so I can’t be too critical and I’ll take the positives about how the young lads played,” added Ferguson.

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