Institute manager Kevin Deery considering his future after heavy playoff defeat

Institute manager Kevin Deery has been left pondering his future after another heartbeaking promotion play-off defeat.

Twelve months ago he watched on as a spot in the Danske Bank Premiership slipped out of the Blues hands with a last minute Ballinamallard goal, and on Friday it was further dismay as a strong second half display from Carrick Rangers saw them keep hold of their spot at the top table.

After the game the manager’s emotions were clear for all to see, and while he found it difficult to find the words in the end he said the result came down to too many missed chances.

“It’s a sore one to lose out in the way that we have. I don’t think the players deserved that after the season that they’ve put in,” Deery admitted.

“Certainly I felt at half-time that the goals we conceded were unfortunate and then we got done with a bit of quality to make it 3-1, and that was us gone. We knew when we were 2-1 down that the next goal needed to be us and Mark Scoltock has a great chance and that’s the difference. Let’s just say it how it is – that’s the difference.”

He continued: “We were in control of our own destiny and then we miss a glorious chance. I’m hurting for the players because they are amateurs training four or five days a week and it’s just unfortunate that they fell a bit short.”

While they were 2-1 down at the break, ‘Stute knew that just one goal would put them in control of the play-off, but the manager feels a poor second half cost them and he reflected more generally on what the bitter end to the season means for him.

“It’s sheer sadness. We believed we were a different sort of animal this year and that we deserved a crack at going up but, unfortunately, 45 minutes cost us. Within them 45 minutes there were a couple of spells in the game where you have to see it out or whatever but I certainly feel we didn’t get the breaks at times as well,” he admitted.

“You just really have to go away and evaluate and see what you feel. It’s been two really horrible ends to the seaon for me as manager of Institute. I have to go and chat to Jennifer and the wee man and that because it’s funny how emotional your own family get at times so it’s just a hard one to take.”

The final score line was certainly harsh on a visiting team who were the better of the sides for long periods of the tie. Looking at the three goal difference in the game and on aggregate, Deery said that was also disappointing.

“I’m really sad because we have lost out 5-2. I’m a proud man and I like to be a competitor. The way the second half went, it just leaves you feeling dejection. That’s the only word for it. You have to question yourself as well at times so now its time to look at yourself and see what went wrong and think can you do things better.”

While he questioned himself in the moments after the final whistle, the ‘Stute boss did agree that he needed time to decide on how he and his team can improve going forward.

“It is for another day because at the minute you can see how flat and how dejected we are but in time I’ll become a wee bit stronger and I’ll become a bit more aware of what is needed, and of what is needed of myself because there is no doubt we have quality in our team but maybe it might just not have been enough and I have to look at myself and look at what way to move forward.”

Despite the difficult end to the season, Deery did agree that he looked back with pride on what his side had achieved since their campaign began, with a second place finish in the Championship and a strong Irish Cup performance against eventual victors and Premiership champions Linfield.

“When you have amateur players who are training four or five nights a week, what other feeling are you going to have towards them but pride? You just feel so dejected because sometimes you just don’t get what you deserve, and that was certainly the case,” he insisted.

“Don’t get me wrong, Carrick showed a very good second half display in taking their goals. That was all it was – they took their goals and took them well. From our point of view the four goals are soft. For all your hard work to see it go down the pan there in the second half, it was sad to be honest and I felt for the players,” added the manager.