Oran Kearney has tipped his former club Coleraine FC to win the Irish League Premiership title this season. The ex-Bannsiders manager said the senior squad is "way too strong" for the competition.
Kearney, who managed Coleraine for over six years, believes the team is the clear favourite. "I think they're by far the favourites for the title this year," he said. He pointed to the quality and depth of the playing group as key reasons for his confidence.
Kearney highlighted the squad's overall power as the main factor. He feels the team has a significant edge over its rivals in the league. This assessment comes as Coleraine sit top of the Premiership with 22 points from eight games, holding a three-point lead over nearest challengers Linfield. Their recent form is flawless, with five consecutive wins including last week's 1-0 victory over Limavady United.
The team's defensive solidity has been a foundation, conceding only five goals so far. At the other end, they have scored 18, giving them the league's best goal difference of +13.
The immediate test of this favourite status comes this Friday. Coleraine host second-placed Linfield at The Showgrounds in a top-of-the-table clash that could define the early title race. A win would extend their lead to six points. The squad will be looking to maintain their perfect recent run against their closest rivals.
This story first appeared at newsletter.co.uk
