Quinn keen to end season on a high

The Blues are currently sitting in eighth spot but defeat in the game at Mourneview Park on Saturday (kick-off 3pm) could see them drop to 10th if Newry beat Institute.

The boss wants to ensure that that will not be the case but will need a vastly improved performance from his troops who have now suffered four straight league defeats.

“To maintain our eighth place we need to beat Ballymena on Saturday, it’s as simple as that,” he said.

“They’re three points behind us with a superior goal difference. There’s a chance we could be overtaken by Newry too and that’s come from our lack of performance over the last few months. It’s still very important for us to finish eighth.”

Also on the gaffer’s mind ahead of the showdown is his side’s Irish Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of the Braidmen last month as he seeks revenge this weekend.

“I’ll be looking for a bit of revenge for our Irish Cup exit and not let them get above us in the table,” he said determinedly.

“If they win they’ll go above us and so can Newry so the last thing we want to do is languish in 10th. If people think we’ll be going out to fulfil a fixture they’ve another thought coming.”

Willo McDonagh will be suspended for the game following his sending off at the Newry Showgrounds last Saturday and Quinn is looking for some of the squad’s fringe players to step up to the mark and come into the team in the last game of the season.

“Gary Liggett played very well for the Reserves on Saturday I’m told and Adrian Harper put in a good shift. There’s a possibility that some of the guys that played for the Reserves on Saturday will come in,” he said.