Shane McGinty has described Ballinamallard’s “brilliant” victory over Carrick Rangers as one of the best moments of his career. The attacking midfielder was instrumental in the win, scoring the first goal in spectacular style and leading his teammates to a crucial win that takes them off the foot of the table for the first time since early September.
“I have been lucky enough to win a few cups in my time but I don’t think I have had a feeling as good as I had at the final whistle in a long, long time. It was absolutely brilliant,” he said. 
“When we were down there five or six weeks ago we knew hope was diminishing, but Harry has talked about a snowball effect and it is beginning to roll now and the relief tonight was amazing. We are delighted. Absolutely delighted. 
“From the position we were in when Harry came in, if you had told us we would be a couple of points better than Carrick after time we played them, then we would have been happy with that. We know now we need to finish the job off now and remain ahead of them and give ourselves a play-off game.”
After an often scrappy opening to the match, McGinty produced a moment of real quality, running at the Carrick defence before unleashing a shot from twenty five yards that powered past Doherty in the Rangers’ goal. 
“I was carrying the ball forward and Curran was giving an option out left,” recalled Shane. 
“My initial thought was to pass it him and get into the box, but as I drove they kept backing off and I thought I am going to have to hit this. I hit it well and my heart went mad and away I went into the corner happy as Larry!”
His goal and influential performance was the latest in a series of matches that has witnessed a return to form for the former Institute player, who has suffered from injury for long spells of the season. 
“It was a difficult time with Gavin at the end of his time here because I was injured,” he admitted. 
“It was only when Linfield came down here that I felt 100 per cent fit, and I told Harry that I was ready to go and I feel fit now.”
Since that game he has played a massive role in the Mallard’s upturn in fortune and he puts a lot of that down to his new manager, Harry McConkey. 
“Harry installs that bit of confidence in you and has been continuously in my ear and everybody’s ear to get the best out of us,” he said. 
“First and foremost he is a top man, a top bloke. I can only speak for myself but I think he knows how to talk to you and how to get the best out of you. Even when you are down in the position we were in, he can bring out the best in us, and I hope that continues.”
The win lifts Ballinamallard above Carrick in the league table but despite overhauling their fellow strugglers, McGinty and the rest of the team are have been left in no doubt by the coaching staff that their job is far from complete. 
“Harry is very like that, as are Andy, Brian and Craig,” said Shane. 
“That is a win against Warrenpoint, a draw against Dungannon and now a win against Carrick but we will not get carried away. Certainly not. One disappointing result and Carrick are still fighting and that win quickly turns around. The minute the whistle went it was of course brilliant and we had the high fives and cheers but it quickly turns to recovery. It’s about training on Thursday night and booking the hotel for Saturday morning. It’s all very focused and very professional, the way it should be, and hopefully that will help us get a positive result from it. We are confident but we will not take it for granted.”