Johnny Courtney has pledged that his first goal for Ballinamallard will not be his last, as he looks to establish himself in the first team. The 19 year old came on as a substitute in the 1-1 draw with Cliftonville at Ferney Park last month, and has followed that up with starts against Crusaders and Dungannon.

A season that started with a frustrating injury has been improving all the time for the winger. He put in an eye catching display against league leaders Crusaders, but he knows he will have to keep improving if he is to cement his place in the starting eleven.

“I need to score more goals and get more assists,” he admitted. “I think I played very well last week. This week even though I scored I wasn’t happy at all with how I played. I was out injured with a hamstring injury for a long time and I only game back in (to the reserves) at the end of November, so I got a run of games in the Reserves and then got myself into the first team. Hopefully I can keep that going.” His first goal came in the Irish Cup clash against the Swifts at Stangmore Park, but Johnny admitted there was an element of good fortune involved as he capitalised on a poor pass before seeing his shot loop over keeper Alvin Rouse thanks to a deflection.

“I thought the Dungannon player was going to put it out for a throw in but then someone pressed him well and he knocked it back across the area, and I gambled and got lucky,” said Johnny. “It happens maybe once every 25 games but I hit it and it ended up in the net.” In a game that was being dominated by Dungannon his goal helped turn the tide, but he admits it was frustrating that they could not finish off the job, with the sending off of Johnny Lafferty eventually proving decisive.

“It was disappointing to lose, especially the way we came back into it at 2-2,” he said. “I thought we were going to go on and win the game and I think the referee’s decision decided it. I didn’t see the incident myself, but everyone is very disappointed.”