Wait was worth it for Dec

"I have played with Lewis, Ryan and Finn for all the years I have been here so it was nice to make my first start alongside them."

Declan O'Kane made his first team debut when he came on as a sub at the Excelsior Stadium in January last year but had a 15 month wait before he was handed his starting debut in the home match against Forfar on Saturday.

"I have been on the bench for the last few games and coming on but I eventually got my first start so it was good.

"Being 3-0 down at half time it wasn't an easy game to get back into but it was nice to see that the fans were on our side in the second half. We thought we battered Forfar in the second half and I was glad that Faiss got his goal."

Declan was critical of his first half performance:-

"We should have been better at defending, I could have done better myself with the second goal. Jamie Wilson slipped at the first goal and I wouldn't say that it was fair for Finn to get a yellow card in giving away the penalty."

At the break the 20 year old took on board the instructions of his manager:-

"The manager was wanting us to go out and show the real heart that we have got. The season has not gone for us so it was good to go out and win the second half."

In the final ten minutes Declan hit the crossbar with a cracking shot and he thought that it was in:-

"The big goalie made a good save, I think he touched it. My second half was better, I had been quite nervous to start off with but picked up the confidence as the game went on."

The Musselburgh lad had his mother watching from the stand and despite it being first team football she would have no trouble recognising Dec's team mates. The back four had a combined sum total of 80 years amongst them and they were in front of an 18 year old keeper so it could not be said that Declan was in an experienced defence. He continued:-

"I have played with Lewis, Ryan and Finn for all the years I have been here so it was nice to make my first start alongside them."

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