2018-19 Season Review: March

COLERAINE would defeat Larne in a classic but lose their defence of the Irish Cup against Crusaders…

The comeback was complete against Larne.

The Bannsiders reached the semi-final of the Tennent’s Irish Cup after producing a mammoth comeback against Larne in a thrilling encounter at Inver Park. The Stripes would fall behind as Larne’s pressure finally paid dividends as they made the breakthrough on 21 minutes as Lynch’s pin-point cross found David McDaid and the striker pounced at the second attempt after Chris Johns failed to save his initial effort. The home side’s advantage would be strengthened just after the half hour mark as a neat passage of play involving Tomas Cosgrove, Fued Sule and Lynch teed up Tilney who squared for McDaid who applied a simple finish from close range. Coleraine shuffled their pack early doors in the second-half as Josh Carson and Jamie McGonigle were introduced before the hour mark and Coleraine found a lifeline on 60 minutes as Ben Doherty’s clever header picked out Eoin Bradley and he made no mistake by finding the bottom corner. On 82 minutes, Coleraine were awarded a spot kick as Stephen Lowry was brought to ground by Graham Kelly inside the area leaving referee Andrew Davey with no hesitation in pointing to the spot. The responsibility was given to Bradley who rifled home his spot kick straight down the middle. Remarkably, that joy of getting back into the game was short-lived as Tiernan Lynch’s men grabbed the lead with only five minutes to go as a clever turn and through ball by Jeff Hughes found McDaid who slammed home his hat-trick. The visitors knew that they would have to throw the kitchen sink at Larne if they would force extra-time and the travelling support were in raptures in added time as McGonigle fired a delightful effort on the turn into the bottom corner to force another 30 minutes of action. Defensive injuries to Mark Edgar and Aaron Canning looked certain to derail the visitors as extra-time started but within two minutes the Bannsiders gained the lead for the first time in the match as James McLaughlin’s pass was turned into his own net by Tilney on 92 minutes. The game was put to bed on 116 minutes in spectacular fashion. The Stripes managed to clear their lines from a corner and the ball landed at the feet of Bradley who managed to run past the halfway line and find McGonigle. The Northern Ireland under-21 international showed lightening pace to run past Tear and cut in on his favoured right foot and power home from a tight angle.

Coleraine would welcome title chasing Ballymena United to The Showgrounds and David Jeffrey’s men showed their credentials by inflicting a 4-0 defeat on the hosts. For the fourth successive match against the Sky Blues, Coleraine would receive a red card as Gareth McConaghie – who was the last defender – was adjudged to have fouled McMurray as he bore down on goal. That blow was further compounded on the half hour mark as United took the lead as Andy McGrory headed home at the second attempt after his initial effort cannoned off the crossbar. Six minutes later, David Jeffrey’s side doubled their lead in dubious circumstances as Adam Lecky’s header was turned away from goal by an alert Johns, but the linesman adjudged that the ball had indeed crossed the line despite protests from the home support.The result was put to bed four minutes after the interval as a long ball by Kofi Balmer was flicked on by McMurray into the path of McGrory. The former Glenavon man hit an instinctive first time effort into the bottom corner to extend United’s advantage.To add insult to injury,a fourth goal arrived on 88 minutes as McGrory completed his hat-trick as he steered home after Johns initially made a smart save to prevent Ryan Mayse from scoring.

The Bannsiders were eager to return to winning ways and they managed to secure all three points against Newry City. After starting brightly, Coleraine continued to apply the pressure and got their reward on 29 minutes. A long throw in from Steven Douglas found Eoin Bradley inside the area but his initial attempt was blocked before Dean Shiels poked home the rebound from close range. The home side felt that the goal should not have stood as they felt there was a clear handball in the build up. In a further blow, Darren Mullen’s side were reduced to ten men just before half-time as Dale Montgomery was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence after a challenge on Jamie Glackin. That didn’t phase the ten-men as Newry capitalised on a defensive error from Coleraine, pulling the scores level on the 50th minute. Tiarnan Rushe was first to react to the blunder picking up the ball outside the penalty area before driving into the box and firing the ball low into the bottom corner. Coleraine would blow a sigh of relief as they hit front when Cormac Burke fired home from Jamie Glackin’s cross for his first goal since arriving from Dungannon Swifts in January. The Bannsiders wrapped up the three points with ten minutes to go. Eoin Bradley out muscled his man allowing him to race through on goal before dinking the ball over the advancing Coleman and into the back of the net for his tenth goal of the season. James McLaughlin added a fourth for the Bannsiders in the closing stages of the match to round off a positive evening for Rodney McAree’s side.

Burke grabbed his first goal in Coleraine colours against Newry City.

Inconsistency would prove to be Coleraine’s downfall as Aaron Jarvis grabbed a late winner for Institute as the Bannsiders left the Brandywell empty handed. ‘Stute started the fixture on the front foot and threatened on nine minutes as a clever ball found the run of Paul Smith. After the striker beat the offside trap his effort was saved by Johns, with the stopper also called into action to deny Ronan Wilson’s follow-up. On 25 minutes, the home side carved out another opportunity as Stephen Curry’s long range strike was easily gathered by Johns. At the other end, a fantastic delivery by Josh Carson was headed wide by Eoin Bradley. Institute would end the half by creating two more chances as Smith was once again thwarted by Johns, before Ryan Morrow’s goal bound effort was blocked by the Coleraine defence. The second-half was a more tight affair and it took until the 57th minute for the next chance to arrive as a fantastic through ball by Wilson found Smith, but the ex-Dergview man failed to find the back of the net. Rodney McAree decided to bring on Cormac Burke and James McLaughlin in the hope of finding the breakthrough, and the Stripes had their first effort on target after 66 minutes as McLaughlin and Jamie Glackin combined to find Carson but his strike failed to trouble Martin Gallagher. Johns was proving to be the difference at the Brandywell as the former Southampton trainee was alert to deny Smith’s well hit free-kick. On 87 minutes, Coleraine nearly grabbed the lead as Carson’s ball into the box found McLaughlin but he steered over. Institute knew that a win would retain their Premiership status and they found it on 89 minutes as Wilson’s powerful run and cross found Jarvis who couldn’t miss from close range. A blow for the Bannsiders who were largely second best throughout.

Coleraine crashed out of the Irish Cup against Crusaders.

A tale of three penalties in the second half proved vital as Coleraine’s defence of the Irish Cup trophy ended at The Oval. The best chance of the first-half arrived on 28 minutes as a fantastic corner kick by Jamie Glackin found Stephen O’Donnell, but the skipper failed to find the target with a header as both teams went in scoreless at the break. Stephen Baxter’s side were given the opportunity to break the deadlock from the penalty spot on 56 minutes as Aaron Canning brought down Heatley inside the area. In-form David Cushley stepped up to plant the ball beyond the reach of Johns. Coleraine responded and nearly found an equaliser on 65 minutes as a clever ball found the run of Eoin Bradley and he rolled his marker before rolling an effort inches wide. There would be controversy on 67 minutes as Jamie Glackin was upended inside the area by Sean Ward and referee Tim Marshall pointed to the spot. However, after speaking to his assistant, Marshall decided to award a free-kick which Bradley hit over. As Coleraine pushed forward for an equaliser, they were leaving gaps in the defence and a poor back pass from Doherty sent Owens through on goal but he failed to convert from close range. Moments later, Owens would miss another sitter as another long ball found the striker but he fired over the bar. On 81 minutes, Owens would be thwarted once again as Johns made an acrobatic save to deny the Crues talisman from close range. The Hatchetmen would secure their passage to the final on 87 minutes as Marshall awarded a second penalty kick for Crusaders as defender Gareth McConaghie was adjudged to have fouled Owens inside the area. This time the striker would make no mistake as he fired home from 12 yards.