2025 started with Coleraine progressing in the Irish Cup and becoming North-West Senior Cup winners for a record-extending 23rd time…
The month started with the visit of Armagh City in the fifth round of the Irish Cup and Coleraine hit the front early doors through an Ethan Jordan own goal. A second goal arrived just before the interval when Dylan Boyle hit a superbly struck 25-yard strike into the far corner. On 65 minutes, Coleraine made it 3-0 as a wicked delivery into the box by substitute Connor Murray met the head of Shevlin. After the striker was initially denied, he followed-up the rebound to tap the ball into the net. As a heavy fog descended on The Showgrounds, Coleraine added further gloss on the scoreline when Kirk McLaughlin’s turn and finish found the far corner, before Kyle Spence got in on the act with a fine strike just outside the box. The fixture proved to be Ciaron Harkin’s final game of his short-term loan as the midfielder returned to parent club Derry City.
Coleraine defeated Armagh City on a foggy afternoon at The Showgrounds.
As the January transfer window opened, Coleraine were busy adding to their squad as defender Paddy Burns joined on a deal to the end of the season. He was joined by midfielder Ronan Doherty who agreed a switch from Cliftonville, whilst Connor Murray agreed another loan extension from parent club Hamilton Academical.
After a contest away at Glenavon was postponed due to the weather, Coleraine were back in action at home to Crusaders but once again they would find the Hatchetmen a tough nut to crack. The Bannsiders spurned chance after chance against Declan Caddell’s side and paid the price when Ross Clarke’s cross found the head of Jacob Blaney who made it 1-0 to the visitors. You felt it wasn’t going to be the Stripes’ day when they hit the woodwork twice after the break as Connor Murray rattled the crossbar, before Corey Smith saw a sweet effort clip the post. After numerous crosses into the box and sustained pressure, Crusaders made it an away day to remember as they made it 2-0 at the death. A swift counter-attack by Josh O’Connor resulted in the Scotsman laying the ball on a plate for Harry Jewitt-White to tap into an empty net.
Levi Ives made the move to Coleraine from Premiership rivals Larne.
However, Coleraine secured silverware in the form of the North West Senior Cup after an entertaining 3-2 win against Ballinamallard United at The Showgrounds. The deadlock was broken with nine minutes on the clock when Dean Corrigan’s misplaced pass sent Sam McClintock through on goal. The teenage striker did the rest by slotting the ball into the back of the net. Two minutes later, Coleraine were awarded a spot-kick after McClintock was brought down inside the box by Patrick McGarvey. However, the Mallards stopper redeemed himself by saving Jamie McGonigle’s effort from 12 yards. Just after Joshua McIlwaine flicked wide from Sean McAteer’s cross, the Mallards equalised on 22 minutes when another McAteer delivery was headed into the net by Richard Johnston. Remarkably, Ballinamallard then took the lead on 33 minutes through more good work on the right-hand side, allowing McIlwaine to sweep a low effort beyond Max Little and into the bottom corner. An equaliser arrived on 62 minutes when McClintock netted a superb free-kick after he was initially brought down at the edge of the box. Coleraine had the final say by netting the winner on 83 minutes through two of the club’s bright guns. Skipper for the evening Senan Devine had the vision to pick out the run of substitute Tiernan Brolly and he swept home with a lovely finish.
The Bannsiders continued to make reinforcements after a transfer was agreed to bring full-back Levi Ives to the club from Larne. Next up in the schedule was an away day at Dungannon Swifts in the Sports Direct Premiership. After both teams traded chances on a chilly afternoon, the Swifts got their noses in front four minutes before the break when John McGovern centred the ball for Tomas Galvin to convert from close range. Coleraine laid a siege on the Swifts’ goalmouth in the second-half and they finally got rewarded with virtually the last kick of the ball. A sublime pass sent Sam McClintock through on goal and after he was thwarted by Declan Dunne, a well-placed Matthew Shevlin couldn’t miss as he converted from close range.
Finally! Matthew Shevlin netted an equaliser at Dungannon Swifts with the last kick of the ball.
The final day of the month once again saw Coleraine announce a new recruit as striker Declan McManus put pen-to-paper on a multi-year deal from Welsh side The New Saints.
Player of the Month: Kyle Spence
Goal of the Month: Sam McClintock vs Ballinamallard United