COLERAINE enjoyed a perfect end to the 2025/26 campaign which saw the Bannsiders clinch European football and Irish Cup glory…
The month started with Coleraine locking horns with Larne for a spot in the Irish Cup final. After Ryan Schofield made two key saves, the Bannsiders took the lead when Joel Cooper finished with aplomb after being picked out by Will Patching. The Inver Reds restored parity on the hour mark when Matthew Lusty was able to steer home from Jordan McEneff’s cross. The tie required extra-time and it was Coleraine who booked their passage through to the final as Matthew Shevlin headed in from Mark Coyle’s cross with just eight minutes to go to cue bedlam amongst the Bannsiders faithful.
Ruaidhri Higgins reacts after guiding Coleraine to the Irish Cup final.
The two teams would do it all over again but this time in Premiership duty at Inver Park. If the first game was tight, this one was anything but as a ruthless Coleraine ran out 4-1 victors. An early goal by Matthew Shevlin gave Coleraine the advantage and then Larne were reduced to ten men as Dan Bent was dismissed for an off-the-ball incident. However, the hosts equalised on the stroke of half-time via an Andy Ryan penalty. But Coleraine flexed their muscles after the break and made their numerical advantage count as Ben Wylie, Will Patching and Shevlin all scored in a commanding victory in east Antrim.
Ruaidhri Higgins’ men were looking to carry that momentum into the next game at home to Cliftonville – in what would turn out to be a rollercoaster 90 minutes. The Reds seized upon two defensive mistakes to lead 2-0 by the 20-minute mark. However, Coleraine responded in fine style to remarkably lead 4-2 at the break as Matthew Shevlin and Joel Cooper bagged a brace apiece. The in-form Cooper then completed his treble after the restart, with Senan Devine then scoring his first goal for the club as the Bannsiders triumphed via a 6-2 scoreline.
Senan Devine is mobbed by his team-mates after scoring his first Coleraine goal against Cliftonville.
The penultimate game of the campaign saw Coleraine face Linfield at Windsor Park. The Bannsiders had a bright start and took the lead when Ben Wylie’s curling effort gave an inspired David Walsh no chance. After being guilty of missing chances thereafter, the visitors finally added a second when Joel Cooper’s sweeping cross was lashed home at the back post by Matthew Shevlin. The three points were put beyond doubt on the hour mark as Cooper played in Zane Okoro and the winger made no mistake with a finish from an acute angle.
Coleraine U18s also had a big final to look forward to as they faced Linfield in the final of the Harry Cavan Youth Cup. The young Bannsiders trailed 1-0 but produced a stirring second half performance to take the tie into penalties. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be their day from 12 yards as the Blues clinically dispatched all their spot-kicks to claim the honours.
The final day of the season saw second-placed Coleraine meet Glentoran with plenty at stake. If Coleraine won and Larne lost, then the Bannsiders would be crowned champions. Meanwhile, if Coleraine avoided defeat then they would finish second and guarantee European football next season. In front of a sold-out Showgrounds, the Stripes made a blistering start and led 2-0 with just seven minutes played as Will Patching scored from the spot, with Levi Ives also curling in a free-kick. The Coleraine faithful had further goals to celebrate after the restart when Patching completed his hat-trick for 4-0, with Glentoran then pulling a goal back via Ross Clarke. However, that didn’t dampen spirits as Senan Devine and Matthew Shevlin added further gloss to the scoreline – sandwiched between Jack Malone netting for the Glens – as Coleraine comprehensively ran out 6-2 winners. That result secured second in the table as Larne beat Dungannon Swifts to claim the Gibson Cup.
Will Patching scored a hat-trick in the final day win against Glentoran.
Coleraine would finish the campaign competing in the Irish Cup final as they locked horns with holders Dungannon Swifts. Around 7,500 Coleraine supporters made their way to Windsor Park, and after Ryan Schofield made a few early vital saves, the Bannsiders took the lead when Lyndon Kane’s cross was steered home by Matthew Shevlin. The lead was doubled just a minute into the second half when Shevlin’s header sent Joel Cooper through on goal and he made no mistake with a precise finish. Just after Dungannon halved the arrears with Paul Doyle’s finish, Ruaidhrí Higgins’ men regained their two-goal cushion when Shevlin prodded home his second after initial good work by Zane Okoro. Dungannon set up a grandstand finish as Andy Mitchell made it 3-2 but Coleraine held firm for their seventh triumph in the competition to mark a winning end to a successful season.