THE Irish Cup got up and running in January as Coleraine picked up valuable Premiership points along the way…
With the January transfer window opening, Ruaidhri Higgins was busy adding to his squad after completing the signing of Portadown midfielder Ben Wylie for an undisclosed fee. Meanwhile, the form of Senan Devine on loan at H&W Welders saw the midfielder being recalled and promoted back into the first-team squad. There would also be two departures as Stephen Fallon and Cead McGrath joined Bangor and Moyola Park on loan respectively.
Coleraine started 2026 by being the visitors to Premiership leaders Larne. Both teams carved out opportunities inside the opening 45 minutes as Ben Wylie went close for the Bannsiders, whilst at the other end, Matthew Lusty will feel he should have given the hosts the lead. However, a devastating 11-minute spell after the restart would ultimately prove to be Coleraine’s undoing as Larne seized control. The opener arrived from the spot penalty spot as Andy Ryan kept his composure, before the same player made it 2-0 with a finish from an acute angle. The three points were sealed late on when a cross into the back post was stabbed home by Paul O’Neill.
In terms of squad developments, Coleraine announced the permanent capture of Will Patching from Carlisle United after the midfielder enjoyed a positive start to his new chapter at the club. In the goalkeeping department, Aidan Harris was recalled by his parent club Newcastle United, with Lewis Webb agreeing terms on a new deal at the Ballycastle Road. Ruaidhri Higgins’ men also completed a deal for experienced midfielder Mark Coyle from Shelbourne. The Co Donegal native captained Shels to the Premier Division title in 2024.
Mark Coyle signed for the club from Shelbourne.
The Irish Cup was next on the horizon as Coleraine were drawn against fellow Premiership side Crusaders in the fifth-round. After a goalless first half, Coleraine received a boost when visiting defender Brendan Hamilton was dismissed for two bookable offences. The Bannsiders ruthlessly went ahead from the resulting set-piece as Mark Connolly headed home his first Coleraine goal, before Will Patching’s moment of magic from a free-kick doubled the lead. Soon after, it was 3-0 as substitute James Akintunde blasted home from a tight angle, with the scoring being completed ten minutes before the end as Patching set up Joel Cooper who picked his spot with an emphatic finish.
As fate would have it, both teams would meet the following week at The Showgrounds yet again this time in Premiership action. Crusaders would hold the half-time advantage when Fraser Bryden finished off from Finley Thorndike’s cross from the left-hand side. Despite Coleraine equalising at the start of the second half, they had ‘keeper Ryan Schofield to thank as he denied Bryden from the penalty spot. This completely turned the game on its head as Coleraine netted four goals thereafter to seal a remarkable 5-1 victory as Mark Connolly and Matthew Shevlin scored, alongside Cooper completing his hat-trick.
Mark Connolly celebrates finding the back of the net against Crusaders.
A goal in each half was enough to then give Coleraine all three points against Glenavon at The Showgrounds next. On a windy evening on the Ballycastle Road, Coleraine edged ahead with the first meaningful chance of the game on 20 minutes. A blistering run by Zane Okoro sent the winger into the box and his cross managed to find its way to Joel Cooper who made no mistake with a clinical finish. In a game of very few clear-cut chances, Coleraine doubled their lead when a lovely pass by Dylan Boyle released Dean Jarvis on the left-hand side and he centred the ball for Jamie McGonigle to slot the ball into the net.
A 2-0 scoreline was proving to be a popular theme for the Stripes as they backed up the win against Glenavon by claiming all three points at Bangor in the final game of the month. A corner kick delivery by Ben Wylie allowed Coleraine to take the lead as Matthew Shevlin was in the right place at the right time to put the Bannsiders ahead. Wylie then bagged his first Coleraine goal before the half-time whistle as he picked his spot with an accurate finish from just outside the box. The second half failed to live up to the expectations of the first as Coleraine banked their third successive Premiership win.
Ben Wylie scored his first goal for the club in the 2-0 victory at Bangor.