Last Time Out

COLERAINE would be beaten at The Showgrounds last month as the Donnelly brothers done the damage for Glentoran…

Date:

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Result:

Coleraine 0-2 Glentoran

Goals – R. Donnelly (‘4 mins) & J. Donnelly (’62 mins)

Report: 

GOALS from the Donnelly brothers were enough to give Glentoran all three points at The Showgrounds.

The Bannsiders would make two changes to their starting line-up as Adam Mullan and Patrick Kelly were given the nod as Oran Kearney adopted a 3-5-2 formation.

In front of a bumper crowd on the Ballycastle Road, it wouldn’t take long for the first goal to arrive as a pin-point corner kick from Shay McCartan was headed into the net by Ruaidhri Donnelly on four minutes.

On 16 minutes, the visitors would carve out another half chance as the ball worked its way to Jay Donnelly inside the area but the striker couldn’t make a meaningful connection as Coleraine survived.

The Bannsiders would have their first attempt on goal on 19 minutes as a delivery into the box was headed wide by O’Donnell, with the Coleraine skipper alert at the other end to deflect Patrick McClean’s effort away from goal.

The Showgrounds faithful were almost on their feet on 24 minutes as Kelly picked the ball up from deep, nutmegged McClean and burst into the box. Just when it looked like the attacker was going to get a shot on goal, he would be thwarted by an expertly timed tackle by Caolan Marron.

Just after the half hour mark, Coleraine would have their best chance of the opening 45 minutes as Conor McKendry’s corner kick was headed over by Rodney Brown. At the other end, a way ward back pass would allow Conor McMenamin through on goal but the winger blazed over from a tight angle.

Mick McDermott’s side would start the second-half strongly by forcing several early corners and Bobby Burns went a whisker away from doubling their lead as his daisy cutter was deflected inches wide of the far post.

Kearney decided to bring on James McLaughlin on 51 minutes and it would almost prove to be a masterstroke as the striker beat Rhys Marshall in the air but he failed to convert from Josh Carson’s cross into the area.

However, the travelling support would be sent into raptures on 62 minutes as McMenamin beat O’Donnell to the ball and advanced into the penalty area. The ex-Cliftonville man had the patience and vision to pick out Jay Donnelly who had the simple task of rolling the ball into an empty net.

The Stripes went in search of a much needed lifeline and they would be twice denied by Aaron McCarey as the stopper saved from Lyndon Kane’s drive, before the ‘keeper was alert to keep out McLaughlin’s header from Jamie Glackin’s free-kick.

Glentoran – who came into the contest on a 12 match unbeaten run – were content to hit Coleraine on the counter attack and it almost paid off as Seanan Clucas picked up possession and waited for the overlapping run of McMenamin. The lively winger looked up and pulled the trigger but it didn’t hit the target.

With ten minutes to go, Coleraine would have a massive opportunity to set up a grandstand finish as the ball wasn’t cleared by the Glentoran defence and landed at the feet of Glackin, who hit an instinctive finish wide. At the death, Jay Donnelly almost added his second of the evening as his curling attempt went over the crossbar.

Line-ups:

COLERAINE: Deane, Kane, Mullan, Brown, McKendry, Lowry, Carson, O’Donnell (Bradley ‘78 mins), Glackin, Traynor (McLaughlin ‘52 mins) Kelly.

Subs Not Used: Gallagher (GK), Jarvis, Wilson, Friel, Riley.

GLENTORAN: McCarey, Burns, McCartan (Plum ‘63 mins), Marshall, J. Donnelly, R. Donnelly (McDaid ‘79 mins), McClean, Clucas, Crowe, Marron, McMenamin (Cushnie ‘90 mins).

Subs Not Used: Glendinning (GK), Garrett, Bigirimana, Smith, Cushnie.

Referee:

Raymond Crangle