Down Memory Lane

COLERAINE would reach the 2003 Irish Cup final as they overpowered Omagh Town at the semi-final stage at the Ballymena Showgrounds…

Date:

Saturday, April 5, 2003

Result:

Coleraine 5-2 Omagh Town

Goals – Gorman (’27 mins), Curran (’32 mins & ’52 mins), Tolan (’40 mins), McLaughlin own goal (’55 mins); Doherty (’39 mins), McCann (’41 mins)

Report:

Coleraine are into the Irish Cup final for the first time in 17 years after beating Omagh Town at Ballymena Showgrounds.

Tony Gorman and Barry Curran scored two each and Jody Tolan netted the other as the Bannsiders booked their place in the 3 May showpiece decider in style.

Now it will be a repeat of the 1986 final when Paul Millar scored a late winner to give Glentoran a 2-1 victory over Coleraine.

Gorman beat Omagh keeper Gavin Cullen with a screamer to open the scoring on 27 minutes. It was one of his trademark long-range efforts from about 30 yards out.

Curran then made it 2-0 four minutes later.

Omagh hit back with a Dermot Doherty goal on 39 minutes but Coleraine quickly restored their two-goal advantage through Jody Tolan, before Marty McCann bagged a third goal in as many minutes to make it 3-2.

Coleraine cemented their place in the final with two goals early in the second period.

Curran netted on 52 minutes and then Gorman completed the scoring three minutes after that with a free-kick from the left wing which went in at the far post via a deflection from McLaughlin.

Line-ups:

COLERAINE: O’Hare, Clanachan, Flynn, Gaston, McAuley, Beatty, Curran, Hamill, Tolan, McAllister, Gorman.

Sub Not Used: McHugh, Armstrong, Murphy.

OMAGH TOWN: Cullen, Johnston, Kavanagh (Fanthorpe), McElroy, Quigley, McLaughlin, Crawford (Friel), McCann, Doherty (Hughes), Sproule, McCullagh.

Referee:

Michael Ross