Down Memory Lane

Down Memory Lane

COLERAINE would start their 1991/92 campaign at home to Ballymena United as Brian Donaghy headed home the winner in an Ulster Cup tie…

Date:

Saturday, August 17, 1991

Result:

Coleraine 2-1 Ballymena United

Goals – Wade (’54 mins), Donaghy (’65 mins); Candlish (’60 mins)

Report:

Coleraine launched their Ulster Cup campaign on Saturday with a morale-boosting victory over their ‘derby’ rivals at Ballycastle Road.

Goals from Ricky Wade and Brian Donaghy gave the fans something to shout about as new United player/manager Jim Hagan made the worst possible start with his new club.

Felix Healy occupied the ‘sweeper’ role and new centre-half Paul Doherty (ex-Omagh Town) controlled the defence which was put under pressure in the early stages.

But it was goalkeeper Brian McNulty who stole the show with several excellent saves.

The 31-year-old came to the rescue after 12 minutes when Kevin Lenaghan sent Bully Pyper clear but when his shot was blocked, McNulty somehow scrambled to his feet to push away Pyper’s second effort for a corner.

Paul Hardy headed a Neil Candlish corner over the crossbar and Stephen Young went close before Ricky Wade found himself in space but sliced his shot over the crossbar after skilful work from Johnny McIvor.

Cahal Deery had a shot pushed over the bar by Damian Grant and Jeremy Robinson volleyed wide from Wade’s cross.

Coleraine stepped up a gear in the second half and Joe Bradley and Wade both went close with good efforts.

Wade was not to be denied and he broke the deadlock after 54 minutes with a superb goal.

Ballymena hit back on the hour with a well worked goal. Loughery teased Keery before crossing the ball low into the path of Candlish who made no mistake from close range.

McNulty then came to the rescue just sixty seconds later with another brilliant stop, pushing Des Loughery’s shot onto the crossbar.

Tiny midfielder Donaghy rose at the far post to meet Wade’s corner and power a header into the roof of the net.

Coleraine should have put the game beyond reach a quarter of an hour from time when Robinson sent Wade clear but he shot wildly over the crossbar.

Line-ups:

COLERAINE: McNulty, Quigley, Keery, Healy, P Doherty, Wade, Donaghy, Robinson, Deery, Bradley, McIvor.

Sub Not Used: Gilmore, Edgar.

BALLYMENA UNITED: Grant, Hagan, Smyth, Garrett, Heron, Young, Loughrey, Pyper (Simpson ’76 mins) Candlish, Hardy, Lenaghan.

Subs Not Used: Hamilton

Referee:

Alan Snoddy

Thanks to Hunter McClelland for the research.