COLERAINE started their road to the Irish Cup final after a strong second half showing against Crusaders at the fifth-round stage…
Date:
Friday, January 9, 2026
Result:
Coleraine 4-0 Crusaders
Goals – Connolly (’49 mins), Patching (’65 mins), Akintunde (’67 mins), Cooper (’79 mins)
Report:
COLERAINE navigated their way into the sixth-round of the Clearer Water Irish Cup after a clinical second-half performance in front of goal against Crusaders.
The Stripes made four changes from the Premiership defeat at Larne as Ryan Schofield, Charles Dunne, Dylan Boyle and Zane Okoro were handed starts for the visit of the Hatchetmen.
In freezing conditions, Coleraine threatened first with three minutes played as Joel Cooper received the ball on the right-hand flank, cut inside, but was unable to keep his effort below the crossbar.
Schofield was then called into action for the first time at the other end as he came off his line to swat away Elliot Dunlop’s fierce attempt after the winger seized upon a loose Coleraine pass.
Coleraine managed to get into their groove and had three chances within a matter of minutes as Will Patching had a free-kick saved, Rowan McDonald headed over from a set-piece delivery, with Patching then having another effort palmed away by Musa Dibaga.
The hosts kept trying to find that killer instinct as two more opportunities were passed up before the interval as McDonald’s strike from distance went harmlessly over the bar, before Okoro lashed wide after being teed up by Cooper.
Coleraine would then have a numerical advantage just two minutes after the restart when visiting defender Brendan Hamilton was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence.
The Bannsiders ruthlessly went ahead from the resulting set-piece as Ben Wylie’s dangerous cross was on the money for Mark Connolly to head home his first Coleraine goal since arriving on the Ballycastle Road.
Just after the hour mark, the lead was doubled as Patching showed his class. Coleraine were awarded a free-kick just outside the box and the midfielder looked up and picked his spot with a moment of magic.
Just two minutes later, it was 3-0 as substitute James Akintunde also got in on the act. The attacker managed to get the ball from an acute angle and blaze an effort into the far corner for his maiden Coleraine goal.
The contest then allowed Mark Coyle to make his debut as the chances kept coming for Coleraine, with fellow substitute Senan Devine arrowing off target.
Patching then went from scorer to provider on 79 minutes as an inch-perfect pass by the former Notts County man sent Cooper on his way and the attacker kept his cool by rolling the ball into the back of the net.
As the game entered the dying stages, the Bannsiders tried their best to add a fifth as Cameron Stewart and Jamie McGonigle were also thwarted by smart saves from a busy Dibaga.
Line-ups:
COLERAINE: Schofield, Jarvis, Boyle (Coyle ’70 mins), Patching, Shevlin (McGonigle ’65 mins), Cooper, Dunne, McDonald (Stewart ’70 mins), Wylie (Akintunde ’65 mins), Okoro (Devine ’58 mins), Connolly.
Subs Not Used: Webb (GK), Watson.
CRUSADERS: Dibaga, Hamilton, Brooks (Nixon ’68 mins), Thorndike, Dunlop, O’Rourke, Williamson (Easton ’68 mins), Bruden, Oilibhear McCart (Bruce ’49 mins), Anderson, Barr.
Subs Not Used: Tuffey (GK), Jewitt-White, Donnelly, James.