Short-term switch for Friel

COLERAINE FC can confirm that Cathair Friel has joined Institute on a short-term loan…

The striker will spend the first half of the season on loan with ‘Stute, who got their Lough41 Championship campaign underway last week with a 1-0 defeat to Dundela.

Friel has made 23 appearances and scored six times since joining at the start of last season from Ballymena United and spent time on loan at Dungannon Swifts.

Coleraine boss Oran Kearney believes the temporary switch is a deal that suits all parties.

“To be fair to Cathair, he has made super progress over the last couple of months,” he said.

“He has lost a considerable amount of weight and is getting into a shape that we remember a few years ago.

“He has missed a lot of football so to get him back to 100% he needs to get a run of games.

“This move will certainly help with that, it’s a deal that works for everybody and it gives him a fighting chance when he returns at the start of the New Year.”