Coleraine prevail in thrilling final to claim seventh Irish Cup
Dungannon Swifts 2 Coleraine 3
Last updated 21 hours ago
Coleraine won the Irish Cup for the first time since 2018 after edging a classic encounter with holders Dungannon Swifts at Windsor Park.
Matthew Shevlin's double and a Joel Cooper goal meant it was the Bannsiders celebrating at the end of a memorable final, but Ruaidhrà Higgins' side were made to work for their win as Dungannon didn't give up their trophy without a fight.
The Swifts had the best of the early exchanges, twice forcing Coleraine goalkeeper Ryan Schofield into action within the first five minutes.
The Englishman first saved Sean McAllister's acrobatic attempt before coming to his team's rescue again just over a minute later when he kept out a Kealan Dillon strike with his feet from close range.
Joel Cooper was first to threaten for Coleraine but his shot was dealt with by Swifts 'keeper Declan Dunne.
Somewhat against the run of play, it was Coleraine who broke the deadlock in the 19th minute.
Lyndon Kane's cross caused a mix-up between Swifts 'keeper Declan Dunne and defender Caolan Marron and Shevlin was on hand to steer the loose ball into the net.
There was almost an immediate response from the Swifts with Leo Alves' volley producing a superb reaction save from Schofield before Marron sent his header against the woodwork from the resulting corner.
Things then settled down for the remainder of the first period, but the second half was a mere 40 seconds old when Coleraine doubled their advantage through talisman Joel Cooper.
Schofield's long kick forward was flicked on by Shevlin into the path of Cooper, who raced away from Cathal McGinty and picked out the far corner in style.
Shevlin so nearly had his hat-trick from Coleraine's next attack, only to be denied by Dunne in the Swifts goal.
However less than 10 minutes later the deficit was halved, as Sean McAllister fed Paul Doyle on the edge of the area and he curled past Schofield from 20 yards.
Just as Dungannon looked to have belief again, Coleraine restored their two-goal cushion on the hour mark. Zane Okoro showed great skill to engineer a shot on goal which was blocked by a defender - but Shevlin was on hand to finish clinically past Dunne from the rebound.
The final took another twist on 67 minutes as Dungannon once again reduced the arrears.
Substitute Andrew Mitchell snapped up the opportunity to breathe new life into the Swifts after the ball fell to the former Coleraine player off Dylan Boyle.
But Coleraine held firm across the last 20 minutes and seven minutes of additional time to bring the Irish Cup back to the Ballycastle Road and crown an excellent first campaign for boss Higgins.
Dungannon Swifts: Dunne, Marron, Kelly (Moore 83), Dillon (Mitchell 54), Alves (Knowles 87), Glenny, McGinty (C. Smith 54), Doyle (Gordon 83), Wallace, Bigirimana (c), McAllister. Subs not used: Henderson, Maguire.
Coleraine: Schofield, Kane (c), Stewart, Dunne, Ives (Jarvis 71), Coyle (Boyle 57), Patching, Wylie (McDonald 64), Cooper, Okoro, Shevlin. Subs not used: Webb, McGonigle, Connolly, Devine.
Attendance: 11,362