Coleraine rack up the goals in Bet McLean Cup victory

Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins praised his players' 'application and professionalism' as they defeated Dollingstown 8-0 away in the Bet McLean Cup on Tuesday night.

Teenager Alex Watson opened the scoring for the visitors inside the opening minute with his first goal for the club before Jamie Glackin got on the end of a fine team move to double the advantage five minutes later.

Another fine finish, this time from Ronan Doherty, made it 3-0 after a quarter of an hour and that's how it remained at the break.

Watson scored his second of the night shortly after the restart, crashing home from close range, before Declan McManus got in on the act, rifling a right foot shot into the roof of the net after good work from sub' Tiernan Brolly.

Another replacement, Kodi Lyons-Foster, made it 6-0 as he headed home following a Dean Jarvis free-kick, before McManus made it a magnificent seven with a fine individual goal.

And Tiernan Brolly completed the scoring late on, stabbing home from close range after Matthew Shevlin had been denied by the woodwork.

"I'm really happy with the players' application and professionalism," admitted Ruaidhri Higgins after the game.

"They showed really high standards and went about their business properly, led by the senior players.

"The young lads played really well too so, overall, we're happy with our night's work.

"The first few goals were really good team goals, some of our play was excellent, and that comes off the back of having a really good attitude.

"In fairness we've come to what is a brilliant football club, the work they do here, the way they look after the pitch, this is one of the best pitches in the country so fair play to the club.

"They do great work here and credit to them, it's a really nice place to come and play football," he added.

Higgins praised goalscorer Alex Watson, not just for his goals but his all round play, and was pleased to see fellow teenager Tiernan Brolly shine in a late cameo.

"Ceadh McGrath come on and got 45 minutes as well so really pleased but I thought Glackin's performance and his work rate shone through. I think he led by example so just delighted with how the boys applied themselves."

The only down side on a night to remember in mid Ulster were injuries to Levi Ives and Ronan Doherty which, the manager said, the club will monitor in the coming days.