Super Cooper!

Midfielder takes home the match ball after scoring hat-trick in Glenavon rout

Joel Cooper, all smiles after netting a hat-trick on Saturday. Photo: Dessie Loughery.

Reporter:

Damian Mullan

Email:

damian.mullan@thechronicle.uk.com

Sunday 2 November 2025 14:17

Joel Cooper’s hat-trick helped Coleraine brush aside the challenge of 10-men Glenavon at the Showgrounds as they re-established their three point lead at the top of the table.

Cooper broke the deadlock three minutes before half-time when he out muscled his marker at the back post to head past Mark Byrne after Matthew Shevlin had flicked on Lyndon Kane’s cross.

The in-form front man doubled the home side’s advantage six minutes after the restart with an exquisite finish from just inside the penalty area.

Dean Jarvis did brilliantly to pick out the forward before the one-time Glenavon man did the rest, stroking the ball low past a helpless Mark Byrne with his customary cool.

Matthew Shevlin got in on the scoring act with 12 minutes remaining when he was in the right place at the right to sweep home Zane Okoro’s cross from the right.

Things went from bad to worse for the visitors nine minutes from time when goalkeeper Mark Byrne was shown a straight red card for a desperate challenge on Cooper as he bore down on goal.

Harry Murphy donned the goalkeeping gloves and one of his first actions was to pick the ball out of the net after Levi Ives’ low left foot shot nestled in the back of the net.

Joel Cooper wasn’t to be denied the match ball and Murphy was powerless to prevent his blistering drive from 25 yards completing the treble four minutes from the end.

Glenavon pulled a goal back with moments remaining through an audacious Paul McGovern lob from 40 yards but it was scant consolation on a day to forget for Michael O’Connor’s men.