Stacked sports section this week

THIS weeks paper brings you all the results and updates across the Borough to keep you up to date on the going ons in your local clubs.

Starting from the back, Katie Mullan, one of Ireland’s most influential and iconic hockey players of all time, made her 250th senior international appearance in Ireland’s final FIH Hockey Pro League match against in Dublin on Sunday. Mullan’s pathway to 250 caps began at Ballymoney Hockey Club before moving to Dublin, where she represented UCD Ladies Hockey Club in the EY Hockey League. Coleraine FC have the chance to close the gap at the top of the table between themselves and Larne - who are tied at the top. 

But with the Bannsiders first in action this weekend they have the opportunity of opening a three point gap on the Inver Park club. They travel to Seaview on Saturday to face a badly out of sorts Crusaders side while third-placed Linfield are at bottom of the table Glenavon at Mourneview Park.

Football

Success at the Coleraine Showgrounds on Friday night accompanied with a clean sheet kept Coleraine leading at the top as they welcomed Bangor FC  that saw the home side come out on top with a 2-0 finish, with both goals coming in the opening 15 minutes of the first-half courtesy of Joel Cooper and Matthew Shevlin - who are now both on 11 goals each.

Most would be delighted at beating Bangor and keeping a clean sheet. And while the Bannsiders’ boss Ruaidhri Higgins admitted to be being pleased with aspects of his team’s performance on Friday night, he was quick to point out areas for improvement too.
“It wasn't particularly how I wanted it to go,” he said immediately after the game. I think in the first half an hour we were absolutely brilliant in the initial stages of the game."

Mark Connolly was confirmed ahead of the January transfer window. Connolly has a wealth of experience as a defender who will mark a boost to the back after Kodi Lyons-Foster suffered an injury and is expected to be out of action for a ‘considerable period of time.’

Limavady United shared similar success at the Showgrounds on Saturday as they kept their unbeaten streak in their last 10 alive, with a 3-1 defeat over Armagh City, and just like the Bannsiders, their goals all came in the opening half via Philip Lowry, Ruairi Boorman, and Lewis Tosh. Although late into the second Armagh were able to spoil the afternoon by taking away a clean sheet. 

Limavady boss Paul Owens shared views with Ruaidhri Higgins, he expressed his own disappointment in the outing, saying "Yes, we got ourselves up three-nil at half time, but goal difference in this league is massive, especially when you’re tied at the top.

"I made some substitutions in the second half which backfired", We were nowhere near the levels that we were supposed to be; I think the lack of quality in the second half performance is the bottom line and it’s been a serious drop off."

GAA

Slaughtniel were hoping to have this game in Croke Park but nearby ParnellPark is the venue. You can actually see Parnell Park from the third tier in Croke Park. Once the sliotar is thrown in the venue will be put in the back burner. In their five previous semi-finals Slaughtneil found themselves facing powerful teams from Dublin, Cork, Kilkenny and Limerick.

This is the first time that they have faced Connacht opposition where only the Galway champions qualify for the last four. Slaughtneil have won six of the last eight Ulster titles. They have taken over from Antrim clubs who had dominated the province since this competition started 55 years ago.

There were no contests for positions at the Annual General Meeting of the Derry GAA at Owenbeg last week. Given the workload for county officers there is never a queue for positions. With a five year restriction on some officers there will be changes next year as chairman John Keenan comes to the end of his second five year spell.

A strong first half from St Louis suggested the Leonard Cup was destined for the Cullybackey Road College but counting chickens before the're hatched is not a recommended way to win games. Played in Creggan a couple of goals from centre-forward Daithí Holleran in the final quarter brought St Pat’s Maghera back from the brink and set them up for success in a highly entertaining game.

The Ballymena school appeared to be on course to take the title when they led by seven points going into the last quarter, but Holleran turned the game on its head with those goals in the seventeenth and Nineteenth minutes, just as St Louis lads had done in their semi-final win over Cross and Passion Ballycastle.

Golf

It was Bonanza Saturday at Portstewart Golf Club at the weekend on both Strand and Riverside courses with 13 holes in play on each layout. Gerry Hassan topped the Strand scoring with 27 points after a countback with Chris Lundy.
Gerry, playing off 14, set off with a couple of pars before dropping a few shots and not scoring at the ninth.
He had carded 13 points for the outward seven before nabbing a birdie two at the 12th and completing the back six in four over par for another 14 points.

And over in Portstewart Golf Club’s recent prize giving presented nine trophies to seven of their golfers.

Rugby

Coleraine Rugby Club’s First XV delivered one of their most complete performances of the season on Saturday, claiming a deserved 19–5 victory over Strabane at Rugby Avenue to move top of the league. Against a powerful and well-organised Strabane side widely viewed as title contenders, Coleraine showed composure, physicality and tactical discipline throughout an absorbing contest.

For full reports and pictures, see this week's Coleraine Chronicle.