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, the beauty of the Dr McKenna Cup is that it is hard to predict what team the various counties will field as they all use this competition to blood new players.
What is known is that Derry will experiment with two Newbridge players - Sean Young and Conor McAteer - who are tipped to make their debuts. Last year Derry manager Paddy Tally had a nightmare with injuries to key players.
A few came back at the tail end of the season and new boss Ciaran Meenagh may be tempted to give the likes of Odhran Lynch, Marty Boyle, Donncha Gilmore Conor McCluskey and Gareth McKinless the opportunity to get in some game time. With captain Patrick McBrearty retiring they will be anxious to strengthen their attack.

Coleraine suffered a second successive defeat on Boxing Day when they lost 2-0 to rivals Ballymena United. 

Coleraine are now six points behind the Inver Park club and have played two games more than Gary Haveron’s men. This evening’s opponents Linfield, meanwhile, have also lost their last two games - away at Glenavon and at home to Glentoran at a sold-out Windsor Park on Boxing Day.

Football

Bannsiders boss Ruaidhri Higgins was left to reflect on a disappointing performance from his team as Coleraine went down 2-0 to derby rivals Ballymena United on Boxing Day. Two goals from Daire O’Connor secured a first win as Ballymena manager for former Coleraine supremo Oran Kearney in front of a sold out Ballymena Showgrounds.

The front man took full advantage of two brilliant assists from colleague Kian Corbally. The first saw Corbally thread through an inch perfect ball which cut the Coleraine defence open and put O’Connor on his way. It looked at one stage that the ex-Glentoran man had overran the ball as ‘keeper Ryan Schofield came to meet him but O’Connor kept on going before poking the ball into the Coleraine net.

After almost a season long rat race between Annagh United and Limavady United, the Roesiders finally push in front and cement themselves as the official League Leaders, with a three point gap between themselves and what is expected to be, themselves and the fellow title challengers. Winning their Derby Day clash against Institute after a brilliant Lewis Tosh free kick, their one goal lead was enough to succeed, while Annagh dropped points up against rivals Ballinamallard United.

Heights FC were left devastated in their Craig Memorial Cup final against Desertmartin after a 2-1 defeat. Both teams started off well playing lots of good attacking football and saw Heights taking the lead after Mark Edgar scored on the 22nd minute.
The Martins hit back with Aaron Stewart scoring the equaliser on the 25th minute and this score remained at half-time.
The pace of the game never slackened during the second half again with lots of good football played by both teams.
Time was running down fast when Pearce McLarnon struck a major blow for the Martins when he scored what proved to be the winning goal on the 93rd minute sealing the win.

Golf

Bushfoot Golf Club has had a couple of weeks of their Christmas Nine-Hole Competitions recently. The first week was over the front nine layout and Division One produced the winner in Derek McFaull who carded 19 points from his mark of three.
The number three occurred three more times as Derek had a trio of birdie threes at the third, eight, and ninth in his two over par card. John Keery was second to Derek with 17 points scored from his mark of four. He was round in five over par.

Division Three was topped by 14 handicapper Gilbert Bowman with 17 points with runner up William Howard hitting the same from his 12 handicap.

GAA

The Ruairi Ogs left it late in this Ulster minor hurling club championship in Ballinascreen but eventually booked their final spot by a couple of points. When the clock ticked into the second minute of injury time and Fiontan Bradley knocked over his sixth free of this contest, all thoughts were turning to extra time. Cushendall were on the back foot for the majority of the second half and looked to have weathered the storm from a gallant Kevin Lynch’s side.

Motorsport

THE annual outing for the Big Van Bangers tops the bill as Tullyroan Oval kicks off 2026 in style on Sunday January 4th (2pm). There will be smashes and crashes galore as the Transits and the like are battered into submission.
It makes for a fantastic spectacle as the fight for the aptly named ‘Van-dalism 2026’ title.

The day will end with the last van moving Destruction Derby. Amongst the star names in action will be Dublin duo Stevo McGrath and Steven Reynolds alongside Lisburn’s Rodney Herron  British and Irish Champion Jordan Robinson will run him close, with Jamie McCann and Dean Catherwood other big contenders.

Completing the line up will be the Lightning Rods formula, headed by World Cup holder Mark Corry, and the Junior Productions where Antrim’s National, British and Irish Champion Leyton Hughes will be the one to watch.

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