Your stacked sports section this week

A busy week across all sports, between  looking ahead of football Cup finals, 'stirring performances', in GAA, and over £10K raised by the golf club, the Coleraine Chronicle has it all.

As usual, starting from the back page, Coleraine FC coach Ruaidhri Higgins is banking a on a large travelling support to help the club reach the first major final of the domestic season as Coleraine head to The Oval tonight to play Glentoran in the semi-final of the Bet McLean Cup. The winners will meet Linfield in next month’s final at Windsor Park with a place in the end of season European play-off final up also for grabs. 

“I'm sure the powers-that-be would like a 'Big Two' cup final, so we have to do everything in our power to make sure that at the very least they have to fight for that. We will be going there trying to get ourselves into a cup final, which would be special for us. A strong away support would be huge."

Derry manager Ciaran Meenagh admitted he was more relieved than happy after guiding the county to a first National League win in over a year at the weekend. The Oak Leafs produced a stirring performance to get the better of old rivals Tyrone at Celtic Park on Saturday evening to get their Division Two campaign up and running.

They get a rest this weekend before resuming their schedule away at Newbridge later this month. “I'm relieved more than happy, to be honest with you,” admitted the Tyrone native.

An amazing amount of money was raised at the Portstewart GC in aid of Portrush  RNLI - £11,494.20 following a highly successful year of fundraising led by 2025 Men’s Captain, Stuart MacDonnell. Stuart nominated Portrush RNLI as his charity of the year, inspired by his family’s strong connection to the sea and their longstanding support for the RNLI.

Throughout the year, he organised a wide range of fundraising initiatives, many in partnership with Moraig McCrum, Lady Captain of Portstewart Golf Club 2025, who was fundraising in support of Shine, a charity providing specialist support for people living with spina bifida.

Football

Coleraine enjoyed success over the weekend after clean sheet at Clandeboye Park, two first half goals from Matthew Shevlin and Ben Wylie secured a comfortable 2-0 win for Coleraine the Bannsiders.  The win sees the Bannsiders keep pace with league leaders Larne who overcame Crusaders at Seaview.

The visitors dominated the opening 45 minutes and deservedly opened the scoring just after the half hour. Ben Wylie delivered a corner deep into the heart of the Bangor defence where defender Charles Dunne got his head to the ball. Fellow centre back Mark Connolly played his part to, laying the ball into the path of Shevlin who swept the ball into the corner of the net for his 14th league goal of the season.

Limavady furthered the gap between themselves and second place chasers Annagh United and H&W Welders after defeating Warrenpoint on Saturday with a one-nil finish from a John Butcher penalty just after the hour.

“It’s three clean sheets in a row which is always nice, but it’s not as satisfying when it’s one-nil, It’s a really difficult venue to play at and there is a lot of work that went into making sure that the game went ahead. And we’re grateful that it did, it was a massive three points and the boys showed a different side to them and they dug in," said Limavady Boss Paul Owens.

The Roesiders take a break from league action this weekend, as they face Premiership side Linfield FC in the next round of the Irish Cup, Owens looks forward to Friday night and said that he, and everybody else at Limavady will enjoy the build up to the fixture.

Portstewart FC make it two wins in a troy after defeating Lisburn Distillery comfortably after a 2-1 finish. The Seahawks dominated the vast majority of the contest despite a late penalty and a last 10 minute frenzy. Two first half goals from Bobby Sweeney and Dean Brown was enough to guide John Gregg's side to victory and move up in the standings in the PIL.

The Portstewart boss said: “I thought in the first-half we were very good, and we had a game plan and it worked. In the second-half I think we got sucked into a game that maybe suited Distillery, they wanted that and it was the only negative for us. I’ve learned enough about this League to know that all games are a battle and it’s about rolling your sleeves up and getting through."

GAA

Derry scored an excellent first league victory of the season thanks to a superb final 10 minutes and a heroic late Paudie McGrogan block as Tyrone were denied in the dying stages for a second week in succession. The big crowd in Celtic Park were treated to a game more akin to a championship game as two excellent managers set their teams up well. Conor Glass, who hit a brilliant goal, and Brendan Rogers shaded midfield. The attack got plenty of ball but were too intent on going for goals instead of taking points that were there for the taking. In this department Ethan Doherty was exceptional.

The victory moves Ciaran Meenagh's men above their old rivals in the early season table as two late Shane McGuigan points and one from substitute Conor McAteer ensured a fully deserved Oak Leaf win that could have been more substantial had they taken more of their chances.

Golf

Kieran O’Neill made light of his 14 handicap to post a three over par round in the 15 hole Portstewart Golf Club Strand Saturday Stableford. He set off with seven pars then added back-to-back birdie threes on eight and nine for a two under par front nine worth 29 points. The back six was covered in five over par to add in another 12 points for Kieran’s winning tally of 41. Castlerock Golf Club’s Saturday event was a 14 hole Stableford competition.

The top score of 34 points came from Andrew Dalton in Division Two. The 13 handicapper was through the nine holes in six over par for 19 points. After a dropped shot from a five at the tenth Andrew set off to collect a trio of birdies with fours on11 and 15 and a three sandwiched between on 13.

Hockey

A goal in each half gave Coleraine 1's all three points at Instonians. Coleraine started the brighter with the midfield of Ruby Caddoo, Kia McCartney and Gracie McNally controlling the play. It was McNally who broke the deadlock intercepting a ball in the press, breaking into the circle and beating three defenders before slotting home.

The 2nd XI entertained top-of-the-table side Queens on Friday night at the Joey Dunlop Centre, fully aware of the challenge ahead. With Queens setting the pace at the summit of the league, Coleraine knew this would be a tough test, but they approached the match with a positive attitude, hoping to steal some valuable points from the Belfast side.

Coleraine 3rd XI travelled to Lisnagarvey for their next league fixture. The opening quarter was evenly contested, with both teams defending well and the score remaining goalless. In the second quarter, Lisnagarvey increased the tempo and took advantage of this by converting a short corner to take the lead into half time. Lisnagarvey were able to take advantage of some attacking play during this quarter to take the final score to 2-0.

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