COLERAINE 0 - 1 CRUSADERS

A moment of magic from Paul Heatley put paid to Coleraine’s Irish Cup hopes at the first round stage at The Showgrounds…

By: Michael Anderson

Heatley’s late long range strike gave the 2019 cup winners victory over the 2018 winners in a scrappy affair.

There was plenty of commitment shown by both sides during a scoreless first half but little in the way of composure.

Philip Lowry was first to try his luck after 11 minutes but his half volley was saved by Marty Gallagher.

The Crues enjoyed plenty of possession and launched countless corners and free kicks into the box.

But with the exception of Jordan Fosythe’s 19th minute header from Heatley’s corner which he should have done better with – and a Lowry header from another Heatley delivery – Gallagher wasn’t overly troubled.

The same was the case for Sean O’Neill at the other end.

A great block by Billy Joe Burns denied Matthew Shevlin an opening on 31 minutes.

And the only other half chance for the home side came from an O’Neill clearance eight minutes before the break.

The ‘keeper headed the ball clear from the edge of his area but only as far as Josh Carson.

The midfielder quickly played it goalwards to Eoin Bradley whose attempted lob drifted over the crossbar.

The second half followed a similar pattern until Gallagher was forced into three fine saves in quick succession to deny Lecky, Heatley and Burns.

But with just five minutes remaining and a penalty shoot out on the cards, Heatley delivered the decisive blow.

Ben Kennedy flicked on O’Neill’s clearance and Heatley lobbed Gallagher from 25 yards.

Coleraine almost salvaged the tie late on when Curtis Allen went close with an attempted lob and Stevie Lowry drilled wide in injury time.

So disappointment as the Bannsiders fall at the first hurdle.

Attention now switches back to league action and Saturday’s game with Cliftonville.

COLERAINE: Gallagher, Kane, Canning, Doherty, Lowry, Bradley, Carson (Allen ’76 mins), O’Donnell (McLaughlin ’86 mins), Glackin, Traynor, Shevlin (Jarvis ’73 mins).

Subs Not Used: Henderson (GK), Mullan, Wilson, Tweed.

CRUSADERS: O’Neill, Burns, Lowry, McGonigle (Kennedy ’74 mins), Forsythe, O’Rourke, Lecky, Brown, Thompson, Heatley (Owens ’88 mins), Clarke.

Subs Not Used: Tuffey (GK), Cushley, Caddell, Ruddy, Larmour.

Referee: Shane Andrews