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Coleraine Wins Seventh Irish Cup, Higgins Makes History

5/3/2026

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Summary

Coleraine Wins Cup

Coleraine defeated Dungannon Swifts 3-2 to claim seventh Irish Cup at Windsor Park before 11,362 spectators.
Matthew Shevlin scored in the 19th minute and added a second after a deflection near the 60th.
Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins became the second manager to win cup titles on both sides of the Irish border.
Goalkeeper Ryan Schofield made key saves, including a volley stop from Leo Alves and an early goal-line clearance.

Summary

Coleraine Triumphs

Coleraine won the Irish Cup, securing a European place and moving Glentoran into a guaranteed slot.
Henry Ross’s multi-million-pound takeover a year ago made Coleraine a full-time club and drove aggressive recruitment.
Dungannon will face Carrick Rangers in a European play-off quarter-final on Wednesday after the loss.
The final aired live on BBC 2 NI and BBC Radio Ulster, with Coleraine at 2/7 and Dungannon at 5/2 in betting markets.

History

Historical Context

Coleraine FC, founded in 1927, lifted the Irish Cup in 1977 with a 4-1 win over Linfield, adding to earlier victories and beginning a 26-year trophy drought that ended with a 2003 win and a sixth cup in 2018. The 2024 triumph, their seventh, restores the club’s historic cup pedigree.

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Coleraine Wins Cup

Coleraine defeated Dungannon Swifts 3-2 to claim seventh Irish Cup at Windsor Park before 11,362 spectators.
Matthew Shevlin scored in the 19th minute and added a second after a deflection near the 60th.
Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins became the second manager to win cup titles on both sides of the Irish border.
Goalkeeper Ryan Schofield made key saves, including a volley stop from Leo Alves and an early goal-line clearance.

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