Eventsec North-West Cup: Final | Coleraine FC

COLERAINE secured silverware in the form of the North West Senior Cup after an entertaining 3-2 win against Ballinamallard United at The Showgrounds...

Head coach Dean Shiels used the fixture to give several members of his squad minutes, as well as shine a light on some players in the club's U20 squad.

The deadlock was broken with nine minutes on the clock when Dean Corrigan's misplaced pass sent Sam McClintock through on goal. The teenage striker did the rest by slotting the ball into the back of the net.

Two minutes later, Coleraine were awarded a spot-kick after McClintock was brought down inside the box by Patrick McGarvey. However, the Mallards stopper redeemed himself by saving Jamie McGonigle's effort from 12 yards.

Just after Joshua McIlwaine flicked wide from Sean McAteer's cross, the Mallards equalised on 22 minutes when another McAteer delivery was headed into the net by Richard Johnston.

Remarkably, Ballinamallard then took the lead on 33 minutes through more good work on the right-hand side, allowing McIlwaine to sweep a low effort beyond Max Little and into the bottom corner.

Coleraine looked to find an equaliser and carved out three chances before the half-time whistle. Either side of McGarvey saving from McGonigle, the Bannsiders also went close when Kirk McLaughlin headed inches wide from Corey Smith's cross.

The second half started like the first with Coleraine on the front foot and they hit the crossbar on 52 minutes when Corey Smith danced his way into the box but his strike cannoned the woodwork.

But an equaliser did arrive on 62 minutes and it was well worth the wait. The lively McClintock was brought down at the edge of the box by Corrigan, with the aforementioned McClintock sending the resulting free-kick into the back of the net.

McAteer's deliveries were threatening all night for Mark Stafford's side and another one resulted in McIlwaine's attempt being saved by the legs of Little.

Coleraine had the final say by netting the winner on 83 minutes through two of the club's bright guns. Skipper for the evening Senan Devine had the vision to pick out the run of substitute Tiernan Brolly and he swept home with a lovely finish.

It now means Coleraine have won the competition for a record-extending 23 times.

COLERAINE: Little (Pearson '82 mins), Scott, P. Burns, McLaughlin (Gaston '65 mins), McGonigle, Tejada (M. Burns '65 mins), McClintock, Devine, Smith (Spence '73 mins), Hutton, Patton (Brolly '82 mins).

Subs Not Used: Coyle, F. Doherty.

BALLINAMALLARD UNITED: McGarvey, Corrigan, Johnston, Holder (O'Grady '87 mins), Arkansas, McIlwaine (Boyle '87 mins), Byrne (Barker '72 mins), Campbell, McGrath, Browne (Dunne '87 mins), McAteer.

Subs Not Used: Little (GK), Morris, Harkin.

Referee: Declan Hassan