Chris Johns (GK), Mark Haughey, Mark Stafford, Jimmy Callacher, Matthew Clarke, Niall Quinn (Stephen Fallon 77’), Jamie Mulgrew ©, Cammy Palmer, Kirk Millar, Joel Cooper (Christy Manzinga 87’), Shayne Lavery (Andy Waterworth 87’)
Martin Gallagher (GK), Lyndon Kane ©, Adam Mullan (Ian Parkhill 80’), Aarron Canning, Josh Carson, Stephen Lowry, Aaron Jarvis, Ben Doherty, Jamie Glackin, James McLaughlin, Curtis Allen (Eoin Bradley 67’)
Linfield Football Club clinched their 55th Irish League title and made it three in a row with the point they needed to clinch it against Coleraine at the Showgrounds this evening. It also seals the 25th League and Irish Cup ‘double’ in their club’s proud history.
The Blues took the lead after 13 minutes and it came through a fitting goalscorer. Shayne Lavery won a corner and Kirk Millar whipped it in for one outgoing defender who’s served the club superbly, Mark Stafford, to head it on for another outgoing great servant, Mark Haughey, to steer a header in at the back post for his second goal of the season.
Joel Cooper had threatened twice in the early stages before the opener. Niall Quinn found him in space on the left but his powerful shot was deflected just wide, and moments later he had a clever flicked shot flash just wide of the far post from a right wing cross by Kirk Millar.
The Bannsiders upped the ante after the opener and almost levelled instantly. James McLaughlin forced a good stop from Chris Johns who pushed a 20 yard drive over the crossbar. From the following corner, the ball fell kindly for Jamie Glackin who was denied by a great block by Mark Stafford.
They then had the ball in the net but in dishonest fashion. It was well spotted by referee Raymond Crangle as Coleraine striker punched the ball into the net after a volley across goal by Aaron Jarvis. Allen was booked for deliberate handball and the goal was disallowed.
Allen threatened again from a neat Coleraine move as Glackin popped the ball off to James McLaughlin who flicked a great pass over the top for Curtis Allen but he fired a first-time volley over from ten yards.
Coleraine did get their leveller on 35 minutes. Following a great passage of neat football, the ball was worked out right to Lyndon Kane who deliver a top-class cross and Curtis Allen headed a clinical header down into the far corner.
The Blues almost went ahead again at the very end of the first half. Cammy Palmer drove from distance before his 20 yard low drive was palmed out by Martin Gallagher. Shayne Lavery almost got on the rebound but he was well blocked and Joel Cooper sidefooted a shot from the left side which was well saved by the goalkeeper who was up quickly after Palmer’s effort.
Half Time: Coleraine 1 – 1 Linfield
Soon into the second half Linfield threatened through set-pieces. Jimmy Callacher got a glancing header to Niall Quinn’s corner but his effort was just wide and soon after when Quinn put in a good cross, Haughey couldn't quite reach it.
Coleraine came close on 65 minutes when Ben Doherty swung a corner in and Aaron Jarvis met it with a close range header which was beaten away by Chris Johns and Linfield breathed a sigh of relief. The impressive Mark Stafford also produced a great defensive to intercept another dangerous cross by Lyndon Kane.
The Blues were focused on being compact, so we didn’t see an awful lot from them in an attacking sense. They were planning to hit on the break with Coleraine needing the win. Jamie Mulgrew drove from midfield and came close with a low strike which flashed just wide.
Then top goalscorer Shayne Lavery did superbly to run in behind Lyndon Kane, being found by Joel Cooper before flashing a brilliant ball right across the face of goal. All it needed was a touch but no-one was on hand to convert for Linfield.
Coleraine had Linfield penned in for the closing minutes with relentless pressure and the closest they came to winning it was when Josh Carson hit an awkward low shot on his right foot which was difficult for Chris Johns who did well to parry it to Jimmy Callacher to clear. Johns also showed great handling and alertness to athletically clutch a Glackin cross after the winger got in behind Haughey with the help of the break of the ball.
On the night you could see that Coleraine had rested while Linfield were playing two big cup ties last week but, typically, the Blues showed real heart to grind out the point they need to clinch the title and they’ll lift it on Saturday evening at Solitude on the last day of the season.
Congratulations to David Healy, his players and his staff on this great, hard-fought success. It was a tough season with so many games crammed in after a delayed start due to Covid but Healy’s men took everything in their stride and battled their way to a fourth title in five years.
Full Time: Coleraine 1 – 1 Linfield
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