29 days ago
Conor McMenamin says his short-lived move to Coleraine "was not meant to be" after his shock deadline day return to Glentoran.
The 31-year-old joined the Bannsiders in June on a long-term deal from St Mirren but has now made an unexpected return to the Glens for his second spell at the club.
McMenamin scored 39 goals in 80 appearances for the east Belfast side before he moved to the Buddies in 2023.
"Before I went to Coleraine, Glentoran wasn't an option and, as soon as I found out that they were this time around, I said to my agent to get it done quick," McMenamin told BBC Sport NI's Stephen Watson.
"I'm delighted and I want to play with that smile and that freedom that I did before I came here.
#glentoran #conor #bannsiders
The 31-year-old joined the Bannsiders in June on a long-term deal from St Mirren but has now made an unexpected return to the Glens for his second spell at the club.
McMenamin scored 39 goals in 80 appearances for the east Belfast side before he moved to the Buddies in 2023.
"Before I went to Coleraine, Glentoran wasn't an option and, as soon as I found out that they were this time around, I said to my agent to get it done quick," McMenamin told BBC Sport NI's Stephen Watson.
"I'm delighted and I want to play with that smile and that freedom that I did before I came here.
#glentoran #conor #bannsiders
2 months ago
Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins said his side want "more success" in this year's Irish Premiership.
The Bannsiders won the Irish Cup last season and came second in the Irish League by three points.
It has been an impressive summer transfer window for Higgins' side who have signed Northern Ireland international Conor McMenamin as well as Derry City's Ben Doherty.
"When you look at some of the signings the so-called bottom six clubs are making, it is going to be an even stronger league I feel this year and extremely competitive," Higgins told BBC Sport NI.
"When you hear people writing off Linfield, I think that is very, very naive. Larne are the reigning champions and deserve respect and Glentoran will be really, really strong again and then you have the really competitive teams outside of them as well.
#well #premiership
The Bannsiders won the Irish Cup last season and came second in the Irish League by three points.
It has been an impressive summer transfer window for Higgins' side who have signed Northern Ireland international Conor McMenamin as well as Derry City's Ben Doherty.
"When you look at some of the signings the so-called bottom six clubs are making, it is going to be an even stronger league I feel this year and extremely competitive," Higgins told BBC Sport NI.
"When you hear people writing off Linfield, I think that is very, very naive. Larne are the reigning champions and deserve respect and Glentoran will be really, really strong again and then you have the really competitive teams outside of them as well.
#well #premiership
2 months ago
Coleraine manager Ruaidhrí Higgins says his side "contributed" to their own downfall in Thursday's 5-0 away defeat by HJK in the first leg of their Uefa Conference League second qualifying round tie.
The Bannsiders were two down at the break through goals from Liam Moller and Pyry Mentu, while Toivo Mero added a third early in the second have with a quickfire brace by Teemu Pukki completing the rout.
Higgins expressed his "disappointment" at the manner of the defeat but had no complaints as they now have a mountain to climb in next week's second leg at home.
"The manner of the goals we gave away and the timing were extremely disappointing," Higgins told Coleraine TV.
"We contributed to a lot of their goals and that's on us, so we have to accept it."
#coleraine #away #uefa
The Bannsiders were two down at the break through goals from Liam Moller and Pyry Mentu, while Toivo Mero added a third early in the second have with a quickfire brace by Teemu Pukki completing the rout.
Higgins expressed his "disappointment" at the manner of the defeat but had no complaints as they now have a mountain to climb in next week's second leg at home.
"The manner of the goals we gave away and the timing were extremely disappointing," Higgins told Coleraine TV.
"We contributed to a lot of their goals and that's on us, so we have to accept it."
#coleraine #away #uefa
3 months ago
Coleraine striker Matthew Shevlin said the side are expecting to face a "fit and sharp" HJK Helsinki in the second qualifying round of the Uefa Conference League.
The Bannsiders will compete in Europe for the first time since 2018 when they travel to play the Finnish side.
Ruaidhri Higgins' side will be aiming to build on last year's success when they finished runners-up in the Irish Premiership and lifted the Irish Cup.
"They are mid-season, so we are expecting them to be fit and sharp," Shevlin told BBC Sport NI.
"They have quality or they would not be in the competition so we are expecting a tough game, but we believe we can win.
The Bannsiders will compete in Europe for the first time since 2018 when they travel to play the Finnish side.
Ruaidhri Higgins' side will be aiming to build on last year's success when they finished runners-up in the Irish Premiership and lifted the Irish Cup.
"They are mid-season, so we are expecting them to be fit and sharp," Shevlin told BBC Sport NI.
"They have quality or they would not be in the competition so we are expecting a tough game, but we believe we can win.
