February 12, 2007 Played on a heavy pitch at the Showgrounds, this contest was typical of what one had come to expect from pre-season fixtures with a plethora of alterations being made on both sides during the second half. Hegarty fielded five of his new signings in his starting eleven with Declan Boyle, Gordon Simms, Sean Holmes, Marc Brolly and Seamus Browne all included from the off while two other new faces - Darragh McGee and Sean Roddy - were introduced after the interval. There were plenty of encouraging signs for the small band of Harps followers in attendance on Monday night with the performance of Holmes in the middle of the park particularly impressive. Seamus Browne also turned in a spirited performance while the return of sharp shooter Conor Gethins gives Harps a killer edge in attack once more. It was the former Ross County man who opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark when he connected with Marc Brolly's centre after Shaun Holmes did the spadework down the left flank.
Both sided had opportunities to break the stalemate before Gethins'
34th minute opener. Ten minutes after the re-start Harps doubled their advantage with Seamus Browne prodded home from close range after Shaun Holmes' ball into the box caused much confusion in the danger zone. Moments earlier, Holmes himself was almost on the scoresheet, but his cracking free-kick came crashing off O'Hare's upright with the goalkeeper beaten. Coleraine then began to come into the game and on 58minutes they reduced the deficit when former Glasgow Rangers conscript Stephen Carson cracked a superb 25 yard strike past Gavin Cullen. Soon after, Carson rattled Cullen's crossbar with another stinging attempt from distance and his follow-up effort failed to test the Harps net-minder. With time almost up, Harps made sure of the win and it was a strike that was well worth waiting for. Conor Gethins beat O'Hare in a race for possession after Jonathan Minnock sent a probing ball forward. From tight on the left touch-line Gethins rounded the 'keeper and curled a magnificent right-footed shot over the covering defenders into the far corner of the net. It was a fine way to cap off what was a reasonable evening at the office for the new look Harps who now look forward to two games in two days at the weekend.
On Friday night, they take on Galway United at Terryland Park while
they take on Gavin Dykes' Castlebar Celtic on Saturday. Coleraine FC: David O'Hare; John Watt, Darren Cassidy, Ryan
McLaughlin, Kyle McVey; Damien Whitehead, John Neill, Darren Boyce,
Stephen Carson; David Patton, Tommy McCallion. Subs: Stewart
Clanachan, Howard Beverland, Noel Anderson, Sean Heneghan and Gordon
Patton (for Boyce, Neill, McCallion, Whitehead and McVey, h/t); Alan
Ewart (for Patton, 63mins).
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