Sligo Rovers vs Coleraine FC

The Bannsiders dominated the opening half-hour and took a deserved lead on 29 minutes. McMenamin closed down Sligo goalkeeper Liam Hughes's clearance and had the simplest of tasks to roll the ball into an empty net from close range.

The lead lasted barely 60 seconds. Sligo restarted and immediately carved through Coleraine's defence, with a through ball releasing Jamie O'Donnell, who finished coolly past goalkeeper Ben Schofield to make it 1-1.

Coleraine responded well. Ben Doherty dragged a shot wide after a combination with McMenamin and Dylan Boyle, and midfielder McDonald saw his curling effort from outside the box pushed away by Hughes after Lyndon Kane's initial shot was parried. Daire Patton headed over from a corner for the hosts as the half ended level.

The second half saw Coleraine threaten three times in quick succession — Ben Wylie's free-kick held by Hughes, then efforts from McMenamin and McDonald failing to breach the Rovers defence. Manager Ruaidhri Higgins made six changes on 56 minutes, introducing fresh legs across the pitch.

The decisive moment arrived on 73 minutes. Matthew Shevlin, introduced eight minutes earlier, was brought down inside the penalty area. He stepped up to take the spot-kick himself and dispatched it confidently past Hughes.

Coleraine substitute goalkeeper Lewis Webb preserved the lead with a fine low stop in the closing stages to deny Luke Pearce an equaliser.

Higgins's sextet of substitutions on 56 minutes changed the rhythm of the game. Among those introduced were Shevlin (for McMenamin), who won and scored the penalty, and Webb (for Schofield), who made a match-saving stop. Coleraine's deeper bench and willingness to rotate gave them the edge in the final half-hour.

Conor McMenamin (Coleraine FC) — The summer arrival opened the scoring with a poacher's finish after pressing the goalkeeper, and linked well with Doherty and Boyle throughout the first half.

Matthew Shevlin (Coleraine FC) — On as a substitute in the 65th minute, he won the penalty when he was brought down in the box, then converted it himself to secure the win.

Jamie O'Donnell (Sligo Rovers) — Took his goal clinically within seconds of the restart, demonstrating sharp movement and composure to beat Schofield one-on-one.

Player of the Match: Conor McMenamin — goal, constant pressing, and key involvement in Coleraine's best attacking moments.

The match was a tale of two clinical moments bookending a competitive workout. Coleraine's first goal came from a high-press error (McMenamin closing down the keeper), while their second came from a penalty won by a substitute — both hallmarks of a side with depth and tactical discipline. Sligo's equaliser, arriving within 60 seconds of falling behind, showed their resilience but they could not produce a second. Coleraine's six second-half changes reflected the squad rotation typical of pre-season, but the cohesion of the XI that played the first hour was notable.

Coleraine's pre-season record now reads: two wins (Limavady United, Sligo Rovers), two draws (Larne, H&W Welders) and a 5-2 win over Newbuildings United across their various July friendlies. The Bannsiders face Portadown at home on 18 July before their competitive campaign begins on 23 July with a UEFA Conference League first qualifying round first leg against HJK Helsinki in Finland.

Sligo Rovers, in the midst of their League of Ireland Premier Division season, used the friendly as a mid-season workout. Their league campaign continues with their next fixture.

A productive workout for both sides in oppressive heat. Coleraine's pressing game and second-half squad depth were the difference. The McMenamin-Shevlin combination — one starting, one finishing from the bench — suggests Higgins has options across the frontline as the European trip to Helsinki looms.