Kane aiming for Irish Cup glory after missing out in 2018

Images of him hobbling down the touchline, suit on and crutches aloft to join the pile on in the Coleraine end after Eoin Bradley’s late goal sealed a 3-1 win over Cliftonville in the 2018 Irish Cup final are permanently ingrained in Lyndon Kane’s mind.

Cruelly, Kane was ruled out of the showpiece decider in the Windsor Park sunshine after injuring his metatarsal two weeks before the big day.

He had scored in the 3-1 semi-final win over Larne but missed out on a medal on one of the club’s greatest days as he was not in the matchday squad.

Now, six years on, Kane, as Bannsiders captain and one of the two remaining from the 2018 squad left in the current crop, will look to lead his hometown club to more Irish Cup glory when they face Dungannon Swifts in Saturday’s final.

After featuring in three of their five games on the way to the final, Kane was forced to be just a regular spectator on cup final day, but under then manager Oran Kearney, his team delivered for the injured defender.

The Bannsiders went into the final desperate to end a 15-year wait for silverware and with a talented squad that had come close to success in the league and cup.

They lost the 2017 Irish Cup final 3-0 against Linfield and finished second in the Irish Premiership in the 2017-18 season, losing just one game but coming in two points behind eventual champions Crusaders.

They went ahead early in the second half of the decider as midfielder Darren McCauley volleyed home one of the finest final goals.

Cliftonville’s Rory Donnelly equalised from close-range soon after, but substitute Aaron Burns restored their advantage after a tidy flick from Bradley.

The striker then sealed a famous victory with a late third, racing through from the halfway line after the Reds had pushed forward in search of another equaliser before deftly lifting the ball over Brian Neeson.

Queue pandemonium from the Coleraine fans behind the goal as well as the players and management team, with Kearney famously charging down the touchline to join in celebrations for their first Irish Cup win since 2003.

It was even more special for the local lads like Kane, Jamie McGonigle and Brad Lyons, who had helped bring the trophy back to the north coast.

“I got halfway down [the touchline for the pile on] and had to meet them on the way back!” Kane told BBC Sport NI.

“It was disappointing [to miss out] but me, as a fan, I still take great satisfaction.

“As a player you want to play every big game, but probably my connection with the club and the fact we still won it, I know how much it means to the people and the town.”

While he enjoyed the occasion, Kane will undoubtedly use the tinge of sadness that he couldn’t play a part on the pitch in the 2018 to motivate him this year to ensure he skippers the side to glory.

Six years on, Coleraine find themselves in a similar position as they were in 2018.

They are hoping to win a first trophy in a few years [the 2020 League Cup was their last major honour] having gone close in the league this season, finishing second just three points behind champions Larne, who they beat 2-1 in the Irish Cup semi-final after extra time.

Kane and McGonigle [who has since had spells at Crusaders and Derry City] are the sole survivors from 2018 and in truth, the right-back has been one of the few constants in a period of transition for the club in the past two years.

Coleraine have been a side transformed on and off the pitch since Henry Ross came in as the majority owner and Executive Chairman in December 2024 and ushered in a full-time model.

Their expensively assembled squad has really clicked under Ruaidhri Higgins in recent months and they are currently on a nine-game winning run in all competitions with signings such as Joel Cooper and Will Patching leading the charge.

They scored 21 goals in their five games in the split and come into the final against the holders Dungannon as favourites.

Kane hopes that just like 2018, they end the season on a high and it would even sweeter for the captain to hold the trophy aloft knowing he could contribute on the pitch this time and help usher Coleraine into a new era of sustained success.

“Without a doubt we are at the start of our journey,” Kane, who has made over 300 appearances for the club, added.

“This year has been a good stepping block and the last two or three months we have started to kick on as a group and shown real togetherness from the top to the bottom and hopefully that is the start of things to come.

“The club obviously has a plan in place for the next five years and we are probably just ahead of that this year so hopefully we can win the cup and send it on its way.”