Coleraine beat Swifts in thrilling final to win Irish Cup

They were back in the game for just five minutes as Zane Okoro burst down the left and saw his low shot deflected into the path of Shevlin, who steered home.

The Swifts kept fighting and pulled another goal back on 66 minutes, with substitute Mitchell turning home from inside the area to keep this breathless final on a knife-edge, but Coleraine held on to win a first Irish Cup in eight years.

Coleraine analysis - Big players step up for clinical Bannsiders

Heading into the final Shevlin, Cooper and Will Patching had scored 55% of Coleraine's goals this season - so it was fitting that two of the trio stepped up in the biggest game and when it mattered most to bring the trophy back to the north coast.

It wasn't the prettiest of the 26 goals he scored this season, but it was a typical striker's goal from Shevlin to anticipate the defensive mistake and finish coolly for the opener.

He then turned provider to nod on for Cooper, who also showed great composure to net his 26th of a fine first season with the Bannsdiers before Shevlin again pounced in the box to make sure of the win after the Swifts had threatened a fight back.

Coleraine have blown teams away in the split, but this was a much more even game and they were indebted to their goalkeeper for making a few big stops during an uncharacteristically nervy start to the game.

The win caps off a fine end to what has been a good first full season under Higgins, who was appointed a year ago today and becomes only the second manager to win the Irish Cup and FAI Cup.

He has assembled a talented squad that really clicked in the latter half of the campaign to claim second in the league, a return to Europe for the first time since 2020 and a seventh Irish Cup triumph.

Their eyes will be building on that next year as they look to win the Gibson Cup for the first time since 1974.

Dungannon Swifts analysis - Valiant effort but holders fall short

Dungannon, as they were last year, were underdogs coming into this final and fell short despite a spirited display.

They were ultimately left to rue some big missed chances in the opening stages of the game and a rare defensive lapse from Dunne and Marron in conceding the opener that seemed to knock them out of their stride.

Considering they had lost all five games in the split, the Swifts were much-improved and put it up to the Bannsiders.

Conceding a goal so soon after half-time dealt them a further blow but they responded well with a rocket from Doyle.

The third goal was the real killer, coming just five minutes after they had cut the deficit and when they were enjoying a spell of momentum.

Again they responded through Mitchell, but just lacked that final bit of quality to score a third and bring the game to extra time.

Like Cliftonville before them, they have fallen at the final hurdle in attempting to win the Irish Cup back-to-back, but they must now regroup for the European play-offs as they look to enjoy a second successive European campaign.