McGonigle: we deserve silver lining

JAMIE McGonigle has admitted it’s hard to stomach missing out on title glory as he feels his Coleraine side “play better football” than champions Crusaders.

The Crues edged home just two points ahead of the Bannsiders on Saturday but Oran Kearney’s men lost only one league game all season and also boasted the best defensive record.

After his side held Coleraine 0-0 at the weekend, Glenavon chief Gary Hamilton argued: “People say the best teams win the league but this is probably a unique season where the best team hasn’t won the title.”

McGonigle said: “I see what he means with one defeat all year and conceding the least goals, and in my opinion we play better football.

“But, as the saying goes, the best team always wins the league and Crusaders have done what they had to do when they needed to do it and eventually won the Gibson Cup. So I guess it’s whatever way you look at it.”

The Northern Ireland Under-21 international is now hoping to fire Coleraine to Irish Cup glory on Saturday against Cliftonville at Windsor Park. The Bannsiders lost last year’s decider 3-0 to Linfield.

“In last year’s final, we were like a rabbit caught in the headlights,” he added. “We got too caught up in the whole hype and occasion but this time we will learn not to get caught up in it.”

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