SOCCER: Five star Limavady United dump Coleraine out of North West Cup

Limavady United cruised into the North West Senior Cup final in a one-sided semi-final, switched earlier that day to Rathmore Road following water damage at Coleraine Showgrounds. In so doing, they achieved their record victory over the Bannsiders and set up a final against Institute.

But the after match analysis will focus on the youthful team put out by the Premiership side, and questions may well be asked about the manner in which Coleraine treat the sponsors, the competition, and their opponents.

It may be a regional competition, little loved by the senior clubs, but the contrast with the way in which teams treat the equivalent Country Antrim Shield is striking. No fault can be laid at the Coleraine players, but this mismatch was quite literally a case of men against boys, and it is hard to see what benefit young players can take from such a drubbing.

United's first effort was a low Devine shot which fizzed along the turf, but Doherty saved well. Three minutes later McCarron's dink ball played in Gary McFadden who curled a fine effort goal wards, only to see it bounce back off the bar. On 20 minutes, Carlin headed wide from a corner. The only respite for Coleraine's youths was a 28th minute effort that Wells watched go well wide.

With ten minutes to the break, McCarron turned and fired over from outside the box. A minute later Pomeroy was played In, but the ball was taken off his toe as he shaped to shoot. A goal had been coming, and it duly arrived on 38 minutes, when Boyle finally forced home the ball, following two blocked efforts into the box. Though far from a classic strike, it eased United's frustration, as their dominance had hitherto drawn a blank. Four minutes later, the lead was doubled, as Pomeroy stroked home following McCarron's perceptive short pass. The break arrived with United in total control.

Things got even better after the break for the hosts. On 53 minutes the tie was ended as a contest, when McCarron scored, collecting the ball and shooting low into the net. He notched his second three minutes later, turning on the edge of the box to volley home. Just after the hour mark, Pomeroy was hauled over in the box, and McCarron stepped up to smash the penalty down the middle of the goal for his first senior hat trick.

With the game now over as a contest, United could have pushed for more goals, but pragmatically settled for preserving their clean sheet, and were obliged to Wells on 65 minutes, as he scrambled across his goal to get down and save a shot from distance. The Roesiders saw out the game with no further scares, although McConnell might have scored a sixth but he headed over.

All in all, United can take great satisfaction from a resounding derby triumph, with a rare clean sheet, and a good run out for the forwards. Nevertheless, the victory will only be slightly tarnished by the quality of the opposition, and this will be forgotten when the records are pored over in years to come. United will surely not make the mistake of assuming future challenges in the Championship will be as easy. For Coleraine, it is hard to see any positives, as even the blooding of so many young players is outweighed by the manner in which they were brutally brushed aside. Sean Friars will surely not lose any sleep over his opponents' woes, rightly arguing that you can only beat what is put in front of you.

Limavady United: Paul Wells, Marcus O'Kane, Gareth McFadden, Shane Boyle, Emmet Friars, Hugh Carlin, (Stuart McMullan 54), Aidan McCauley, Gary McFadden (Stephen Duffy 60), Sean McCarron (Oran McConnell 64), Alex Pomeroy, Ryan Devine. Substitute not used: Connor Brown.

Coleraine: Michael Doherty, Ben Mmore, Zak Tosh, Caolan McLoone (Ronan Dobbins 70), Robert McClean, Ruairi Boorman, Andrew Whiteside (Tiarnan Boorman 70), Jack Bradley, Caleb Wan (Luke Taylor 70), Alexander Gawn, Caolan Brennan. Substitutes not used: Richard Purcell, Lewis Nevin.

Referee: Declan Hassan (Ballymoney). Roesider Man of the match: Sean McCarron.