Windsor Park pulsated. The 1965 Irish Cup final was in its 92nd minute and Coleraine were performing a backs to the wall rearguard action as Glenavon surged forward, desperately seeking the equaliser that would take the game to a replay. All eyes were on the man in black as the huge Coleraine support in the 15,000 crowd willed him to bring proceedings to an end. With a dramatic flourish of his right hand, Jack Taylor pointed to the centre spot and with two short shrill blasts of his whistle and one longer one, he signaled the end of a 38-year-wait for Coleraine supporters as the Blue Riband of Irish soccer, the Irish Cup, was finally destined for the Showgrounds. Cue party time for the Bannsiders as euphoria replaced the tension-laden final minutes of this absorbing cup-tie that had drama, controversy and excitement in abundance. Delirious supporters swarmed on to the Windsor Park pitch to acclaim the men who had made history. Derek Irwin, scorer of the winning goal and team captain Ken Halliday were hoisted shoulder high by delighted supporters, all were sipping of the heady wine of success.

When eighteen-year-old Alan Hunter headed home his first senior goal for Coleraine in their semi-final clash with Glentoran to clinch their place in the final, the feeling that this could be the Bannsider’s year was almost tangible. This was the second successive year that Coleraine had reached the penultimate stage of the competition and their hunger for success was reflected in the dogged determination of the side.

Saturday, April 24th, 1965 and Windsor Park erupted as the teams took the field for what would prove to be a titan struggle for the most famous piece of silverware in Irish football. Carrying the Bannsiders hopes and aspirations were: Victor Hunter, Mc Curdy, Campbell, Murray, Alan Hunter, Peacock, Kinsella, Curley, Halliday, Dunlop and Irwin.

It is almost an unwritten law that the team that controls the tension best moves into the driving seat in a cup final. That advantage was grabbed by Glenavon almost from the outset as the younger Coleraine pretenders struggled to come to terms with the occasion. The Lurgan Blues had two excellent chances to draw blood when centre-half Lowry fired wide from a dangerous free-kick position. This was followed almost immediately by an Eric Magee effort that Hunter in the Coleraine goal needed two bites to digest. Just to show that this was no week-end excursion for the Showground men, Ken Halliday used his strength to great effect with a menacing run down the right wing that had the Glenavon defence mesmerised.

It was the same player that initiated the move that would send the Coleraine supporters into stratosphere after only nine minutes. The centre-forward drifted out to the left wing and after some delightful work by Peacock and Murray, the ball was fed to Halliday. The big man beat Lowry on a sixpence and swept a perfect cross to the far post. Confusion visited the Glenavon defence as both keeper Mc Nally and left-back Johnston disputed ownership rights to Halliday’s cross. Johnston eventually nodded the ball away but it was a nervy clearance that lacked power. The ball fell fortuitously to Shaun Dunlop who gleefully accepted the gift to head Coleraine in front. Gulls on the Windsor stands fled in fright with the roar that greeted the Bannsider’s opener. Dunlop himself had a look of disbelief on his face as he vanished beneath ecstatic team-mates.

The wiley Peacock urged his charges to concentrate and regroup, ever aware that the next five minutes were crucial. Sure enough, Glenavon surged forward with wave after wave of attacks on the Coleraine defence, which were thwarted by some resolute defending by Peacock and co. The Bannsiders served notice that nothing be taken for granted when Derek Irwin slotted home, only to be flagged for offside, a marginal decision. Tommy Kinsella got into the act when he tested McNally’s credentials in the Glenavon goal with a blistering drive from a bus run away. The ever dangerous Billy Johnston was tormentor-in-chief to the Coleraine rearguard. He should have restored parity when he headed wide with the goal gaping. This was followed by a darting run at the Bannsider’s defence which needed the combined efforts of both Hunters to clear for a meaningless corner. Coleraine pocketed a psychological advantage by trooping off to suck oranges one goal to the good.

SECOND HALF SURGE

A resurgent Coleraine started the second stanza with their opponents forced on to the back foot from the off. Shaun Dunlop set off on a mazy run but his final cross was easily collected by Mc Nally in the Glenavon goal. The overworked keeper was then tested by centre-half Hunter’s powerful header which he gathered on the goal line. Right-winger Tommy Kinsella was emerging as the real threat to the Lurgan Blues defence, but he was not getting enough supply of the ball. He went on a jinking run that had defenders floundering in his wake but his inch-perfect cross was headed over by Irwin when it looked infinitely easier to score. Fate looked as if it had punished Coleraine for the miss for in the 59th minute, Glenavon grabbed the equaliser. A Coleraine clearance was latched on to by Watson on the right wing. His speculative cross was the occasion for the Coleraine defence to look for the manufacturer’s name on the ball and Billy Johnston rose to head home off a post.

This could have been a mortal blow to the young Showground’s team but they were nothing if not resilient. Eleven minutes later, unimaginable delight for the Coleraine team and their supporters as they went in front once again with a goal worthy of the occasion. The quicksilver Kinsella caused palpitations yet again in the Glenavon rearguard with another silken run on the right. His centre found Ken Halliday who, with his back to goal, tried an overhead kick. History is littered with instances of mistakes being opportunity in disguise and so it proved to be for Coleraine. Halliday’s attempted overhead kick fell wide to the left where Derek Irwin was lurking menacingly. He met the misplaced effort with unerring accuracy as it fell, and his shot, like an exocet missile, left scorch marks on the ground as it bulged the back of the net with Mc Nally looking on in admiration.

MISSED CHANCES

Coleraine now had the scent of victory in their nostrils and an insurance third goal was denied them by inches. Shaun Dunlop went foraging down the right wing and from his cross the inrushing Halliday was agonizingly close to making contact and the big striker finished up where the ball should have, in the back of the net. The game went into an amazing final ten minutes with a goal to each side being wiped out for offside. Alan Campbell, who had a superb game for Coleraine, slipped as he attempted to clear and Eric Magee picked up the scraps immediately. He crossed for the dangerous Guy to nod home for what he thought was the equalizer, only to be confronted by the dreaded raised flag of the linesman. Coleraine tasted the same bitter gall minutes later when that man again, Tommy Kinsella, crossed dangerously but his effort was cleared by a defender. The ball fell invitingly to Shaun Dunlop who needed no second invitation, he cracked a glorious drive into the Glenavon net but the goal was disallowed for offside once again. Glenavon now threw caution to the wind as they peppered the Coleraine defence mercilessly.

Bertie Peacock rallied his troops and with each passing minute, the attacks became more desperate than dangerous. Try telling that to the Coleraine support though, they knew that the kick of a ball stood between them and history. After two minutes of torment, Mr. J.K. Taylor of Wolverhampton, raised his right arm and pointed towards the centre spot, the long wait was over; the cup was on its way to the Coleraine Showgrounds for the first time. It would make return trips in the intervening years, but for these 1965 trailblazers, they had become the standard bearers, and in the process, wrote themselves into local folklore.

*CFCweb would like to thank Lawrence Moore for his kind permission to post his account of the 1965 Irish Cup Final. Lawrence acknowledges Emma Glasgow of Coleraine Library for her great help and cooperation in the construction of this story.