Coleraine ready to make another bit of history

When Richard Carey climbed the steps in Celtic Park five years ago, it was the culmination of an incredible rise. From a junior final in 2000, via an All-Ireland intermediate final in 2007, an unfashionable group of players wrote one of the great pieces of history in Derry’s annals.

Coming from a town that has traditionally been unionist-leaning, their grounds are actually in Portstewart, from where a big chunk of their players hail as well. There wasn’t a maroon and green flag to be seen around Coleraine town in October 2010, but the Port was awash with it.

They tore up the script that day and beat a heavily-backed Ballinderry, thanks to goals from Richard Carey and Colm McGoldrick. But it was their meetings with Sunday’s opponents Slaughtneil, both that year and the season previous, which arguably defined them.