Cooper double lifts Coleraine past Larne after two-goal comeback

Coleraine recovered from a two-goal deficit to beat reigning Irish Premiership champions Larne 3–2 at Inver Park on Friday, with Joel Cooper scoring twice in the turnaround. BBC Sport NI reported that Cooper's late winner handed Larne their first league defeat of the season after James Simpson's double had put the home side in control.

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The result moved Coleraine six points ahead of Linfield and 11 clear of Larne, although both rivals have matches in hand. Linfield have played two fewer games, while Larne have four additional fixtures to make up following their European commitments during the summer. Those differences in games played remain an important qualification to Coleraine's advantage in points.

Cooper began the comeback with around half an hour remaining, finishing after Larne failed to clear a cross from Ben Doherty. Doherty was involved again nine minutes later as Matthew Shevlin headed in the equaliser. Coleraine's response turned a two-goal lead for the hosts into a level contest, before another intervention from Cooper completed the reversal.

Substitute Kevin O'Hara struck the crossbar before Cooper scored the decisive goal with nine minutes of normal time left. The visitors' three goals came within a 21-minute spell, according to the BBC. Larne had conceded only three times across their first seven league games; that total doubled in the course of Coleraine's fightback at Inver Park.

Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins told BBC Sport NI he was particularly pleased with his players' response to falling two goals behind away to the champions. He praised their character and second-half performance rather than declaring the result a defining moment in the title race. His side are seeking the club's first Gibson Cup since 1974, following a change of ownership and a move to full-time football.

Larne manager Gary Haveron criticised his team's defending but rejected the idea that the result settled anything between the rivals. He noted that they still had further meetings ahead and a substantial portion of the season remaining. Their first league encounter had finished goalless. Larne, who have won three titles in four years, must now respond to their first league loss of this campaign.