The home side then began the second half virtually camped in the Lavey half and created at least two great goal chances but they came away with nothing and almost inevitably they would rue those missed opportunities.
Even though Coleraine did take the lead midway through the half at 1-7 to 1-6 Lavey levelled and then hit a crucial second goal ten minutes from time to lead again and they went on to win 2-10 to 1-9.
Prior to the start of this game there was a minute's silence as a mark of respect following the tragic death of Robert Dunlop at the nearby North West 200.
League leaders Lavey fell behind to a Martin McGonigle point in the second minute but were soon level as Gary Doyle robbed Naill Holly to point. With Sean Paul Henry dominating at midfield Coleraine were soon back in front, Mark McTaggart pointing following a three man move.
Then in the eighth minute Ciaran McGoldrick broke forward and linked up with brother Sean Leo who passed inside to Richard Carey bursting through the middle to fire to the Lavey net.
It was just the sort of start Coleraine would have wanted, however Lavey began to get more ball around midfield through Stephen Henry and Paul Doherty.
Two points in as many minutes reduced the gap, Colm Murray from a free and the dangerous Gary Doyle profiting from another high ball into the square, their scorers. By the end of the first quarter the sides had exchanged points, Gregory Bradley for Coleraine Colm Murray replying from a free for Lavey, the hme side still ahead by two.
Lavey then had a good spell which began with their first goal in the 19th minute, again it was full forward Doyle who did the damage as he punched a high ball from the edge of the square to the net. Midfielder Paul Doherty then fired over a fine point from long range and Stephen Henry should have had Lavey further ahead from a relatively close-in free.
The last five minutes of the half belonged to Eoghan Rua as the tide went their way again, points from Richard Carey and Mark McTaggart levelling matters, a fine save from Ryan McGeough ensuring the sides would go in at the break all square 1-5 each.
Eoghan Rua continued where they had left off as they laid siege to the Lavey goal in the opening five minutes of the second half. However a combination of stubborn defence from the Lavey men and going for goals when points were on offer left the home side frustrated as they came out of that spell of pressure with nothing to show on the scoreboard.
Almost inevitably Lavey raced upfield from that onslaught to score a point from their first attack of the second half seven minutes in.
By the end of the third quarter Eoghan Rua had regained the lead, 1-7 to1-6 with fine points from Martin McGonigle and Ciaran McGoldrick. It was then Lavey's turn to exert the pressure as Gary Doyle fed Stephen Henry to fire over the equaliser again.
Eoghan Rua then had a goal chance but Gregory Bradley's shot was well saved by Michael Hasson. Lavey had profited from 'route one' football and they did so again this time with the crucial second goal, Gary Doyle punching to the net from the high ball to the edge of the square.
Doyle became the provider for Lavey's next score as he came to the wing before crossing to paul Doherty to point.
Still with just under ten minutes left Eoghan Rua were not out of it at just three adrift. However despite a number of chances all they had to show was a Sean leo McGoldrick point from a free which reduced the gap to two going into added time.
The experienced Lavey men then closed the game out in the six minutes of time added on with points from Colm Murray and Aidan Scullion. Eoghan Rua will look back on this as a real chance to garner home league points but they came up short against a more experienced Lavey outfit that played to its strengths and took scores at the crucial moments.
Eoghan Rua: Ryan McGeough; Barry McTaggart,, Niall Holly, Ciaran Mullan; Paddy Burns, Mark Mearns, Anton Rafferty; Sean Paul Henry, Pat Cassidy; Richard Carey (1-1), Martin McGonigle (0-3), Gregory Bradley (0-1), Sean Leo McGoldrick (0-1), Mark McTaggart (0-2), Ciaran McGoldrick (0-1). Subs used: Ciaran Lenehan for C Mullan, Keith Farran for P Cassidy.
Lavey: Gary Doyle (2-2), Colm Murray (0-3, 0-1 free), Paul Doherty (0-2), Gary Cushnahan (0-1), Aidan Scullion (0-1)