If you happened to be in Coleraine over the last couple of weeks - it is fair to say that Irish Cup fever certainly took over the town as the Bannsiders clinched glory against Dungannon Swifts.

Branded as ‘Operation Blue and White’, businesses in the town centre decorated their shop windows with the Coleraine colours, as well as flags being put on numerous lampposts in the build-up to the big day.

The match was shown live on big screen in the town centre, with the football club also reaching out to the community as the club mascot ‘Benny the Bannsider’ visited many schools and other organisations over the last seven days.

Community spirit was certainly evident before the game as hundreds of fans lined the streets to cheer on the team bus before it departed for Windsor Park as more than 7000 fans snapped up a ticket to be a part of the occasion.

placeholder image — Coleraine fans in jubilant mood as they welcome the victorious Irish Cup winning squad

Coleraine managed to get the job done on the pitch as they edged out Dungannon Swifts in a 3-2 thriller with the fans then saluting their heroes with a celebration back at The Showgrounds.

Dale Pryde-MacDonald, Chief Executive Officer at Coleraine, says the club’s support and success from the final has “changed a generation”.

“What we have witnessed over the last two or three weeks has been utterly remarkable,” he said.

"To see the whole community come together has been one of the most compelling and humbling things I have ever been part of.

“Whether it’s been in Coleraine, Portrush, Garvagh, Ballymoney: the whole area have been right behind the club. I’ve never, in my life, seen schools, businesses or supporters come together like they have for this football club.

"The displays and the engagement have been beyond first class. This moment, I believe, has now changed a generation and that is all down to everybody who has put up flags, created displays and used this Cup final as a means to bring people together.

“It’s on us as a club to now grow this and use it as a platform to really build a bright future here. We have so many people in this community that aren’t even football fan who have been involved in this period and we have to keep them engaged, using this moment as a springboard for the future.”

One of those at the game was avid supporter Helen Wilkinson who said supporting the club has helped her through some difficult times in her life.

"The club has been a big positive for me during some negative times,” she added.

"I’ve made so many friends and it’s certainly helped during a dark time.

“It was just a special day and you could see how much it to meant to everyone.

"It has been a real community effort and I’m sure the players who travel to Coleraine for training and matches must have been excited.

"Everyone who has been involved with the community effort deserve a major pat on the back as it’s been amazing to see.

"Our goalkeeper (Ryan Schofield) definitely kept us in the game at the beginning but the most important thing was getting over the line and bringing the trophy back to The Showgrounds.”