Coleraine clinch signing of Northern Ireland international Conor McMenamin as winger hopes to end Bannsiders' long wait for Gibson Cup success
Northern Ireland’s Conor McMenamin is embracing the high stakes following his sensational high-profile Irish League return with Coleraine.
The 30-year-old has put pen-to-paper on a three-year deal at The Showgrounds after Coleraine agreed an undisclosed fee with Scottish side St Mirren.
McMenamin is certainly no stranger to the Irish League after starring for the likes of Warrenpoint Town, Cliftonville and Glentoran, which earned his move to the Buddies three years ago.
His spell in Paisley turned out to be a good one as he picked up a winners medal in the Scottish League Cup.
However, he has now agreed a return back home as Coleraine have their sights set on claiming title glory for the first time since 1974.
“When I spoke to the gaffer (Ruaidhri Higgins) and watching from afar, I like how things are done here,” said McMenamin, who has won 14 caps for Northern Ireland. "We have a good squad of players here who I’m looking forward to playing with and with the timing of everything, it just felt right.
"I wanted to come to a club which is challenging for trophies and has that expectation of winning.
"Trophies are hard to come by in your career and I want to come to a team that strives for that, so I think with the group of players that we have in the building, there’s no reason why we can’t aim for all those things.
"Obviously the club hasn’t won the league in a long time so to maybe be a part of that is what we should be aiming for as a team now.”
Coleraine boss Higgins says McMenamin is “desperate” to help his new club taste further success after last season’s Irish Cup triumph.
“It’s a really, really exciting signing for the football club,” he said. “He will play in a system with us where we feel we will get him into good areas of the pitch and he can show his true talent.
“When his name came up in conversation, you might think about what his hunger might be like coming home, but when I spoke to him, he’s a true professional and he’s desperate for success.
“He made it very clear that he wants to help us win things and we’re now in a position that we have to win, and he’s excited by that.”