WATCH: Special strike from Irish League teenager 'always looking to hurt the opposition'
Teenager Senan Devine delivered another eye-catching display with one assist and a dazzling strike inside the opening 30 minutes of Coleraine’s five-star show on Saturday.
The 19-year-old with a double-figure tally of senior appearances this season thrilled fans – with cheers from the sidelines as well as the stands given his latest vindication of Bannsiders boss Ruaidhri Higgins’ show of selection faith.
Higgins celebrated the bright prospect’s brilliant strike on the half-hour mark as “phenomenal”, with Devine having earlier picked out Ben Wylie to break the deadlock.
“One thing Senan has is goals in him and he's always looking to hurt the opposition,” said Higgins after a 5-0 win which moved Coleraine back on top of the Premiership table. "He's got a brilliant left foot...obviously still very, very young.
"Nineteen...he's played a lot for us so far this season and will continue to play a lot for us.
"He felt today was a good game for him, that he could pick holes in the opposition...he was fantastic, particularly in that first half."
Coleraine enjoyed an early advantage with Scot Rough’s red card on just 11 minutes in the Seaview showdown.
Wylie then kicked off the scoring before Devine made his mark, with Joel Cooper increasing the advantage ahead of half-time.
Jacob Blaney’s own goal increased the Crues’ pain game before Adam Brooks bagged a first strike since his high-profile summer switch from Crusaders to cap the hosts’ afternoon to forget.
Higgins added extra individual praise to scorers Wylie and Brooks, with special words for the game’s final strike.
"Delighted for Adam Brooks to get his first goal,” said Higgins. "He's got brilliant movement, he finds space in the box and that'll be the first of many.
"I thought also Ben Wylie had a really, really good game as well.
"It was a really good result for us.
"No doubt the red card gave us a huge advantage in the game, but we certainly took advantage.
"It's been a good ground for us over the last 14, 15 months, we're delighted with the win.
"Some of our play we were really happy with, we kept a clean sheet on a horrendous day weather-wise so a brilliant win for us.
"Brilliant team goals as well.
"The red card was early enough in the game...I was really happy with our application and our professionalism and how we went about it. CRUSADERS: Shea Callister, Jacob Blaney, Scot Rough, Harry Jewitt-White, Elliot Dunlop, Jack Doherty, Donal Rocks, Eoin Wardell, Aaron Reid, Oilibhear McCart, Lloyd Anderson. Subs: Rian Brown, Josh Williamson, Karter Bond, Scott MacLeod, Cooper Lambe, Oliver Peoples, Malachi Harris.
COLERAINE: Lewis Webb, Cameron Stewart, Matthew Shevlin, Joel Cooper, Levi Ives, Rob Slevin, Senan Devine, Rowan McDonald, Ben Wylie, Ben Doherty, Finn Tonks. Subs: Ryan Schofield, Lyndon Kane, Dylan Boyle, Lewis McGregor, Jay Henderson, Adam Brooks, Joe Thomson.