POST-MATCH VERDICT: 'Everything came together today' beams Ruaidhri Higgins as Coleraine secure European football
After securing European football next season, Ruaidhri Higgins now wants his players to bring home the Irish Cup after a dominant showing against Glentoran at The Showgrounds.
Here’s what he had to say after the 6-2 win against the Glens which means they finished the campaign in second place.
THOUGHTS ON THE WIN?
"I think everything came together today.
"It's strange because we didn't dominate possession the way that we normally do...but I think on a day like that, when there's so much at stake, who cares because some of the goals we got were absolutely phenomenal.
“Some of the individual performances were fantastic and to win to all five games in the split, which is unheard of and scoring so many goals, I'm so proud of the group.
"80 points...if I'm being really honest, did I think we were capable of reaching 80 points at the halfway mark? Probably not but the players have been phenomenal.
“We've another week to goal, we've Europe secured, but now we want to go and make sure that when we get on the bus at Windsor Park on the way home next week, the trophy is on our bus and that's the key.
DOES SECURING EUROPEAN FOOTBALL MAKE IRISH CUP EASIER?
"We knew from early on that it was over in terms of winning it, but the players stayed focused.
"They didn't know obviously, but the players stayed focused and the supporters kept going.
"Everyone knew how important European football was.
"It's the first stage for this team and I think there's so much more to come.
"It's my job and the staff here to get that out of this group because there's so much potential in it.
"I think you're going into it knowing that Europe is in the bag regardless of what happens next week.
"We're playing European football next season...but it's really, really important for this football club to try and win a trophy now and finish off a brilliant season.
HAPPY TO GET A FEW PLAYERS OFF THE PITCH AHEAD OF THE FINAL?
"When you go into a game like this, the last thing you're thinking is that you're going to be able to bring off some of the lads and we were able to do that, which was great.
"It was a big game, big occasion and that's what you look for from your players.
"We were accused in the first half of the season by the media and people on podcasts and all that sort of stuff of not being able to win enough big games.
"I think that's been seriously put to bed over the last couple of months.