Sean Graham and Lyndon Kane vie for possession at Inver ParkImage source, Pacemaker
Image caption,

Sean Graham and Lyndon Kane vie for possession at Inver Park

ByMark Strange
BBC Sport NI contributor

Larne defeated Coleraine 3-2 on penalties to secure the Charity Shield at Inver Park after the game between the Premiership champions and Irish Cup winners ended 0-0 after 90 minutes.

Larne had the first half-chance early in the game when Dylan Sloan's ball across the face was touched against the post by Paul O'Neill but the offside flag was up against him.

Coleraine started to edge their way back into the game and, just after Lewis McGregor almost connected with Matthew Shevlin's delivery, Senan Devine was denied by a goal-line clearance by Aaron Donnelly.

The game began to tilt towards the direction of the Bannsiders and Devine was repelled again, this time by a good low save by Rohan Ferguson.

Larne's Scottish stopper was less convincing just moments later when he gifted possession to Rowan McDonald but, with Ferguson still stranded on the edge of his box, McDonald lobbed over the bar with the net at his mercy.

On debut, Jay Henderson forced a good save from Ferguson before his opposite number Lewis Webb dropped a routine free kick at the feet of Josh Ukek only for Cameron Stewart to clear off the line.

Those two would clash again as Stewart fouled debutant Ukek in the box only for Webb to save Mark Randall's spot-kick.

That was the last real chance of the game and the Charity Shield would finish goalless and be decided on penalties for the second year in a row.

Ferguson would be the hero in the shootout as he saved efforts from Shevlin, Doherty and Henderson and Larne secured a second Charity Shield success in three years.

Gary Haveron's men travel to San Marino to take on Tre Fiori in Champions League first qualifying round next week while Coleraine still have nearly three weeks to prepare for their Conference League qualifier with HJK.

What the managers said

Larne manager Gary Haveron speaking to BBC Sport NI: "It's another trophy but that isn't what was important coming out of tonight's game.

"It was about coming through this with no injuries. It's so close to our big game on Tuesday night [first leg of the Champions League qualifier away to Tre Fiori] and we obviously had to prioritise Tuesday to a certain degree. It's about peaking for the game in Europe.

"It's all about preparation and we have to be ready come Tuesday.

"But it was a good workout for both clubs and I think both clubs will acknowledge they got something out of the match."

Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins speaking to BBC Sport NI:

"Delighted. It was only our second game and nobody had played more than 45 minutes before tonight.

"The first half was excellent and we should have been two or three up at half-time. Our shape in and out of possession and some of our shape we were really happy with.

"It was just that final bit where we should have scored a few goals.

"I'm really happy with where we are from a fitness point of view."