Lincoln City duo MJ Kamara and Zane Okoro clashed as Coleraine pipped Glentoran to a spot in Europe this weekend.
The duo have had a successful season vying first for the title, and secondly for a European spot once Larne took control of the division. They ended the season in first place, in a division which splits in half after 33 games, and then sees each team face the five others in their split. It confused me too!
It meant that Zane and MJ faced off in a winner-take-all, or rather, a winner-takes-qualification for the Conference League first qualifying round, which doesn’t quite have the same ring to it. Given that the previous three meetings had seen Glentoran win twice and draw once, the Bannisders might have been deemed underdogs, despite home advantage.
After taking a 2-0 lead in the first half, Coleraine looked to be in control. Having scored in their 3-0 win against Linfield, Okoro started for his loan club, but hadn’t had a huge effect, with no shots to his name by the time the second half kicked off. MJ, a regular for his side at right centre half, had a good first period, winning 56% of his aerial duels.
It all went off in the second period, with Coleraine winning a penalty to make it 3-0. The Imps’ interest is here: Okoro burst into the area, he tangled with Kamara and went down. Not only was a penalty awarded, but Okoro seemed to celebrate hard in Kamara’s face when it was given.
Will Patching netted the penalty, and Coleraine ended up winning 6-2 in secure European football for the first time since 2022.
Get those passports sorted.
The Bannsiders are going on a European tour ✈️ #COTB pic.twitter.com/ZfA34hLHyN
— Coleraine FC (@ColeraineFC) April 25, 2026
There is still hope for Glentoran, and ironically, they now need Coleraine to win! They’re in the Irish Cup Final against Dungannon Swifts, and if they win, the European spot then filters down one place to Kamara’s outfit. It would be quite an achievement for the pair if they were both involved in sending their loan sides into Europe.
Okoro started well this season for Coleraine, but has been less effective as it has worn on. Kamara has gone the other way, barely getting a kick in Autumn, and now becoming one of their strongest players. Whether the pair return to the Imps and stay, or head back out on loan, remains to be seen, but the minimum would surely be League Two loans?
That said, the NIFL is ranked 190th in the world by Opta, while the National League is only 199th. It’s certainly be interesting to see what happens with both young players now we’ve gone up a level.
Comments Welcome!