Coleraine sign NI winger McMenamin from St Mirren

Image source, Pacemaker

Image caption,

Conor McMenamin's former clubs include St Mirren, Glentoran and Cliftonville

By Lauren McCann

BBC Sport NI Journalist

Published 2 hours ago

Northern Ireland international Conor McMenamin has returned to the Irish Premiership, joining Coleraine from St Mirren on a long-term deal after a permanent transfer was agreed.

The 30-year-old signed for the Scottish side from Glentoran in 2023 and started in the League Cup final win over Celtic last season.

McMenamin won the last of his 14 NI caps in June 2024, with his sole international goal to date came in a Euro 2024 qualifier against San Marino.

He also has had previous stints in the Irish League with Linfield, Warrenpoint Town and Cliftonville.

He excelled in his two-and-a-half year spell at the Glens, netting 33 goals in 66 appearances to earn his move across the water.

His arrival strengthens a Coleraine side that won the Irish Cup and finished second in the Premiership under Ruaidhri Higgins last season and will look to win a first Gibson Cup since 1974 in the upcoming campaign.

"It's a really, really exciting signing for the football club," said Coleraine manager Higgins.

"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."

He becomes the Bannsiders' third summer signing, following the recent arrival of Ben Doherty from Derry City, plus Scottish winger Jay Henderson, a product of the St Mirren academy.

Anaylsis - Another statement signing for Bannsiders

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption,

McMenamin won the League Cup with St Mirren last season, starting in the final win over Celtic

The capture of McMenamin is a statement signing for what already looks to be, on paper, a really strong Coleraine side.

Adding him to a frontline that already contains prolific duo Matthew Shevlin and Joel Cooper, who netted a combined 41 league goals last season, is a tantalising prospect for Bannsiders fans.

It also shows the club's commitment to continue to recruit quality in all areas in order to finally get over the line in the race for the Irish Premiership title after they fell just short last season.

McMenamin had only signed a contract extension to keep him in Paisley until the summer of 2027 in January, saying upon signing the deal that he felt "settled" at the club.

However, once fellow Northern Irishman Stephen Robinson departed the Buddies to take over at Aberdeen in March, McMenamin fell out of favour under interim boss Craig McLeish and was limited to appearances off the bench.

He will therefore come to the Showgrounds hoping to rediscover the dazzling form that helped him establish himself as one of the best players in the league while he was at Glentoran and the Reds.

While at 30 and after some injury issues recently he may not possess the pace he did a few years ago, he is still a direct winger that knows where the goal is and will relish having a point to prove.

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Coleraine sign NI winger McMenamin from St Mirren

Coleraine sign NI winger McMenamin from St Mirren

Anaylsis - Another statement signing for Bannsiders

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