It's been a year to remember for Ruaidhri Higgins, and he marked the occasion in the most fitting way possible—by lifting the Irish Cup. The Coleraine boss guided his team to a dramatic 3-2 victory over Dungannon Swifts in the final at Windsor Park, ending an eight-year wait for the trophy and capping off a remarkable first season in charge.
For a manager who took the reins on 2 May 2025, the journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. Higgins not only brought silverware back to the north coast but also steered the Bannsiders to a second-place finish in the league with 80 points, securing European football for the first time since 2022. Winning all five games in the post-split phase showed the grit and determination of a squad that was largely assembled over the summer.
The final itself was a thriller. Coleraine held their nerve against the holders, delivering a performance that had fans on the edge of their seats from start to finish. It was a fitting end to a campaign that has reignited the club's ambitions.
But for Higgins, this victory carried a deeper, more personal weight. The 41-year-old becomes only the second manager to win both the Irish Cup and the FAI Cup, having previously triumphed with Derry City in 2022. However, he admits this win feels "very different" given the challenges he has faced off the pitch.
"My personal life has changed dramatically since I was at Derry," Higgins said, his voice heavy with emotion. "From my family's point of view, it's been hell really."
In 2023, his brother Kevin passed away suddenly from a heart attack in Sweden. Then, shortly after taking the Coleraine job in 2025, his mother Mary lost her battle with illness. At full-time in Windsor Park, an emotional embrace with his father said more than words ever could.
"Winning today brings out all different kinds of emotions," Higgins reflected. "I'm really happy for these boys because they deserve it. That was my first trophy in 2022, but this one—it's for my family."
As Coleraine look ahead to European football and the promise of more silverware, one thing is clear: this is a team and a manager united by more than just the game. And for fans who love the beautiful game, it's stories like these that remind us why we wear the jersey with pride.