By 
FEBRUARY
JAMIE GLACKIN (SOCCER)
Omagh man, Jamie, was previously best known for scoring a wonder goal for Tyrone during a sensational 2-0 victory over Manchester United at Darragh Park in a Milk Cup clash, but just before his 25th birthday he surpassed that achievement by helping Coleraine to the BetMcLean League Cup title. The talented attacker has been a mainstay of Oran Kearney’s side, proving to be the creative fulcrum in the Danske Bank Premiership and during their 2-1 League Cup final success over Crusaders in February he won the penalty that Stephen Lowry scored to draw Coleraine level before James McLaughlin scored the winner.
Voting Opens Tuesday 2nd March
Ulster Herald Sports Personality Awards 2020 in association with MFC Sports LIVE winners reveal Wednesday 10th March, 7pm via Facebook and Twitter
Jamie was featured in the Ulster Herald on Thursday, April 9, 2020
League Cup winner Jamie had a birthday to remember
BY TOMMY NETHERY
JAMIE Glackin isn’t going to forget his 25th birthday in a hurry. And with good reason. On Sunday, February 16th the Omagh lad spent his birthday celebrating in the Coleraine FC clubhouse surrounded by friends, family and his team-mates, who along with Glackin, lifted the BetMcLean League Cup the previous evening after defeating Crusaders 2-1 in the showpiece final at Windsor Park.
All things considered it was the perfect birthday bash for the gifted midfielder and one he admits will live long in the memory. “It was a bit of a mad weekend but we enjoyed it. Winning the cup was the best birthday present I could have asked for,” he said. “It was massive achievement to be honest. I couldn’t believe the reaction, the amount of selfies and so on, it was incredible. Lyndon Kane’s birthday was on the day of the final so it was double celebrations for us.”
The showpiece showdown against Glackin’s previous club was every bit as tight as the scoreline suggests. The Crues deservedly led through a Jamie McGonagle strike but Stephen Lowry’s 36th minute penalty – won by Glackin – turned the tide and in the second half James McLaughlin nodded home a winner to secure the prestigious silverware for the Bannsiders.
Glackin, as he has done all season, played a key role in the cup final triumph and in recognition of that immense contribution has been fittingly named the Ulster Herald’s Sports Personality winner for the month of February.
While delighted to be receive the Herald’s monthly gong, Glackin’s sole focus right now is keeping himself fit and healthy during the Covid-19 lockdown to such times as he and his teammates can resume playing again and challenging for a first Premier League title in 46 years.
With seven games remaining the Bannsiders are second just four points behind defending champions Linfield. Glackin, who scored a screamer in Tyrone’s famous Milk Cup victory over Manchester United in 2012, believes Coleraine can reel in the Blues given that all the top sides still have to play each other following the split.
“There are a lot of points to be won and lost yet,” he continued. “Linfield’s next game is Larne. Everyone knows how good Larne are and our next game is Dungannon. So we’ll be looking to pick up maximum points there and Larne have the capability of taking the three points off Linfield. Obviously we have Larne the following week.
“If you only counted games against the top six we would be top, that’s the good thing. We have shown that we have been doing the business in the big games and we don’t need any motivation for those games. If Linfield beat us after the split that could be it all over. All we can do is look after ourselves.
“When all this is over (coronavirus) all we can do is get our heads down and get at them.” Having helped Coleraine to League Cup glory and experienced the subsequent celebrations, the ex-Dungannon Swifts and Crusaders playmaker can only imagine what it might be like if Oran Kearney’s team went on to lift the coveted Gibson Cup.
The Bannsiders have won the Premiership crown just once before – in the 1973-74 season – and were Coleraine to bring the most prized silverware in the domestic game back to the Ballycastle Road showgrounds it would culminate in the mother of all parties. “The celebrations after the League Cup win were something else,” added Jamie.
“It’s become part of our team talks now where the manager is telling us that if we want to have more nights like that then we have to work for it. “The boys are well motivated and I think we will give it a good go when things return to some kind of normality. We also have the small matter of an Irish Cup semi-final against Ballymena United to contemplate as well.
“The suspension of football I suppose stopped our momentum a bit but at the end of the day we are the last team in Northern Ireland to win a trophy and we can take that as some kind of motivation.
“At the end of the day we are after one thing – and that is to win the league.”
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.