Coleraine FC have signed C. McMenamin from ST Mirren on a long-term deal, and the move is as much about fit as sentiment. The 30-year-old winger arrives with a proven end product, 14 Northern Ireland caps and a clear route back into a side that wants to turn a strong season into something bigger.
Ruaidhri Higgins did not hide the scale of the move. “It’s a really, really exciting signing for the football club,” he said, while also stressing that McMenamin will fit into a system designed to get him into “good areas of the pitch” where he can show his “true talent”. Higgins added that McMenamin is “a true professional” and “desperate for success”.
McMenamin’s route back home
The transfer is notable because McMenamin signed a contract extension in January to keep him at ST Mirren until the summer of 2027. His situation changed after Stephen Robinson left for Aberdeen in March, and he later fell out of favour. He had originally moved to Paisley from Glentoran in 2023.
There is a decent football reason for Coleraine to back this. McMenamin scored 33 goals in 66 appearances for Glentoran, a return that suggests he can add real punch if he settles quickly. His international record is modest, but it is still experience, and he scored once for Northern Ireland against San Marino in a Euro 2024 qualifier.
Why Coleraine wanted him now
This is also a squad-building move for a club that has already shown ambition. Coleraine won the Irish Cup and finished second in the Premiership last season under Higgins, and they have already added Ben Doherty this summer. The forward line is already lively enough, with Matthew Shevlin and Joel Cooper scoring 41 combined league goals last season.
McMenamin gives that attack another direct option. Higgins wants him in a system that gets him into good areas, and the recent numbers from his Glentoran spell suggest there is substance behind the praise. Coleraine are not signing a project here, they are signing a winger with a record and a point to prove.
The next question is how quickly he fits into the new attack, with Coleraine trying to build on last season and chase a first Gibson Cup since 1974.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →