This year's edition of the NIFL Charity Shield sees league champions Larne face the team who ran them closest last season, with Coleraine finishing in second spot as well as lifting the Irish Cup.
Larne finished three points above Coleraine in the final table but the Bannsiders just about edged the head-to-head results.
Each side claimed two wins apiece in the league but Coleraine overcame Larne in extra-time in the semi-finals of the cup before defeating Dungannon Swifts in the final.
Larne won their sole Charity Shield title in 2024 and they also featured in this game the previous year.
Coleraine have never lifted the Charity Shield, losing in their only final appearance in 2017.
Larne v Coleraine Tips Summary
Best Bet - Larne to win @ 11/8
Alternative Bet - Over 2.5 goals @ 23/20
Bet Builder - Larne to win, Both teams to score & Larne to score in both halves @ 15/2
Larne v Coleraine Prediction
Best Bet: Larne to win @ 11/8
These sides were evenly matched last season and it was Coleraine who ended the campaign in the better form as they tried to chase down Larne in the battle for the league title, as well as lifting the Irish Cup.
Coleraine also overcame Larne in the cup and followed that up with a 4-1 away win over their Charity Shield opponents, although Larne were impacted by a first-half red card.
This is likely to be a close game but the fact it will be played at Larne’s Inver Park home gives the Antrim outfit a clear advantage.
Coleraine had a reasonable away record in the league last season but they still lost six of their 20 games, while Larne were excellent at home with just two defeats and 13 wins in their 20 games.
Larne should also be a bit further along in their preparations for the new season as they have played three friendlies. In contrast, Friday’s clash is Coleraine’s first outing since their cup final win.
Aside from that 4-1 win for Coleraine when Larne were reduced to 10-men, the games between these sides were fairly close but Larne did win 3-0 at Inver Park back in January and that suggests they can pick up a victory inside 90 minutes.
Alternative Bet: Over 2.5 goals @ 23/20
Larne boss Gary Haveron has made no secret of the fact that he sees this Charity Shield final as part of his side’s pre-season preparations, with next week’s UEFA Champions League qualifier against Tre Fiori a clear priority.
Coleraine counterpart Ruaidhrí Higgins is probably taking a similar stance as his side have Europa League qualifiers to come later this month, and both sides have agreed that they will be able to use seven substitutes during the match.
As such, both managers are expected to make a number of in-game changes as they try and get their respective squads up to speed and those substitutions could lead to an open game, which should result in a fairly high-scoring contest.
There were at least three goals scored in total in three of the final four meetings between these two sides last season.
Larne’s league games averaged 2.6 goals per game and Coleraine’s averaged 3.2, so over 2.5 goals looks like a solid bet.
Larne v Coleraine Bet Builder Tip
Larne to win
Both teams to score
Larne to score in both halves
Pays 15/2
Larne can make their home advantage count and get a win but they may struggle to keep Coleraine quiet and goals at both ends looks likely.
The Bannsiders scored in 20 consecutive games across all competitions before the season reached a conclusion, and with both teams likely to make a number of changes over the course of the match this should be an open affair with plenty of chances at both ends.
The fact this clash should be an open one also makes goals in both halves for Larne stand out, as the Antrim side scored either side of half-time in two of their final three home assignments last season.
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Key Match Stats
Larne have won four of the last six head-to-head meetings as the home side
Coleraine scored 83 goals in 38 league games last season
Over 2.5 goals has been a winning bet in each of Coleraine’s last five competitive games
Larne have played three pre-season games
This is Coleraine’s first game since the end of last season
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
