Coleraine forward Joel Cooper is set to undergo surgery on both knees after playing through significant pain to deliver a standout performance in the club's dramatic Irish Cup victory. The 30-year-old scored and earned man-of-the-match honors as Coleraine edged Dungannon Swifts 3-2 in Saturday's thrilling final at Windsor Park, capping a remarkable debut season with the Bannsiders that saw him notch 26 goals.

"I go to London tomorrow for surgery on both knees. I've been struggling all season, probably since October," Cooper revealed on Good Morning Ulster. "The medical team at Coleraine have been brilliant with me. There's the odd game I haven't been able to make it, but the majority of the time I've been on the pitch, I maybe haven't been 100%. I'm not one who can sit back and watch—I like to be involved."

Cooper's grit and determination paid off in spectacular fashion, as he joined an exclusive group of players who have won the Irish Cup with three different clubs. His first came with Glenavon in 2016, followed by Linfield in 2021, and now Coleraine in 2023. "They're all different," he reflected. "The first one at Glenavon was special because of my grandad, a big Glenavon supporter. When we won at Linfield, it was during Covid, so it wasn't at Windsor—it was at Mourneview Park with fewer supporters. But last Saturday, after all the talk of the transfer window last year, this one is special too. People will understand why I wanted the move. The support on Saturday was immense."

When asked if the cup win vindicated his much-discussed move from Linfield last summer, Cooper was humble but direct. "I don't know if I needed any vindication, but it's nice to have a trophy at the end of it. All the talk was that I wasn't going for trophies or football terms. But when I spoke to the owner or the manager when I came, I knew this was the right step." Now, the former Northern Ireland Under-21 international faces a different challenge: recovery. He hopes to be back in time for Coleraine's European campaign in July, a testament to his resilience and passion for the game. For fans and athletes alike, Cooper's story is a powerful reminder that greatness often comes from playing through pain—and that the right gear and support can make all the difference on and off the pitch.