Six years ago, Lyndon Kane watched from the sidelines as his Coleraine teammates etched their names into Irish Cup history. Now, as captain, he's determined to be at the heart of the action.

In 2018, a cruel metatarsal injury struck just two weeks before the final, robbing Kane of the chance to play in Coleraine's 3-1 triumph over Cliftonville. The image of him hobbling down the touchline in a suit, crutches raised in celebration after Eoin Bradley's late clincher, remains etched in his memory. He had scored in the semi-final win over Larne but couldn't earn a medal on the club's biggest day.

Fast forward to Saturday's final against Dungannon Swifts, and the script has flipped. Kane now leads his hometown club as captain—one of only two players remaining from that 2018 squad. The Bannsiders are chasing more silverware, and this time, Kane intends to be on the pitch when the trophy is lifted.

That 2018 victory was monumental for Coleraine, ending a 15-year wait for silverware. The team had come agonizingly close before, losing the 2017 final 3-0 to Linfield and finishing just two points behind champions Crusaders in the league. But on that sunny day at Windsor Park, everything clicked.

Darren McCauley opened the scoring with a stunning volley early in the second half. Cliftonville's Rory Donnelly equalized, but substitute Aaron Burns restored Coleraine's lead after a clever flick from Bradley. Then, with the Reds pushing for another equalizer, Bradley raced from the halfway line and coolly lifted the ball over the keeper to seal a famous 3-1 win.

The scenes that followed were pure pandemonium—players, fans, and manager Oran Kearney charging down the touchline to celebrate their first Irish Cup triumph since 2003. For the local lads like Kane, it was unforgettable, even from the sidelines.

Now, as captain, he has a chance to write a new chapter. With a blend of experience and hunger, Coleraine is ready to battle Dungannon Swifts for glory. And this time, Kane won't be watching from the bench.