“I tell you, if I was a scout he’d be on my radar anyway. He’s super, he showed it for the goal – no fear.”
Jamie Glackin has told Coleraine fans to enjoy Oliver Devlin while they can – because the teen sensation is “destined for the stars”. Devlin was the last roll of the dice for Bannsiders boss Ruaidhri Higgins on Saturday evening, with his side a goal down to Linfield at Windsor Park.
Glackin made way for the 17-year-old as the clock ticked down and it was a moment of ingenuity from the former Derry City youth that finally unhinged the Blues defence, creating time and space for Matthew Shevlin to equalise in the 91st minute.
“He’s destined for the stars,” said Coleraine stalwart Glackin after the 1-1 draw. “I don’t think you’ll see much of him around this league, I’d say he’ll be in England shortly.
“I tell you, if I was a scout he’d be on my radar anyway. He’s super, he showed it for the goal – no fear. He’s 17, really well respected in the changing-room, just a top lad.
“He doesn’t speak much, right enough, but at 17 I don’t I spoke too much either. He lets his football do the talking. I hate trying to tackle him, he loves a nutmeg!”
Higgins was in full agreement with Glackin’s assessment, adding: “He produced a piece of magic to set Shevy up.
“What a special talent he is. To come to Windsor, the home of the champions, and show that level of ability and bravery is a credit to him. He’s loved in our dressing-room by everybody and he’s got a bright future in the game.”
Indeed, Devlin’s intervention lit the blue touch paper in south Belfast as a frenetic finale ensued, with Linfield defenders Ethan McGee and Ben Hall both sent off on second yellow cards and keeper Chris Johns making a series of fine stops to deny Coleraine a last-gasp winner.
Glackin was honest enough to admit that a defeat would have been harsh on the hosts, who had dominated proceedings for over an hour and deservedly led thanks to a stunning bicycle kick from Matthew Fitzpatrick.
“It was a bit frantic at the end,” said the 30-year-old. “It’s a good point. We weren’t at our best.
“For the first 65 minutes Linfield were more than a match for us, they deserved to go in front. But the last 25 minutes we grew into the game and probably could have nicked the winner.
“Once Linfield scored the shackles came off a wee bit, to go and grab the equaliser like we’ve done in a few games this year.
“It’s a point gained. After 65 minutes you’d have snapped anyone’s hand off for a point.”
Meanwhile, Linfield boss David Healy believes Dean Jarvis “mugged the officials off” to earn Ethan McGee a red card in the 1-1 draw.
Having just conceded a late equaliser, Linfield were chasing a winner when McGee and Jarvis contested possession, with the Coleraine man going down clutching his head.
Referee Jamie Robinson issued a second booking to McGee, who will now have to serve a ban alongside fellow defender Ben Hall, who also saw red a few minutes later.
Healy (left) said: “I can accept Ben Hall’s sending off because it was a second yellow. I don’t accept Ethan’s.
“I spoke to Jamie, and I’ve huge respect for him, he’s the league’s official in European football, but I think it was a ‘European’ decision that was made.
“Dean Jarvis is wily, he’s been about this league, he’s been about the League of Ireland for a long time, and I think he bought that second yellow.
“Ethan played the ball and there was zero contact. You saw the reaction of Jarvis when he got up.
“I didn’t see a mark on him, I didn’t see a bit of muck on him, I certainly didn’t see any claret on him. So I think he mugged the officials off.”
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