Stephen Carson fired them into the lead on 33 minutes when he held off the attentions of Paddy McLaughlin to collect a Marty Hunter cross and fire a left-foot effort beyond 'keeper Robert Robinson.

And they doubled their advantage on 67 minutes when recent signing Marty Hunter turned home a Darren Cassidy cross from 10 yards.

Newry did create a number of chances before the Bannsiders opener when Stephen Ferguson, Sean Friars and Richard Clarke all went close but they found former 'keeper Davy O'Hare in unbeatable form.

Chris Morgan then tested him with a couple of efforts either side of the break before Hunter grabbed Coleraine's second.

But after that the best Gerry Flynn's side could muster was a Cormac McArdle header just over the bar.