Coleraine’s European involvement ended at Inver Park in Larne on Thursday night when they lost 3-0 – and 8-0 over two legs – to Finnish side HJK Helsinki.
Trailing 5-0 from the first leg in Finland a week ago, the ‘home’ side harboured ambitions of at least restoring some pride but those hopes were dashed by another clinical display from their visitors.
A goal up just before the quarter hour mark they doubled their advantage after half an hour and emphasised their superiority when adding a third 10 minutes into the second half.
Just like seven days ago frailties in defence proved Coleraine’s undoing as Tiovo Mero pounced from close range to open the scoring inside the opening 15 minutes.
Ruaidhri Higgins’ side was again punished for some sloppy play when the impressive Alfie Cicale added to their tally after 33 minutes.
And Mouhamed Gueye completed the scoring shortly after half-time with a precise side foot finish from the edge of the penalty area which eluded Lewis Webb in the Coleraine goal.
Despite the scoreline, Coleraine had their chances.
Joel Cooper saw his snap shot deflected for a corner before firing a left foot shot narrowly over the crossbar inside a couple of first half minutes.
Then, in the closing stages, the woodwork twice denied the Irish Cup holders.
First, Ben Wylie’s curling effort crashed off a post before being hacked off the line while Lewis McGregor’s drive from 30 yards glanced the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten.
It just wasn’t to be, though, against a team which displayed ruthless efficiency across both legs and who now progress to face SPL club Motherwell in the next round.
For Coleraine, attention now turns to domestic matters and a visit to Dungannon Swifts on the opening day of the new Sports Direct Premiership next Saturday.