Ballymena beat Carrick to lift League Cup
Ballymena United 2-0 Carrick Rangers
Ballymena United and manager David Jeffrey have created history as the Sky Blues beat Carrick Rangers 2-0 in Saturday night's League Cup final at Seaview.
It is the first time Ballymena have got their hands on the trophy while for boss Jeffrey the success, his first in charge of the Sky Blues, makes him the most successful Irish League manager of all time with 33 trophy wins in his career.
In the end it was Allan Jenkins and Conor McCloskey who grabbed the all-important goals in what turned out to be an exciting final as underdogs Carrick pushed the favourites right to the final whistle.
Both sides took their time to settle with the first effort of note arriving on seven minutes with Fra McCaffrey seeing his volley deflecting wide of the Carrick goal.
Another half chance came the way of United on 15 minutes but Jenkins directed his header well over the bar.
However it was Carrick who came closest to breaking the deadlock on 20 minutes with the ball breaking to TJ Murray but his well struck shot shaved the crossbar much to the relief of Ballymena keeper Ross Glendinning.
A minute later and it was Carrick keeper Brian Neeson who was forced to stretch as he tipped over a dipping half volley from Johnny McMurray.
The action was again centred on the Carrick goal and after a bit of scramble McMurray flashed a shot inches wide of the left hand post.
Ballymena were looking the more likely to score but there was still a threat from Carrick with Sean Noble bursting into the box and drilling in a teasing cross which flew across the face of goal.
The all important breakthrough finally came a minute before the break thanks a great run to the bye-line by Willie Faulkner, when the cross came in no-one picked up the run of Jenkins and he swept the ball past Neeson for 1-0.
Carrick made a bright start to the second half but were caught cold as Cathair Friel made space on the right wing, picked out McMurray who smashed a first time shot just over the bar.
With only one goal between the teams United could not rest easy despite having more of the possession with Carrick still showing plenty of fight.
Free kick specialist Tony Kane came close to making it 2-0 on 75 minutes with a superb free kick which Neeson did well to tip over the bar.
There was a huge let-off for Carrick from the resultant corner as Jenkins somehow skied the ball over the bar from a few yards out.
Then came the chance for Carrick to draw level when substitute Adam Sally saw the ball break to him in a packed box but his header flew inches over the bar.
The pressure continued on the Ballymena goal with Glendinning getting down to touch a Nathan McConnell shot around the post on 86 minutes.
As the game moved into added time Ballymena sealed the trophy in style with substitute Conor McCloskey latching onto the ball on the edge of the box and his sublime effort sailed into the top corner of the net.