Irish Cup final: Healy savours 'raw emotion' of win as Linfield beat Larne 2-1 in decider
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'I actually enjoy it' - Healy thrilled after proving doubters wrong
Linfield manager David Healy said he enjoyed the "raw emotion" of his side's dominant 2-1 Irish Cup final victory over Larne.
First-half goals from Shayne Lavery and Joel Cooper put the commanding Blues in control, with Jeff Hughes grabbing an injury-time goal for Larne.
Healy was particularly jubilant in his celebrations at the final whistle and explained why afterwards.
"I get accused on a regular basis of being miserable and moody," he said.
"People say that I don't enjoy the game or whatever else. Maybe it's stress, I don't know, but I work so incredibly hard along with the rest of the staff to go and deliver performances and results like we got.
"Maybe it was just the raw emotion coming out of beating a very good side and the collective effort in getting the win."
One thousand fans provided a superb atmosphere to a memorable occasion in what was the first time supporters were able to attend a top-flight match in Northern Ireland in 2021.
The 500 fans from each club made for an excellent spectacle at Mourneview Park and Healy, whose side produced one of their best performances of the season, had a few particular fans he wanted to celebrate with the end.
Highlights: Linfield too strong for Larne in Irish Cup decider
"As a player there was nothing I loved more than scoring goals and helping my team win games, but as a manager you have to do so much more at times," Healy said.
"It can be a thankless task because you are having to deal with so many things and so many people, but nights like that make it all worthwhile.
"I had my young family there on the pitch. My young son is like myself and doesn't show too much emotion but he came running on tonight and was shouting 'absolutely brilliant'. My family see me going through the mill when I lose and how it affects me, but tonight they saw my natural personality coming through."
Linfield now have an opportunity to win an Irish Premiership and Irish Cup Double on Tuesday night when they go to Coleraine to take on the second-placed Bannsiders, with five points between the sides with two matches to play.
Larne still have an opportunity to secure European football through the league but the club is still looking for a first Irish Cup win after losing in their sixth final.
Blistering start paves way for Linfield victory
One thousand fans were in attendance at Mourneview Park as spectators returned to a sporting event in Northern Ireland for the first time in 2021
Cameron Palmer almost opened the scoring just before Lavery struck in the fifth minute, with the Northern Ireland striker cutting it back for the midfielder whose shot was superbly smothered by outrushing Larne goalkeeper Conor Mitchell.
Lavery's goal after five minutes owed much to his poacher's instinct, but even more so to poor Larne marking as Niall Quinn's right-wing corner found him unmarked at the back post and Lavery was never going to miss as he stabbed home.
Tiernan Lynch's men looked shell-shocked for a period after the goal before beginning to play their way into the game, with Ronan Hale dropping off and causing the Linfield defence problems.
It was Hale who had their first effort of note but after being played in cleverly by John Herron, his turn and shot was straight at Chris Johns. The striker was then blocked in the box by Conor Pepper before Jeff Hughes saw a deft header from a corner drift wide.
However, with Larne starting to find their rhythm, Linfield reasserted their authority with a second goal in the 32nd minute as Pepper broke down the right and delivered a low cross that Cooper met at the back post with a well-controlled finish that Mitchell was unable to keep out as he scrambled across.
Larne started the second half well and twice came close when substitute David McDaid had a volley superbly saved before Fuad Sule grazed the crossbar with a long-range effort.
Cooper passed up two good chances to add to Linfield's lead throughout the second half but it was Larne who got the game's final goal when Hughes fired home on 91 minutes, but it was too late for Tiernan Lynch's men to launch a comeback.
Linfield's high intensity too much for Larne
Shayne Lavery's 30th goal of the season gave Linfield an early lead
The whole Linfield side was visibly enthused by their vocal support as they got on the front foot and pressed Larne tightly all over the pitch on their way to a record 44th Irish Cup win.
As ever, that press was led superbly at the top of the pitch by Lavery, who gave the Larne defenders no time on the ball as well as hurting them with his ever-willing running, none more so than in the fourth minute when he set Palmer up with a clever cutback.
After a strong performance in the semi-final, Stephen Fallon had to sit the final out because of injury, with Healy moving Niall Quinn into midfield from full-back. The Blues' engine room had an aggressive look about it, with Palmer and Quinn both looking like they were given licence to attack as Jamie Mulgrew sat deeper.
Mulgrew himself delivered a proper captain's performance while Cooper's tenacity and pace on the left hand side made him a constant threat to Larne.
Lavery seemed to be carrying an injury as he left the pitch late on for Christy Manzinga, and Healy will be hoping he is fit to play in Tuesday's vital encounter at the Coleraine Showgrounds.