NI League Cup final: Ballymena Utd v Carrick Rangers

Summary

Ballymena United 2-0 Carrick Rangers (RESULT)
Conor McCloskey doubles the lead for the Braidmen
Allan Jenkins opens the scoring for Ballymena

Live Reporting

Alvin McCaig

Signing offpublished at 19:59 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 2-0 Carrick Rangers
That's all from us for now as the Sky Blues celebrate a first League Cup success. We hope you enjoyed our coverage of the Seaview decider and please join us again next Saturday for live text commentary on the Irish Premiership.
Image source, Press Eye
Image caption,
Ballymena United players celebrate with the League Cup
Ballymena United - League Cup championspublished at 19:53 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena United 2-0 Carrick Rangers
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Celebrations at Seaviewpublished at 19:50 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 2-0 Carrick Rangers
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Time to savour successpublished at 19:49 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 2-0 Carrick Rangers
Image source, pre
Image caption,
Ballymena United boss David Jeffrey parades the League Cup at Seaview after the victory over Carrick
David delighted with Sky Bluespublished at 19:45 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 2-0 Carrick Rangers
Quote Message
I'm absolutely delighted for the players and board, and overjoyed for the supporters. This was a tough game as Carrick made it really difficult in awful conditions. I had a great time at Linfield but this is a new chapter. Brian (McLaughlin) and I are humbled and blessed. It means an awful lot.
David Jeffrey, Ballymena United manager
Aaron angry with penalty decisionpublished at 19:37 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 2-0 Carrick Rangers
Quote Message
The game was a fantastic advert for the local game and it was a terrific match. I'm so proud of our lads but the foul on Daniel Kelly was the most blatant penalty I've seen all season. I can't understand it and it's not good enough. Referees need to stand up in these big games.
Aaron Callaghan, Carrick Rangers manager
McCloskey on that goalpublished at 19:32 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 2-0 Carrick Rangers
Quote Message
To be honest I wasn't going to hit it but that then I thought 'why not'. It had to be a good strike to beat a keeper like Brian Neeson.
Conor McCloskey, Ballymena United midfielder
Jim's a jolly fellowpublished at 19:25 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 2-0 Carrick Rangers
Quote Message
It's unbelievable - an unreal feeling but hard to beat. People say when you leave Linfield you will win nothing, but I've won two trophies. Credit to Carrick as they put it up us, but we dug deep and got the rewards.
Jim Ervin, Ballymena United captain
FULL-TIMEpublished at 19:21 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 2-0 Carrick Rangers
Ballymena are League Cup champions for 2016-17!!!!!
GOALpublished at 19:18 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 2-0 Carrick Rangers
Simply superb - Conor McCloskey lines it up and hammers the ball into the top corner from 20 yards. A quality goal to seal victory for the Sky Blues.
INJURY TIMEpublished at 19:17 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 1-0 Carrick Rangers
The Sky Blues are almost there as we enter four additional minutes but Carrick still have time to send this game into extra-time.
PENALTY APPEALpublished at 19:14 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 1-0 Carrick Rangers
TJ Murray is bundled over in the Ballymena area by Conor McCloskey but penalty appeals are turned down. Carrick are threatening late on and Nathan McConnell's low shot is turned away by United keeper Ross Glendinning.
CLOSE!published at 19:09 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 1-0 Carrick Rangers
A big chance for Rangers to level but Adam Salley heads onto the roof of the net from close-range. It's Carrick's only meaningful opportunity in the second half and time is running out. Eight minutes left as rain falls at Seaview.
GREAT SAVE!published at 19:04 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 1-0 Carrick Rangers
Carrick keeper Brian Neeson produces a brilliant save to push Tony Kane's free-kick round the post. From the resulting corner Allan Jenkins manages to volley over from four yards. A bad miss from the goalscorer which Carrick will hope to punish in the remaining 13 minutes.
Joy for Jenkinspublished at 18:51 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 1-0 Carrick Rangers
Image source, Press Eye
Image caption,
Allan Jenkins celebrates giving Ballymena United the lead
Forward thinking from Callaghanpublished at 18:49 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 1-0 Carrick Rangers
Rangers boss Aaron Callaghan decides that it's time to add more firepower to what has been an impotent attack. Adam Salley gets his chance as he comes on for Mark Clarke.
Braidmen pushing for second goalpublished at 18:46 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 1-0 Carrick Rangers
Carrick are in danger of going two down as Ballymena pile on the pressure. Johnny McMuuray scoops over from six yards before Caolan Loughran directs his powerful header just over.
Barking out the orderspublished at 18:39 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 1-0 Carrick Rangers
Image source, Press Eye
Image caption,
Ballymena United boss David Jeffrey makes his voice heard amid the noise at Seaview
CLOSE!published at 18:37 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 1-0 Carrick Rangers
A lively start to the second half with Carrick's Steven McCullough drilling his 30-yard free-kick over the bar before Brian Neeson keeps out a Johnny McMurray strike.
All smiles from the Sky Bluespublished at 18:31 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 1-0 Carrick Rangers
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