Noble nips pastpublished at 18:21 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 1-0 Carrick Rangers
Image source, Press EyeCarrick's Sean Noble attempts to skip past Leroy Millar of Ballymena United
Summary
Ballymena United 2-0 Carrick Rangers (RESULT)
Conor McCloskey doubles the lead for the Braidmen
Allan Jenkins opens the scoring for Ballymena
Noble nips pastpublished at 18:21 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Image source, Press EyeImage caption, HALF-TIMEpublished at 18:17 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 1-0 Carrick Rangers
The Sky Blues bossed the first half and they finally capiatlised with the opener on the stroke of half-time.
GOALpublished at 18:15 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 1-0 Carrick Rangers
Ballymena take a deserved lead a minute before the break as Allan Jenkins sweeps into the bottom corner from a Willie Faulkner cutback. A clinical finish from the Scotsman after Faulkner's mazy run to the byline.
Friel fails to find targetpublished at 18:10 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 0-0 Carrick Rangers
United forward Cathair Friel does well to find space but he directs his close-range header over from a corner. Strike partner Johnny McMurray is also off-target with a 25-yard snapshot.
Seaview actionpublished at 18:03 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 0-0 Carrick Rangers
Image source, Press EyeImage caption, Carrick's TJ Murray attempts to block a cross from Leroy Millar in the League Cup decider
McMurray goes close againpublished at 17:57 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 0-0 Carrick Rangers
Johnny McMurray is the Ballymena dangerman at Seaview and this time he drives the ball across goal and inches wide.
Murray blazes overpublished at 17:53 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 0-0 Carrick Rangers
Carrick finally carve out a chance and it's the best of the game so far. The ball falls to TJ Murray eight yards out but he slices it just over. At the other end Brian Neeson tips over from Johnny McMurray's volley.
CLOSE!published at 17:47 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 0-0 Carrick Rangers
United are edging affairs and midfielder Allan Jenkins heads a yard over from a pinpoint Leroy Millar cross. Carrick have created nothing of note as we move towards the 20-minute mark.
United first to threatenpublished at 17:39 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 0-0 Carrick Rangers
It's been a low-key opening with the first opening arriving after seven minutes. Ballymena midfielder Fra McCaffrey sees his 20-yard strike deflected wide and the corner comes to nothing.
We're off.....published at 17:31 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd 0-0 Carrick Rangers
The Sky Blues are attacking the motorway end in front of a big and vocal crowd at Seaview.
Callaghan confidentpublished at 17:23 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd v Carrick Rangers
Quote Message"On paper Ballymena have the better squad - on paper Ballymena have the bigger budget. But we've shown we can overcome that with our semi-final win at Glenavon and that result has given us a huge boost. This is a massive game for our club and to win one of the three cups available would be amazing.
Aaron Callaghan, Carrick Rangers manager
Team News - Updatepublished at 17:21 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd v Carrick Rangers
Carrick make a late change from the named starting line-up with Lee Chapman replacing full-back Stephen Quigley.
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End of twitter postBallymena fans on road to Seaviewpublished at 17:16 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
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End of twitter postTEAM NEWSpublished at 17:12 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd v Carrick Rangers
Tony Kane has recovered from a hamstring injury and takes his place in the Sky Blues midfield. United boss David Jeffrey makes one enforced change with Fra McCaffrey coming in for the cup-tied Kevin Braniff.
Image source, Press EyeImage caption, Tony Kane was a doubt for Ballymena but the midfielder starts at Seaview against Rangers
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End of twitter postTEAM NEWSpublished at 17:08 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd v Carrick Rangers
A big boost for Carrick keeper as Brian Neeson passes a late fitness test and will start against Ballymena. Neeson suffered bruising to his ribs during last weekend's defeat by Linfield and faced a race against time to be fit for the final.
Image source, Press EyeImage caption, Brian Neeson is forced off in the first half of the defeat by Linfield last Saturday
First-time winnerspublished at 16:58 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017
Ballymena Utd v Carrick Rangers
A new name will be engraved on the League Cup this evening as the Sky Blues and Carrick fight it out for their first triumph in the competition.
Few would have predicted this pairing for the Seaview decider - Ballymena lie fifth in the Premiership while Rangers are down in 11th and facing a battle to stay in the top flight.
It's a welcome distraction from relegation worries for Carrick, with a Co Antrim Shield success in 1993 their last senior silverware. United lost out in the 2015 League Cup final but they won the Shield last year and David Jeffrey's team start as favourites.
Both teams are sweating on the fitness of key players. Ballymena's set-piece specialist Tony Kane hopes to recover from a hamstring injury while Carrick keeper Brian Neeson has rib damage and is also a doubt.
Thanks for joining us for our coverage of the showpiece encounter. We'll bring you all the news and action from a game which could go to extra-time time and penalties.