Linfield Rangers won this season’s Harry Cavan Youth Cup after edging past Coleraine Under-18s in an entertaining final at Mill Meadow in Castledawson tonight.
The game was locked at one apiece after 90 minutes and extra time but the young Blues won the subsequent penalty shootout 5-4 to secure the trophy.
Coleraine, making their first appearance in an Irish FA Youth Cup final in over 20 years, had the first chance of the game. The lively Yoann Prigent cut the ball back for Keelan Walker, but his shot sailed over the bar.
Linfield opened the scoring in the sixth minute. Player of the match Harry Allen’s free-kick was blocked. The loose ball fell to Cameron Reid and he slipped it back to Allen, who whipped a cross into the area where Rhys Davidson powerfully headed the ball home.
Coleraine’s Prigent went on a good run but was stopped in his tracks inside the area.
Linfield winger Oliver Wade was a thorn in the side of the Coleraine defence. He struck the woodwork on 18 minutes and then forced a save out of Coleraine keeper Aaron Hoey-Kemp at the near post.
Prigent surged forward once again and the ball eventually fell to Walker who blasted an effort over the bar.
On 26 minutes Prigent’s low drive was pushed away by Linfield keeper Daragh Rooney.
Stephen Kelly made good progress down the left flank and his dangerous cross into the area was gathered by Hoey-Kemp.
Coleraine came on strong as half-time approached. Lewis Bucklee showed some fancy footwork down the left flank before firing the ball over the top.
A deflected shot from Walker flew over the crossbar as Coleraine pushed forward.
In added time referee Brooklyn McElroy waved away a penalty claim as Walker tumbled in the area when surrounded by Linfield defenders.
Linfield started the second half brightly. They also had a penalty claim turned down before Odhran McClean put a header inches past the post and Allen, after cutting inside, blasted a low shot past the upright.
On 62 minutes a rising Allen shot was plucked out of the air by Hoey-Kemp as it flew towards the top corner.
Two minutes later Coleraine equalised. A Conor Wilson free-kick from distance was pushed out by Rooney but Walker was on hand to loft the ball into the back of the net from 18 yards. It was a cool finish.
In the 74th minute a looping Allen effort was clutched by the Bannsiders keeper, while Hoey-Kemp then punched out a Kelly corner.
Wade met an Allen corner beyond the back post, however he could only steer his shot into the side netting.
Jay Longridge, who had an excellent game at the back for the Blues, superbly brought down a searching Coleraine pass and then cleared the danger.
In added time Hoey-Kemp got down well to grab the ball as Linfield substitute Shea Savage threatened to get on the end of a Davidson flick-on.
The first half of extra time was a cagey affair. Just at the end of the 10-minute period Linfield’s Davidson scooped a shot over the bar.
In the second period of extra time Coleraine substitute Luke Fleming got in behind the Linfield defence but undercooked his shot. Then a Davidson header from a corner was headed off the line by a Coleraine defender.
In the penalty shootout Longridge, Allen, Ross, Wade and Jermakovas scored for Linfield, while Walker, Prigent, Watson and Fleming scored for Coleraine and Wilson missed.
Coleraine U18: Aaron Hoey-Kemp, Alex Watson, Wallace Campbell, Charlie Patton (captain), Yoann Prigent, Lewis Bucklee, Diaz McMullan, Kian O’Doherty, Conor Wilson, Kai Henry, Keelan Walker.
Substitutes: (used) Luke Fleming, Conor Love, Ronan Kelly, Cole Vary (GK); (unused) Diondre Mendoza Garcia, Elliot Sheils, Oscar Spence.
Linfield Rangers: Daragh Rooney, Jay Longridge, Cameron Reid, Jude Cargill (captain), Donatas Jermakovas, Rhys Davidson, Oliver Wade, Finlay Ross, Odhran McClean, Harry Allen, Stephen Kelly.
Substitutes: (used) Shea Savage, Zach Lowry, Caolan McGarry; (unused) Max Sykes (GK), Finn Lappin, Ryan Lagan, Alfie Anderson.
Action from Mill Meadow
