Well, Linfield have done what Linfield tend to do, adding another trophy to their sizeable trophy cabinet in the form of the BetMcLean Cup.
In front of over 9,000 interested spectators at Windsor Park, the Blues’ successful defence of a piece of silverware that’s rapidly risen in prominence in recent years thanks to its Sunday special billing and the NI Football League’s successful promotion of the event was confirmed after a 3-1 victory over a spirited Portadown.
It’s another major honour for manager David Healy, whose personal haul in south Belfast is one befitting of the expectations within the blue-coated corridors of power.
Since his appointment in October of 2015, the all-time Northern Ireland senior men’s record goalscorer has won five Premiership titles, a brace of Irish Cups and the 2017 County Antrim Shield, and with this being his third League Cup triumph at the helm, that’s an 11th senior cup in that span and a seventh season in his eight full years in charge that has ended with at least one physical prize – an outstanding return.
Credit must also go to the Killyleagh man because Linfield had to win this year’s tournament the hard way.
After coming from behind to avert being upset by Queen’s University for the second time in under four years in the last-32 – the Students’ 2-1 Irish Cup victory at The Dub in January 2020 was a more haunting day for Healy and his charges – the 56-time Irish League champions were on the road for the rest of their journey until the showpiece, and the sides they faced were no mugs either.
In the Round of 16, they tackled their eternal foes Glentoran, steered by Healy’s predecessor Warren Feeney, at The BetMcLean Oval and prevailed 2-1 thanks to fleet-footed Joel Cooper bagging a brace.
Thereafter, they faced reigning top-flight champions Larne in a quarter-final tie that went all the way to penalties – the four goals in the 2-2 draw, of which Euan East and the 16-year-old prodigy Braiden Graham contributed one piece to add to Lee Bonis’ pair for the hosts, were all netted in 11 frenetic minutes in the second-half of extra-time – but Linfield’s nerve shone through in a 3-2 shoot-out success at Inver Park despite key man Kyle McClean having been red-carded with the score goalless.
Midfielder McClean repaid any debts he owed in the semi-final, a match that saw a somewhat ironic role reversal when East was sent off, by scoring twice in a tense 2-1 win at Dungannon Swifts and teeing up the Blues’ Final say.
Marking their return to Windsor, their usual home, you could scarcely say that any notions of ‘home advantage’ suggested by rival fans were fair given the hard graft along the way.
In any case, Linfield were professional to get the job done. Ben Hall and Rhys Annett finishes sandwiched Luke Wilson’s unfortunate own goal, and while Eamon Fyfe’s strike sparked huge cheer among a vast Ports support at the international arena, the top-flighters’ subsequent composure prevented their gallant second-tier opponents from making any further inroads.
A purely hard-fought run to a trophy that will certainly have satisfied Healy and the faithful. And still firmly alive in the Irish Cup and league races, the Blues will hope this isn’t the last time champagne corks pop in 2023/24 either.
Featured image from Andrew McCarroll/Pacemaker Press.
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