BetMcLean Cup Final: “It means a lot to me” – David Healy on winning the League Cup

“I read a lot of journalists this week, they wrote us off and said we couldn’t win, and that means even more to me today.”

David Healy was elated in his post-match interview after Linfield’s brave 1-0 BetMcLean Cup final win over rivals Glentoran at Windsor Park, but he clearly wanted to make a point.

Although there can be no escaping the fact that Healy himself has looked disappointing at various stages of the season as the Blues toiled in defending their League of Ireland Premiership title and being eliminated from the Irish Cup by Championship side Limavady United, he still clearly felt that talk of Glentoran having more for his team in this final was wide of the mark.

While Glentoran will argue they had better chances and could and perhaps should have finished the game in normal time, they did not.

Linfield, as they always seem to do on big days, hung in there with substitute Chris McKee keeping his cool to score the winner from the penalty spot.

Healy’s jubilant celebration at the final whistle showed just how important it was to win the League Cup – the fourth win of his tenure – and more importantly to what the manager hopes, and what Linfield can do for the rest of the season.

They are eight points behind leaders Larne with six games remaining, but this could be a timely shot for the defending champions to begin a late climb up the table.

For now, Healy wants to celebrate what Linfield did – showing plenty of fight, and more importantly composure in McKee’s case, to take home the League Cup for a record 13th time.

“It’s been well documented, it’s been a tough year, I’ll be the first to admit that, it didn’t go to plan but we’re still fighting and today proves that,” he told BBC Sport NI.

“Beating Glentoran, a great team, and winning the title with Linfield here [at Windsor Park]We will enjoy this.

“It’s easy to think you’re going to score a penalty, but in front of so many people, in a Big Two derby, credit to Chris, what a moment.”