Co Antrim Shield final win '˜special' for Ballymena boss Glenn Ferguson

The Sky Blues lifted the Shield for the second time in just over three years with a 3-2 victory at Windsor Park.

Goals from Paddy McNally, David Cushley and Eoin Kane sealed the silverware for Ballymena, with Guy Bates and Mark Stafford replying for Linfield.

Ferguson admits last night’s Shield success eclipsed their 2012 win - when they also defeated Linfield in the final.

“This feels better for me. To have gone to two finals since the first Shield win and lost them, it makes this special,” Ferguson said.

“People think you are going to keep losing these finals, especially against Linfield. I don’t know what odds we were tonight, but we would have been big underdogs.

“Nobody would have given us a hope.

“Winning trophies are all good, but this one is special. You are playing Linfield at their home ground.

“My players shouldn’t need inspiration here, and they delivered.”

Linfield hit the woodwork twice in injury time after Stafford’s 86th-minute header had made the scores 3-2.

“We showed real character, and I am pleased that crossbar is an inch thicker than the rest of them,” Ferguson joked.

“Linfield hit the bar and the post near the end - when things happen like that you maybe think things are going to go your way.

“But it just wasn’t down to luck. There was some resolute defending.”

Linfield boss David Healy was left to rue his side’s luck following two late near-misses.

Kirk Millar hit the underside of the crossbar and Aaron Burns headed an effort off the post - both in injury time.

“When that happens you start to think it is not going to be your night,” Healy said.

“It is disappointing, but we have to look ahead and bounce back from tonight, which I am confident we will do.”