Glentoran Colts secured a first Harry Cavan Youth Cup triumph in 30 years after overcoming Linfield in a dramatic penalty shoot-out at The National Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The game finished 1-1 after extra time, with Jude Johnson’s well-taken opener cancelled out by a late equaliser from Linfield’s Kalum Thompson in the closing moments of normal time. With no further goals in extra time, the final was decided from the spot, where goalkeeper Milo Beimers produced two superb saves to help the Glens to a 5-4 win.
Before kick-off, the Glentoran Colts received a rousing send-off from the club’s senior squad, who formed a guard of honour at The BetMcLean Oval earlier in the day as the team departed for The National Stadium.
Glentoran started brightly and settled quickly into the contest, enjoying spells of possession in midfield and looking sharp in wide areas. On 27 minutes, they came close to breaking the deadlock when Jude Johnson struck the crossbar with a powerful long-range effort.
Glentoran’s midfield trio were composed in possession, and despite a few nervy moments at the back, the Colts looked largely in control heading into the interval.
Half-Time: Glentoran Colts 0 – 0 Linfield Rangers

The breakthrough finally arrived just after the hour mark. A clever through ball unlocked the Linfield defence, and Jude Johnson raced in to calmly slot past Linfield stopper Daragh Rooney, giving the Colts a deserved lead on 63 minutes.
Linfield upped the tempo in the second half and began to ask more questions of the Colts backline – coming agonisingly close when a low drive cannoned off the inside of the post before being scrambled to safety.
Just as it looked like Glentoran had done enough to hold on, Kenzie Beattie’s cross was met at the back post by a sliding Kalum Thompson to draw the Blues level.
Glentoran almost snatched victory in the final moments when a loose ball dropped kindly for James Douglas inside the area, but his first-time volley thundered off the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten.
Full-Time: Glentoran Colts 1 – 1 Linfield Rangers

Extra time saw both sides carve out half-chances as they pushed for a winner, but neither was able to produce a decisive moment and the final inevitably headed to a penalty shoot-out. When the final whistle blew after 110 absorbing minutes, all eyes turned to the spot.
Linfield went first in the shoot-out, and while Glentoran did see one effort go off target, they held their nerve when it mattered. Joel Kerr, Jude Johnson, James Douglas, and Ryan Bailie all converted their spot-kicks.
The defining moments came from Milo Beimers, who kept out Linfield’s fifth and sixth efforts – a pair of superb saves that set the stage for Reece Bell to calmly dispatch the winning penalty and spark scenes of celebration among the players, staff and travelling support.
After-Extra-Time: Glentoran Colts 1 – 1 Linfield Rangers (Glentoran Colts win 5 – 4 on penalties)