LC Final: Dungannon Swifts 3-1 Ballymena Utd

A brace from Ryan Mayse sent Dungannon Swifts on their way to their first ever senior trophy as they beat holders Ballymena 3-1 in the League Cup final.

Cormac Burke also found the net, with Kyle Owens in reply for United, while Swifts captain Ryan Harpur was sent off towards the end.

In the 11th minute Dungannon broke the deadlock after Paul McElroy crossed deep for Harpur.

The captain showed great vision to cushion a header back into the path of Ryan Mayse, who arrived at pace to thunder a 10-yard half volley in off the underside of the crossbar.

At the other end, Swifts 'keeper Stuart Addis got his fingertips onto a curling effort from Conor McCloskey to concede a 17th minute corner.

Leroy Millar dropped the inswinger right under the crossbar where Kyle Owens met it to thump in an equalising header for Ballymena.

The Swifts retook the lead before the break when Ryan Mayse grabbed his second of the game in the 37th minute, timing another superb late run into the box to meet a Seanan Clucas cross.

Glendinning managed to parry his first effort, but Mayse followed up his own shot to tap home his, and Dungannon's, second goal.

10 minutes after the break Dungannon Swifts deservedly moved 2 goals clear as Cormac Burke casually passed the ball beyond Glendinning from outside the box.

The Ballymena goalkeeper appeared to get his positioning wrong as the ball slowly drifted beyond him to make it 3-1.

Ballymena went close through McCloskey's long range effort in the 69th minute, which Addis again got his fingertips behind. steering it wide of the post.

United were then given something of a lifeline in the 81st minute when Swifts captain Harpur was shown a straight red card for an off the ball incident.

However, Dungannon held on for 5 minutes of added time to lift the trophy.