Ballinamallard’s Harry Cavan Youth Cup-winning squad showed nerves of steel as they triumphed over Cliftonville Strollers in a penalty shoot-out at the National Stadium. While many onlookers may have fancied the Premiership academy to come out on top in the showpiece final, Mallards’ manager, Ryan Beacom, never had any doubt that his team would rise to the occasion.

“It was fantastic. I have nothing but immense pride in their performance,” said Beacom.

“I trusted that they were going to put in a performance that would represent themselves and the club, and that they would wear the badge with pride, and that is what they did.

“I never doubted that they wouldn’t put the chests out and be strong and brave. For a side coming from a wee village in Fermanagh to go toe to toe with the big boys and hold their nerve at the right time was special.”

In a dramatic game where both sides struck the woodwork, neither team could find the goal that would clinch the trophy in normal time. Beacom felt it was the desire and team spirit within his squad that proved pivotal in the end.

“I think they just wanted it more than Cliftonville,” he said. “We were carrying a few injury doubts going into the game. Dylan Boyle was nowhere near himself and he had to come off a couple of minutes into the second half.

“Adam Armstrong, who we got 75 minutes out of, wasn’t 100 per cent fit either, but every player that was on the pitch and that came on really wanted it.

“We had 10 or 12 young lads that didn’t even make the squad and hadn’t played many minutes in the competition, but you could still see the togetherness among them all. They wanted it for one another. We went for it, and their hard work has paid off.”

Both teams scored their opening penalties in the shoot-out, but once Nathan Hunter saved Cliftonville’s second spot kick, the writing was on the wall for the Belfast team.

Planned penalty takers Ciaran O’Reilly and Kealan Fitzpatrick were not required to step up after Aaron Smyton, Shane Speak and Ben Arnold all converted.

“Nathan was confident going into it, and you had Ben Arnold and Shane Speak putting their hands up to take one,” said Beacom.

“These are lads who are a couple of years young for this competition, but they were willing to go for it. When it goes to a penalty shoot-out, everyone gets nervous, but Nathan was brave and guessed the right way, and from the moment the first penalty was saved they had the wind in their sails.”

The manager was delighted with the efforts of every player in the squad, and while Aaron Smyton picked up the official Man of the Match award, the manager felt there were a host of stand-out performances on the night.

“I think they were all excellent, but I think Jamie Steele for me was Man of the Match,” he revealed.

“His confidence and aggression at set pieces, and attacking the ball and making late runs from defence to get us out, and finding that second wind to carry the ball out.

“Nathan Hunter was exceptional. When they did get through on one occasion he came out and kept himself big, and his distribution was good and his handling was good.

“I thought Josh Killilea was good in the middle. A lot of the stuff he does goes unnoticed, but the way he slows down the ball and can keep the tempo [is excellent]. I thought Danny Barker was excellent as well in getting us up the pitch. He fought for every ball and worked tirelessly.

“Alex Magee as well was excellent. He may have been sloppy a few times in the first half, but he tried to break lines and move the ball forward and worked tirelessly going back the ways as well.

“Those five in particular stand out for me, but I don’t think anyone would have been annoyed if any of our lads had got Man of the Match on that pitch because of the shift they all put in.”

The celebrations started on the pitch at Windsor Park, but continued all the way to Ferney Park the next day where the home support had a chance to show their appreciation of the team’s achievement.

“I think there was a feeling of real optimism around the club that the cubs have proved they are fit to challenge the best academies in the country,” said the manager.

“Ballinamallard has always been known for their youth section, and for bringing young players through. When Ballinamallard went on to win the cup in 2002 and 2006, the people around the club remember how those players stepped up into the first team, and what they went on to achieve.”