Our U18s side will take on Crusaders in the Harry Cavan Youth Cup final at Windsor Park tonight. Kick-off is at 7.45pm.
Tickets are still available to purchase online ahead of tonight’s final here. Getting your tickets online will be the only way to gain entry, with there being no cash gate available at the stadium
The team, coached by Andy Mitchell, have endured a great run to tonight’s final overcoming Glenavon, Craigavon City, Coleraine, Annagh United and Maiden City. The side will be looking to bring the trophy home to Larne for just the second time in the club’s history, with the first success dating back to the 1977/78 season.
The team’s journey in the competition started back in September with a first round tie against Glenavon. With the game tied at 1-1 after ninety minutes, it went to extra-time where Glenavon went 2-1 ahead and Larne went down to 10 men. However, the team showed resilience to battle back and get an equaliser to take the game to penalties where Daniel Collett saved two penalties as Harrison Knight, Diego Esquivel McGann, Sean Nugent and Callum Cowan all scored to send us through to the next round.
After an eventful first round win over Glenavon, the second seemed more straightforward for the young Inver Reds as they took on Craigavon City. Andy Mitchell’s side put on a dominant display to run out 4-0 winners with Harrison Knight, Joel Given, Diego Esquivel McGann and Ross Ferguson all getting on the scoresheet.
Larne were then drawn at home to Coleraine in the third round of the competition back in November. In what had all the makings to be a great contest between two strong sides, the match didn’t disappoint with six goals. Larne ran out on the right side of the goal fest as 4-2 winners with Harrison Knight and Diego Esquivel McGann once again on the scoresheet alongside Jack Hastings and James Simpson.
With the competition now reaching the business end, Larne were drawn at home to Annagh United in the quarter-final. In picking his squad for the match, Andy Mitchell opted to hand opportunities to five U16 PDP phase players who didn’t disappoint. The side went on to win the game 5-1 with goals coming from Jay Patterson (2), Callum Cowan, Jack Hastings and Leo Griffin to reach the semi-final.
Maiden City were the side that stood in the way of Larne reaching the Harry Cavan Youth Cup final, with the semi-final clash taking place back in February at Stangmore Park. In what was a tense battle, Jack Hastings struck in the second-half with the only goal of the game to send him and his side through to the final at Windsor Park.
Both Larne and Crusaders will fancy their chances of leaving Windsor Park with the trophy later on tonight in what looks to be an evenly matched affair. The two sides last met back in February at Inver Park, where Crusaders picked up a narrow 2-1 victory. Both sides come into tonight’s game on the back of league victories on Friday night, with Larne beating Linfield 1-0 while Crusaders enjoyed a 5-2 victory over Loughgall.
