Ballymena United suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Linfield in the SuperCupNI Minor final, as Tom Lyness' stunning strike secured the Blues' first title in three attempts. The Sky Blues fought hard but couldn't find an equaliser despite late pressure, with Rian Mullan's injury-time effort going just over the bar. Next fixture: vs Dungannon Swifts (away, 2026-12-19) (7th in the table).
What happened in the final?
Linfield dominated the first half, with Caodhan Moore and Harri Niblock both going close before Jude Lowry missed a golden chance. But it was Lyness who made the difference, firing a 25-yard thunderbolt past Alex McCosh four minutes before half-time. Ballymena improved after the break, with substitute Lucas Henry hitting the post, but couldn't break through.
Why this matters for Ballymena United
The defeat marks another near-miss in youth competition for Ballymena, who have shown promise but struggled to convert chances into silverware. The experience will be valuable for their young squad as they prepare for the upcoming Northern Ireland Premiership season. Next fixture: vs Dungannon Swifts (away, 2026-12-19) (7th in the table).
What comes next for the Sky Blues?
With the SuperCupNI behind them, Ballymena United now shift focus to their league campaign. Manager David Jeffrey will look to build on the team's resilience and work on their finishing ahead of their next fixture against Dungannon Swifts on December 19, 2026. The Sky Blues currently sit 7th in the table and will be aiming to climb higher.
