Photo courtesy of the IFA.

A second half Conor McKendry goal was enough to earn the young Glenavon side victory in the Harry Cavan Youth Cup Final against Linfield Rangers.

Linfield settled their nerves quicker and hit the woodwork twice in the first half. Glenavon keeper Ruairi Murray made a couple of good saves but as the young Lurgan Blues grew into the game Linfield stopper Samuel Johnston was also called into action on a couple of occasions.

Man of the Match Mark Sykes began to exert his authority in midfield and in the second half all the football was being played by the Glenavon youngsters with Linfield resorting to long balls. The Belfast side’s only answer to Glenavon’s skilful midfield runs was to commit a succession of fouls but the trickery of Shayne Lavery opened the way as he jinked his way into the box and laid the ball off to McKendry who slotted the ball across Johnston and into the bottom corner.

Glenavon could even afford the luxury of missing a late penalty, Johnston pulling off a super save to deny Sykes from the spot.