Will ending 33-year wait ‘kickstart’ Carrick’s season?

From the moment Aidan Steele’s penalty hit the back of the net, 33 years of frustration went out the window.

Carrick Rangers defeated Cliftonville 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the County Antrim Shield final to win a first senior trophy since 1993.

When the competition started in September, in truth few would have predicted that Stephen Baxter’s side would have been the last team standing.

In an era when Larne, Glentoran, Linfield and Cliftonville have dominated football in Northern Ireland, Carrick were very much outsiders at the start of play.

Especially when you look at the club’s standing in the league, where they languish in the relegation play-off spot in 11th place.

“We said before the game that there are only four trophies available and for Carrick Rangers to win one of them is unbelievable,” captain Luke McCullough told BBC Sport NI.

“The fans have come out and it’s very special for the club. It’s a special night for everyone here and Carrick as a town.

“Carrick haven’t won a trophy in my lifetime and hopefully it can kick start our season a bit more.”

Not only was Carrick’s success a long shot, but they did it the hard way.

Their journey to the trophy started with a win over Bangor – promoted from the Championship but impressive as they found their feet in the top flight.

That was followed by a win on penalties over Glentoran and a derby win over Irish Premiership leaders Larne, again in a shootout, followed.

Baxter’s side had defeated Cliftonville 4-1 in the league on Saturday but they trailed with 10 minutes at Seaview to go thanks to Ryan Curran’s early goal.

But Adam Lecky, who had helped Baxter to so much success in their trophy-laden spell at Crusaders, popped up with a crucial equaliser.

Curran and Liam McStravick both missed in the shootout, which allowed Aidan Steele to kickstart the party.

“There’s no such thing as a bad medal and it’s a great night for them,” former Glentoran and Crusaders defender Paul Leeman said on BBC Sport NI.

“They beat Glentoran, Larne and Cliftonville. It’s thoroughly deserved.”

After a first trophy in 33 years, the challenge now for Carrick is to refocus and consolidate their position in the top flight.

They sit in 11th, just one point off automatic safety, but the pack above is tight and a run of results either way could see a team climb up, or fall down, the table.

“They have a trophy in the cabinet, now can they move on to bigger and better things by moving up the league table and getting themselves out of trouble?” added Leeman.

McCullough feels that Carrick are in a “false position” in the league, and backed his side to steer clear of danger.

“We’ve got some really good players here and we’ve shown that in the final,” said McCullough.

“We’re more than a match for most teams in the league and hopefully we get the results to show for it on a more regular basis.”

Although many would not believe him after he guided Carrick to a trophy more than four decades in the making, Baxter was unwavering in saying he would “forfeit all this for three points on Saturday” against Dungannon Swifts.

The smile when he said it probably spoke volumes, but there was no doubt about the underlying message – the job is not done this season.

“The league scenario is something we must concentrate on. That’s our bread and butter.

“We’ll enjoy this moment, but it’s back to business with Dungannon at home.

“This can only lift the confidence of the team and hopefully we can get a bit of a run going.”

As well as the success for the club and town of Carrick, there was a global feel to the final as about 100 of Carrick Rangers’ American investors flew in to watch the decider in north Belfast.

International football supporters had been given the chance to buy into the Taylors Avenue club in 2023 through Fan Owned Club [FOC], after American Michael Smith became a majority shareholder in the club earlier that year.

The club’s games had been streamed worldwide this season and many had made the trip across the Atlantic for the final.

“It gives them an opportunity to see what the local game is about,” added Baxter, who has been managing in the Irish League for 21 years.

“I think they are staying to see our game on Saturday and it gives them a better idea of what they are doing and why they are doing it.

“I don’t think it’s serious amounts of money being invested, but it’s an opportunity to grow the numbers and grow a fanbase in another part of the world.

“We don’t have the numbers in a normal situation. Normally we have 150-200, so let’s see 1000 every week. It can only lift the place.”

Baxter added that football has “become about money” and any additional funds can help with the increased prices around player recruitment.

“The investors will get an opportunity to see the place and say we can do a little bit more,” he added.

“If we want to compete with that then we have to find revenue streams that will enable us to do that. Hopefully this could be a start of a little journey.”