DAVID Jeffrey took over as Ballymena boss in March 2016, and says: "We never thought we would come so far so quickly."
The Sky Blues lifted the Irish League Cup on Saturday evening following their 2-0 defeat of Carrick Rangers at Seaview.
Jeffrey knows a thing or two about lifting trophies. His 17 years in charge of Linfield was festooned with honours - 31 in all, including seven League Cups.
Saturday's win was Ballymena's first, and they are enjoying a fine season - sitting fifth in the league and through to the Irish Cup quarter-finals.
"To be honest with you, and I promise you, it’s not a false modesty in any way – we never thought we would come so far so quickly," insisted Jeffrey.
"And we’re probably a wee bit ahead of schedule, but there’s been an awful lot of hard work to tell you the God’s honest truth.
"We’ve worked desperately hard, and...the club – all they do, in terms of [Assistant manager] Brian McLaughlin and myself, all they do is support us, and help us and encourage us."
Saturday's goalscorers, in a game in which Ballymena were deserving winners, were Allan Jenkins, who swept in a William Faulkner cut-back just before half-time and Conor McCloskey with a 20-yard belter late on.
"William is one of our unsung heroes," declared the manager.
"And he doesn’t get the headlines that the others do. People are now only beginning to realise the contribution that William has made to our season, and that’s why we extended his contract.
"His ability on Saturday to go round people and put a great ball into the box was absolutely unbelievable.
"And yet on Saturday night, if you were with him – he doesn’t even talk about it. He’s such a modest young man.
"The second one from Conor McCloskey was absolutely phenomenal because we actually were hoping that he would go into the corner and waste time and do what ever else, which would have been most unattractive and boring to the viewing public.
"And Conor took things into his own hands and – so proud of him – [it was a] phenomenal strike.
"[It is] just unbelievable for the club and the town – I’ve never, ever experienced celebrations like it in my life.
"We went to three different supporter’s clubs on the way to an evening which had been organised at the very last minute by the chairman at Galgorm golf club and it was just a wonderful night."
