Sport

Linfield and Larne set up Co Antrim Shield final showdown

Linfield manager David Healy celebrates his side's win over Glentoran Picture by Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker
Linfield manager David Healy celebrates his side's win over Glentoran Picture by Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Linfield manager David Healy celebrates his side's win over Glentoran Picture by Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

LINFIELD put their league struggles to one side by beating fierce rivals Glentoran 2-1 in the Toals.Bet Co Antrim Shield semi-final at Windsor Park on Tuesday night - to set up a January 17 final against Larne.

Andy Clarke fired the Blues into a 27th-minute lead from 20 yards out after good work by Sam Roscoe and Chris McKee.

Linfield could have extended their lead when a fine move saw Chris Shields link with Kirk Millar and Conor Pepper whose cross was headed just wide by Robbie McDaid.

But the Glens, second behind Larne in the chase for the Irish League title with Linfield down in fifth, hit back with a James Singleton goal which appeared to hand the momentum to Mick McDermott’s side.

But the visitors’ joy was short lived as moments later McDaid was fouled inside the area while attacking Millar’s cross and Shields stepped up to calmly convert from the spot.

Glentoran went close when a Bobby Burns cross from the right was met by Rory Donnelly but David Walsh made a fine save.

Both sides gave it their all after that but the Blues emerged victorious.

The victory over their old foes eases the pressure slightly on manager David Healy, whose side face a tricky league test on Friday night away to former Linfield boss David Jeffrey’s Ballymena United, with the Braidmen on a real high thanks to Monday night’s victory over title hopefuls Crusaders at Seaview.

Manager McDermott will attempt to get Glentoran back on track against title rivals Cliftonville in a Sunday lunchtime clash at the Oval - perhaps the perfect preparation for the opening game of the World Cup later that afternoon.

Table-topping Larne, meanwhile, were too strong for Championship high flyers Dundela at Wilgar Park, taking another step towards a hat-trick of Shield triumphs through second-half goals by Paul O’Neill, Lee Bonis and Daniel Kearns.

The Duns have been putting in some promising displays under new manager Paul Harbinson but the full-time visitors always had plenty in the tank.

Larne boss Tiernan Lynch will be keen to ensure that his side’s season does not follow a similar pattern to the previous two in which Shield success was followed by a drop off in form and European qualification only gained via the play-offs.