It’s a cup final at the first time of asking for Declan Devine and his new look Glens as two excellent first half goals were enough to secure a win in tonight’s Toal’s County Antrim Shield Final at the Bet McLean Oval.
Fuad Sule returned from suspension while Andrew Mills played in goal as he has done in cup and shield ties while Jordan Jenkins was given a start in place of David Fisher who was on the bench tonight. James Singleton and Paddy McClean were still respectively suspended and injured.
The game sprung to life after 15 minutes. First Mills saved well from a Danny Lafferty header, then United had a goal stroked off for offside. With the home defence penetrated, former Glens player Kym Nelson’s goalbound header was nodded home by Ben Kennedy. As Kennedy was in an offside position the goal was disallowed.
That proved the turning point in the tie as straight from the resultant free kick Jay Donnelly deftly headed into the path of the marauding Dylan Connolly, who finished superbly with his first time shot past Sean O’Neill and into the far corner.
Connolly and Donnelly were both involved in the Glens’ second which came in first half injury time. A superb tackle, run and pass from skipper Marcus Kane found Connolly on the edge of the United box. Connolly dinked the ball through to Jay who cut in from the right and passed it straight to Jordan Jenkins who made no mistake for his fourth goal of the season.
Glentoran 2-0 Ballymena United
Photography by PACEMAKER
The second half was slow to spark to life but the last half hour was action packed. First Andrew Mills punched away a dangerous cross after which Andrew Scott shot just over.
Substitute David Fisher had an opportunity after a typically effective Connolly run and cross but he headed into the side netting. Fisher was then the provider for Jenkins, whose shot was well saved. Fisher then headed over from a dangerous Danny Amos free kick.
In the last 15 minutes Cammy Palmer hit a 25 yarder just over the bar and substitute Wassim Aouachria had two efforts well saved by O’Neill. At the other end Frankie Hvid made a great blocking tackle to stop Ethan Devine while Ben Kennedy shot just wide.
The Glens final effort was from David Fisher who shot wide from an incisive pass from Wass.
So a very strong performance all over the pitch takes the Glens into the Shield final for the second successive season. We will play the winners of the other semi between Larne and Crusaders. Either way a mouth-watering prospect and a fine achievement by this recently assembled squad. Time and date of the final will be announced here when available. Well done Glens!
Full Time: Glentoran 2-0 Ballymena United
Glentoran: Mills, Wightman (Lyons-Foster 66), Amos, Kane (c), Hvid, Sule, Palmer, Thorndike (Douglas 52), Connolly, Jenkins (Wassim 80) and Donnelly (Fisher 52)
Subs (Not used): Gyollai, Murphy, Lindsay.
Sponsor's Man of the Match Dylan Connolly