Glentoran 2 Linfield 4Shelbourne will face Linfield in Saturday's Setanta Cup final asthe Irish League runners-up reaped revenge for last month's title submission to Glentoran at the Oval last night.
Linfield took the lead in the sixth minute when Paul McAreavey nodded the ball into the net. Linfield scored a second when William Murphy rose to meet Aidan O'Kane's free-kick and left the home side in tatters.
Defensively Glentoran lacked the presence of Pat McGibbon and Chris Walker. The league champions found themselves trailing by a third goal just before the interval when Glenn Ferguson started and completed a move with devastating effect.
Linfield always looked more likely to score again - and they did in the 54th minute. Tim Mouncey struck a free-kick on the edge of the box, leaving goalkeeper Elliot Morris helpless.
Glentoran managed to score a superb team goal. Darren Lockhart drove the ball past Alan Mannus in the 62nd minute to compliment an impressive passage of approach play. Shaun Holmes pulled another goal back in the 73rd minute.
GLENTORAN: Morris, Nixon, Glendinning, Ward, Leeman, Holmes, Melaugh, Keegan, Morgan, Halliday, Lockhart. Subs: McCallion for (Keegan half-time), McLaughlin for Halliday (half-time), Kilmartin for Melaugh (78 mins).
LINFIELD: Mannus, Douglas, W Murphy, Bailie, D Murphy, Mouncey, Gault, McAreavey, O'Kane, Ferguson, Thompson. Subs: Picking for Gault (57 mins), Larmour for Ferguson (71 mins), Campbell (for Thompson (87 mins).
Referee: Ian Stokes (Dublin)
