Glentoran reach Shield final as Glenavon progress to BetMcLean Cup quarter-finals

Glentoran beat Carrick Rangers 4-0 on Tuesday night to reach the County Antrim Shield final while Glenavon saw off Limavady United 1-0 at the last-16 stage of the BetMcLean Cup.

Carrick had Kurtis Forsythe sent-off in the second half.

Aaron Prendergast’s 17th-minute goal ensured Glenavon’s passage.

Prendergast drilled home a low left-foot drive to book a quarter-final tie away to Coleraine on 5 December for the Lurgan Blues, who are in a rich vein of form having won their last five league outings.

Glentoran remain on course to lift the Shield for the first time since beating Linfield in the final back in 2010.

Their opposition in the decider has yet to be confirmed as Larne wait to face Ballymacash Rangers or Knockbreda in the other last-four tie.

Knockbreda are appealing a ruling that they be expelled from the competition for using an ineligible player in the quarter-final between the teams.

Glentoran power past Carrick

Carrick had beaten Glentoran in both Premiership meetings between the sides this season but it was Warren Feeney’s side who took the lead in the 20th minute at the Loughview Leisure Arena when the unmarked James Singleton nodded Cameron Palmer’s looping free-kick down for McCartan, who headed home from point-blank range.

The Glens doubled their lead on 73 minutes when substitute Junior intercepted a slack back pass by Albert Watson, showed great composure in the box and slotted home from close range.

Just one minute later, things went from bad to worse for Stuart King’s men as Forsythe was shown a straight red card for a foul on Palmer.

With two minutes remaining, Donnelly made it 3-0 when he connected with Junior’s pass from the right wing and fired a strong back-heel effort into the back of the net.

The scoring wasn’t finished yet as in additional time Paddy McClean compounded Carrick’s misery when his volley hit the ground and bounced over Ross Glendinning to guarantee it would be the east Belfast side who progress to the final.

Prendergast strike proves enough

Meanwhile Glenavon secured a hard-earned win over their Premier Intermediate League opponents in their rearranged last 16 tie at the Showgrounds.

Prendergast fired low left footed underneath Limavady ‘keeper Richard Purcell for what proved to be the decisive moment of the game.

Glenavon captain Niall Quinn did well to power forward from midfield and slip the ball through to Prendergast and the big striker did the rest, finding the bottom corner of the net from a narrow angle.

Limavady, though, had their chances, particularly in the opening 45 minutes.

Ruairi Boorman’s early effort was comfortably dealt with by Glenavon goalkeeper Rory Brown while Lewis Tosh and Joe McCready also went close, the latter’s effort striking the woodwork on the stroke of half-time.

Second half substitute Isaac Baird almost doubled the visitors’ lead minutes from the end but ultimately one goal proved enough.

Cup joy for Ports

In the Mid-Ulster Cup semi-final at Lakeview Park, Championship side Portadown ran out 3-2 winners over Premiership opponents Loughgall.

Pablo Andrade had Loughgall in front after seven minutes but their lead proved short-lived as Mark Russell levelled just four minutes later.

Andrew Hoey restored the hosts’ advantage 11 minutes into the second half, only for Ryan Mayse to equalise soon after.

Mayse was on target again with the winning goal in the 68th minute for the Ports, who will face Dungannon Swifts in the final.