By BBC (Sports) | Created at 2024-11-12 23:25:01 | Updated at 2024-11-18 10:17:58
5 days ago
Image source, Pacemaker Press
Glentoran were defeated 2-1 by Larne at Seaview in last year's final
Jana McCabe
BBC Sport NI contributor
Last year's runners-up Glentoran advanced to the final of the County Antrim Shield thanks to a 2-0 victory over Ballymena United at the Oval.
Dylan Connolly broke the deadlock in the 21st minute before Jordan Jenkins doubled the Glens' lead with five minutes left in the first half.
Declan Devine's side will be looking to get their hands on the Shield for the first time since 2011, when they defeated Linfield 3-1 in the final.
The second semi-final will take place on Wednesday night with Larne, who will be hoping to win their fifth consecutive Shield, hosting Crusaders at Inver Park.
Image source, Press Eye
Image caption,Dylan Connolly's second goal in two games gave Glentoran the lead
Glens take chances in slow first half
It was a first half of few chances with Daniel Lafferty's header forcing Andrew Mills to make the first meaningful save in the 16th minute.
Ballymena thought they had broken the deadlock after 20 minutes when Josh Carson's free-kick was nodded towards goal by Kym Nelson, but Ben Kennedy bundled the goal-bound header into the back of the net from an offside position.
The Glens broke the deadlock almost immediately after the reprieve with Jordan Jenkins heading the ball down for Connolly, whose first time finish found the bottom corner.
Shortly afterwards, Jenkins tried to get on the scoresheet himself through an acrobatic effort which lacked the power to test Sean O'Neill.
However the striker did double the home side's advantage before the break after impressive build-up play from the hosts. Connolly flicked Marcus Kane's delivery into the path of Jay Donnelly, who weaved his way past stopper O'Neill before passing to Jenkins to fire into an empty net.
Dominant second half from the home side
Just after the restart Cameron Palmer's pass found Danny Amos at the back post, but the left-back couldn't keep his effort on target.
Glentoran stopper Mills was then called into action to tip Calvin McCurry's looping effort over the crossbar.
Colin Coates denied the home side a more comfortable lead in the 71st minute after David Fisher found space and travelled forward before passing to Jenkins whose resulting strike was cleared off the line by the Ballymena captain.
Substitute Wassim Aouachria then had two good chances in quick succession with O'Neill making a low save to gather his first strike before tipping his second effort over the crossbar.
In the final five minutes, Kodi Lyons-Foster's header from an Amos cross struck the crossbar with the home side continuing to push until the final whistle but were unable to find a third goal.
