Chris Johns (GK), Conor Pepper, Mark Haughey, Jimmy Callacher, Niall Quinn, Stephen Fallon (Matthew Clarke 66’), Jamie Mulgrew ©, Cammy Palmer, Kirk Millar, Joel Cooper, Shayne Lavery (Andy Waterworth 78’)
Alex Moore, Michael Newberry, Navid Nasseri, Jordan Stewart, Christy Manzinga
Ross Glendinning (GK), Andy McGrory (Owen McKeown 74’), Sean Graham, Jim Ervin, Conor Keeley, Ross Redman, Joshua Kelly, Leroy Millar, Ryan Waide, Shay McCartan, Paul McElroy
David Healy’s Linfield are through to the final of the Sadler’s Peaky Blinder Irish Cup for the first time since 2017 after they deservedly defeated Ballymena United 3-0 in the semi-final at Mourneview Park this evening.
Linfield made a strong start to the game despite Ballymena having a decent spell themselves. The Blues had to defend numerous set-pieces but in terms of clear cut chances it was all Linfield. The first opening came when Cammy Palmer slipped a neat pass into a good run from the superb Stephen Fallon who was about eight yards out but considering the angle he opted to square it, however his low ball across goal went through untouched.
The Blues always looked dangerous on the break and Shayne Lavery slipped in Niall Quinn who’d stormed up from left back, however he couldn’t replicate his fine goal last weekend against Larne as he fired a low shot straight at Ross Glendinning this time.
Then the breakthrough arrived on 18 minutes. Typically, Shayne Lavery found himself chasing a seemingly lost cause down his favourite left channel before defender Keeley slipped and after latching onto it, Lavery played in a low cross for Stephen Fallon to nip across the near post and tuck it in from close range.
The Blues had further opportunities in the first half from which they’d have been disappointed not to double their lead with. Niall Quinn found the lively Joel Cooper with a good ball and the winger dribbled into the box before hammering a strike just wide of the upright from a tight angle.
Late in the half some big chances came on the break. Firstly, Shayne Lavery slipped Joel Cooper through on goal but the winger was denied by Ross Glendinning who made himself big to block despite Cooper’s attempt to lift it over him.
In the last big chance of the half, that speedy duo of Cooper and Lavery were involved again. Lavery slipped the ball left to Cooper who could have shot but unselfishly looked to return the favour with a cross which a leaping Lavery was agonisingly close to reaching but it was just inches over his head.
Ballymena had penalty appeals waved away when a corner came in and after Chris Johns punching it out twice and a bit of a scramble, a shot was hooked goalwards and Jamie Mulgrew blocked before clearing. The Ballymena players claimed for handball but the Linfield captain seemed to block with his stomach.
Half Time: Linfield 1 – 0 Ballymena United
Linfield made a dream start to the second half as they deservedly doubled their lead three and a half minutes in. A loose backpass was seized upon by Shayne Lavery who beat the goalkeeper to it and went past him before tapping it into the net. Arguably, it wasn’t the worst backpass, because you could argue that only a player with the raw pace of Shayne Lavery could have got onto it. As ever, it was a credit to his endeavour and he got his reward for working hard for the team.
Even at 2-0 The Blues didn’t drop their standards and really played with a slickness but also with steel, too. When Kirk Millar dinked a ball into Niall Quinn he flicked it on to Shayne Lavery and the striker was denied at close range as the effort was smothered out following a great piece of play.
Joel Cooper was again unlucky not to get on the scoresheet when he ghosted in at the back post to reach Kirk Millar’s deep corner but the winger saw his effort hit the post from close range.
Paul McElroy was Ballymena’s hope of getting back into the match. He fired a low shot into the side netting after being picked out by Leroy Millar and soon after he met Ross Redman’s inswinging cross, only to see his flicked header come off the top of the crossbar.
In the 61st minute the game was pretty much put beyond Ballymena’s reach when Linfield added a third. Niall Quinn was supplying superb set-piece deliveries all night and this was another great corner which Shayne Lavery attacked to head home at the near post for the striker’s 29th goal of the season.
As any goalscorer would, Shayne set his sights on a hat-trick. His first chance to do it came from a whipped ball from Kirk Millar, but the rain had been hammering down and the ball was bouncing up quickly and that made it difficult as Shayne had to hit it first time and he fired over.
Then he picked the ball up on the left, dribbled in and searched for that far corner but he fired wide. In a final chance before going off, probably the best of the lot as Joel Cooper’s low cross found him unmarked at the back post but he fired over on his left foot. Cooper himself had a low shot well saved by Glendinning late on.
Ballymena didn’t give in but Linfield managed the game well and were strong all over on the night and deserved to go through. In the closing stages defender Conor Keeley tried to get his team some hope with a drive from distance and a header from a Redman free-kick, but both efforts were well grasped by Johns.
The Blues will take on Larne in Friday night’s final at Mourneview Park in front of 1,000 fans as spectators return for the first time since December. Larne defeated Crusaders on penalties in the other semi-final and it makes for an exciting final.
Full Time: Linfield 3 – 0 Ballymena United
Match Images
