FOOTBALL: Revenge for Glens at Windsor
GLENTORAN gained sweet revenge over Portadown to book their place in the Co-operative Insurance Cup final.
Andy Waterworth's ninth goal of the season was enough to send the Glens through to next month's showpiece decider where they will meet either Coleraine or Dungannon Swifts.
The victory helped Alan McDonald's men exorcise the demons of 12 months previous when Portadown inflicted a 1-0 defeat on the Big Two giants at the same stage of the competition.
Waterworth's goal was a rare talking point in a colourless semi-final showdown at Windsor Park.
It arrived in the 20th minute and was a fine finish from the former Hamilton striker.
Waterworth, picking up the ball on the right wing, turned Ross Redman in the blink of an eye before unleashing an unstoppable drive from the edge of the penalty box that crept into the far corner of the net.
It was enough to separate the sides after 90 minutes of disappointing cup action in south Belfast
Both goalkeepers will rarely have experienced quieter nights at the office, with this eagerly anticipated showdown quickly drifting from the memory of supporters who braved the elements at the international stadium.
Portadown created the first opening of the night in the second minute when Richard Lecky's header was fumbled by Elliott Morris before being cleared.
The Glens then kicked into stride with some intricate attacking play, and they gained their reward in the 20th minute with Waterworth's darting run and cool finish past Ports keeper David Miskelly.
Gary Hamilton then had Miskelly scrambling with a dipping 24-yard free-kick in the 28th minute that just sailed over the crossbar.
Portadown skipper John Convery should have restored parity four minutes before the interval, but the centre half could only bundle a shot wide from six yards out.
If that miss wasn't glaring enough, Sean Mackle did his best to surpass it in first half injury time.
The Portadown winger was put through one-on-one on Morris, but the former Hearts man could only hit his shot straight at the legs of the Glens keeper.
The late taste of action that graced the end of the first half wasn't replicated in the second.
The first meaningful attack on goal didn't arrive until the 62nd minute.
It fell to Glentoran talisman Hamilton, who neatly turned Convery before firing a shot into the side netting from just inside the box.
Tim Mouncey then fluffed an attempted volley from close range two minutes later as Portadown looked to respond.
The game needed something to spark some life into proceedings, and a yellow card for Sean Ward's diving tackle on Lecky finally got the crowd going.
Glens keeper Morris was forced into action to save Convery's header from Redman's free-kick on 72 minutes, but it was rare foray forward by the reigning Co-op champions.
Andy Hunter had a free-kick deflected wide nine minutes from the end, and in injury time Darren Kelly rifled a shot straight at Morris which the Glens keeper collected at the second attempt.
It wasn't long before referee Adrian McCourt called an end to proceedings, and Glentoran's muted celebrations somewhat complimented the lacklustre football that had just unfolded.
GLENTORAN: Morris, Nixon, Leeman, McCabe, Ward, Fordyce, Hamilton, Waterworth (Halliday 88), Black, Martyn (Fitzgerald 85), Gillespie.
Subs not used: James Taylor, Burrows, Johnny Taylor.
PORTADOWN: Miskelly, Redman, Clarke, Convery, Kelly, Mouncey, A. Teggart (Haire 73), McCutcheon, Hunter, Lecky, Mackle (Curran 65).
Subs not used: Armstrong, N. Teggart, Topley.
Referee: Adrian McCourt (Bangor)
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 13 C to 21 C
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