FOOTBALL: Blues fly the flag for Irish League
DAVID Jeffrey was quick to reflect on Linfield's standard-bearing crusade in the Setanta Sports Cup after guiding the Blues into the semi-finals on Saturday.
A 1-0 win over St Patrick's Athletic saw the Carling Premiership leaders secure top spot in Group Three.
It sets up a mouth-watering semi showdown with Bohemians next month – with a place in the showpiece all-Ireland final up for grabs.
Peter Thompson sealed Saturday's win with a 90th-minute goal, a grandstand finish to an ultimately dull affair at Windsor Park.
Linfield will be the Irish League's sole representative in the knockout phase – Glentoran and Cliftonville both missed out on qualification – with hopes of a second Setanta title still firmly in the balance.
"We are the only Carling Premiership side to beat southern opposition this season – that is very pleasing," he said.
"We are carrying the flag for the Irish League once again, and I am delighted we have topped out group as well.
"Tonight was about getting the job done and progressing. So we have secured a 1-0 win, kept a clean sheet and into the semis."
Linfield will travel to Dalymount Park to face Bohemians in the first leg of their semi-final on Easter Saturday, with the return leg at Windsor on April 19.
"That will be another tough test for us," Jeffrey added.
"Bohemians topped their group and have plenty of quality, so we will have to be up for it once again. But we are two games away from a final so there is a big incentive there."
Saturday's game looked like ending in stalemate until Thompson provided the late fireworks.
It arrived courtesy of a howler from St Pat's defender Conor Kenna.
The centre-half allowed Aidan O'Kane's cross to bounce off his hands, gifting Thompson a free run on goal before dispatching a left foot shot past keeper Gary Rogers.
"It looked like it would be stalemate. It had 0-0 written all over it because we weren't getting any breaks at all," Jeffrey added.
"But it shows you the grit in the side that they kept pushing forward. Aidan O'Kane got the ball into the box, and I thought David Malcolm played a brilliant advantage because their player handled it, and Peter Thompson was on it like a flash and buried it."
Jeffrey hailed his players after once again being forced to reshape his squad for this latest fixture.
The Blues boss made seven changes to the side that defeated Dungannon Swifts in midweek, highlighting the significant juggling job needed to maintain a serious assault on a number of trophy fronts this season.
"I thought Jim Ervin was brilliant tonight. Steven Douglas hasn't played since a shocker against Coleraine but he came in and was very, very good," Jeffrey said.
"Young Chris Casement was very solid and Aidan O'Kane hasn't played since Ballymena when we were beaten 2-0. So you are asking players to come back in again and they are proving what they can do.
"That keeps competition high."
Meanwhile St Pat's boss Pete Mahon lamented his side's late defeat.
"We are into the semis, but we would rather do it ourselves. But the main thing we have progressed,” he said.
“We actually haven’t won a game yet we have qualified. It isn’t ideal but that’s the way goes.
“When the competition started we would have taken a semi-final spot, and now we have Sligo Rovers over two legs so it will be tough.
“I don’t like depending on someone else. Even a draw tonight would have been better.”
LINFIELD: Blayney, Douglas, Gault, Curran, Thompson, O’Kane, Tomelty (Miskimmin 70), Ervin, McAllister (Munster 70), Casement, Kane (Garrett 70).
Subs not used: Murphy, Bailie, BJ Burns, Addis.
ST PAT’S: Rogers, Lynch, Bermingham (Pender 78), Kenna, Guthrie, S. Byrne, Guy, Mulcahy, McAllister (Coughlan 85), Williams P Byrne 74), Faherty.
Subs not used: Doyle, Sinnott, Harney, Conner.
Referee: David Malcolm (Bangor)
STAR MAN: Thompson (Linfield) – Goal was reward for a night of tireless endeavour
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Tuesday 14 February 2012
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