Glens and Reds score late in extra-time to make final

Glentoran and Cliftonville both scored dramatic late goals in extra-time in their respective semi-finals to book their place in the BetMcLean Cup decider on 9 March.

Kodi Lyons-Foster netted for the Glens at the Oval in the 115th minute and Jay Donnelly was on target five minutes later to ensure their side's passage after their last-four tie against Crusaders had ended 2-2 after 90 minutes.

A double from Jordan Jenkins, the first a penalty, had the hosts 2-0 to the good at half-time but Stewart Nixon and Kieran Offord scored in the second half to draw level before Declan Devine's side prevailed on a 4-2 scoreline after the additional half hour.

Destiny Ojo was the matchwinner for Cliftonville as his 117th-minute goal proved decisive in a 1-0 victory over Larne for the Solitude Reds at Inver Park.

Neither side could break the deadlock in normal time, with Larne being reduced to 10 men in the second half when defender Shaun Want was sent-off for a rash lunge on Ronan Hale.

Cliftonville last won the BetMcLean Cup in 2022 while the Glens have secured a shot at lifting the trophy for the first time since 2010 by making it 10 games unbeaten in all competitions by seeing off the Crues.

Jenkins drew first blood at the Oval in the 12th minute, coolly sending Jonny Tuffey the wrong way from the spot after Dylan Connolly was upended in the box by Jacob Blaney.

The forward struck again before the break, pouncing on a gift from the Crusaders' defence, the former Glenavon man cutting inside and unleashing a sumptuous long-range effort that left Tuffey grasping at thin air.

Nixon breathed life into the visitors' challenge just shy of the hour, showing quick thinking to lob James Singleton before calmly slotting home.

The comeback was complete when Offord muscled his way through the Glentoran rearguard to level the scores with 15 minutes left on the clock.

Deep into extra-time, Lyons-Foster emerged as the unlikely hero for the east Belfast outfit. The defender rose highest to meet Daniel Amos' inviting free-kick, nodding home to send the home fans into raptures.

In a dramatic finale, Jay Donnelly put the seal on a remarkable semi-final, racing clear to tap into an empty net after Tuffey was caught upfield from a last-gasp corner.

It was a fairly low-key first half at Inver Park with both sides struggling to create anything of note.

Cliftonville were gifted the first chance of the game by an errant Cian Bolger pass which was latched on to by Joe Gormley. He forced Rohan Ferguson into a low, diving save to tip around the post before David Odumosu produced a similar stop from Conor McKendry at the other end.

The second half threatened to bubble over 10 minutes in when Want was given a straight red card for a reckless lunge on Rory Hale which produced a bit of afters.

The visitors almost immediately had a chance when Axel Piesold's first-time effort was palmed away by Ferguson.

Larne did have a good opportunity of their own when sub Ryan Nolan's header was unconvincingly tipped over by Odumosu. Piesold came close again while Bolger was the man unexpectedly on the end of a Larne counter in stoppage time but his finish lacked conviction.

In extra-time Piesold had other chances fall his way with a dipping volley that went over the bar. He then reacted quickest when Ryan Corrigan's effort was parried but couldn't keep the ball down.

The visitors thought they had a winner when Aaron Pettifer finished Jonny Addis' delicious delivery but he was flagged offside. However, two minutes later, sub Destiny Ojo finished a Hale cross to the back post to cue bedlam in the away end and tee up another final at Windsor Park for the Reds.