Glens secure Shield with shootout win over Larne

Glentoran clinched a dramatic County Antrim Shield success at Seaview by beating Larne 5-4 in a penalty shootout after the final had ended 1-1.

Substitute Charlie Lindsay’s fiercely-struck low shot into the bottom corner in the 80th minute gave the Glens a deserved lead after they had dominated much of the game and created the more clearcut chances.

Larne levelled five minutes later however when Andy Ryan slotted home a spot-kick after Cammy Palmer had been penalised for a clumsy challenge on the striker in the area.

Larne went close to netting a winner in the closing stages but the game went straight to penalties and goalkeeper Andrew Mills’ save from Levi Ives proved decisive.

It is a first Shield success for the Glens since 2011 and their first piece of silverware since lifting the Irish Cup in July 2020.

Larne, who had defeated the east Belfast side 2-1 in last year’s Shield decider, miss out on a record fifth consecutive triumph in the competition.

Glentoran, now unbeaten in 11 matches in all competitions, have the opportunity to collect further silverware when they face Cliftonville in the BetMcLean Cup final on 9 March.

Glentoran had the better of a first half which saw Larne trio Chris Gallagher, Mark Randall and Levi Ives all booked by referee Steven Gregg for hefty challenges.

Rohan Ferguson was called upon to deny Jordan Jenkins early on and then midfielder Palmer fired into the sidenetting after being set up by Chrissie Pattison.

Ferguson palmed away David Fisher’s strike, while at the other end Mills reacted quickly to smother Andy Ryan’s right-foot effort.

In the second half Frankie Hvid was unable to get on the end of a corner at the back post and Jenkins headed straight into the arms of Ferguson from close range.

Danny Amos almost broke the deadlock when he drilled a left-foot strike just wide.

After Lindsay’s thunderbolt opener, Ryan equalised from the spot with five minutes remaining and then almost grabbed a dramatic late winner when his effort flew past the post.

Larne had another opportunity late on when Mills excelled himself by palming away Joe Thomson’s piledriver.

In the shootout, Ryan, Joe Thomson, Chris Gallagher and Tomas Cosgrove were on target for Larne, while Jenkins, Lindsay, Palmer, Wassim and Chrissie Pattison were Glentoran’s successful penalty-takers.