GLENTORAN THROUGH ON PENALTIES AFTER MOURNEVIEW DRAMA

Glentoran made it through to the quarter-finals of the BetMcLean League Cup courtesy of a penalty shoot-out win over Glenavon at Mourneview Park.

The game got off to a bright start with both keepers called into action during the opening exchanges. Glenavon's James Taylor did well to tip a Ruaidhri Donnelly low effort around an upright while, at the other end, Aaron McCarey dealt with a Michael O'Connor free-kick which look destined for the top corner.

As the first half progressed Peter Campbell had a good chance for Glenavon but he could only skew his effort wide as McCarey approached before play switched for Conor McMenamin to be denied by a Taylor dive to the right.

Matthew Fitzpatrick might have edged Glenavon in front just before the hour after getting away from the Glentoran defence but his 10-yard effort was well kept out by McCarey while, a little later, Andrew Doyle met a cross in the crowded box but his header from a good position went over.

Moving into extra-time, the deadlock was finally broken on 99 minutes when Glentoran's Robbie McDaid found the net with an excellent header from Rhys Marshall's cross from the right.

Glenavon levelled right at the end of the first period. Marshall was adjudged to have brought down Peter Campbell inside the area and from the spot-kick that followed substitute Andy Hall stepped up to confidently finish past McCarey to the right.

However, just four minutes after the brief interval, Glentoran moved back in front after Jay Donnelly beat the offside trap to run onto a long punt forward and slot past the onrushing Taylor.

But, just as it looked that might have been enough for the visitors, Glenavon got back on level terms again with just a minute to go through Josh Doyle's excellent strike into the roof of the net from the edge of the box.

That forced penalties, and with both sides having efforts saved or missed it fell to sudden death and a Patrick McClean strike to send Glentoran through to the last eight.

Penalty sequence (Glenavon first): Hall scores 1-0, McDaid scores 1-1; Hunter scores 2-1, McMenamin scores 2-2;
J. Doyle saved 2-2, J. Donnelly scores 2-3; Taylor scores 3-3, Bigirimana scores 3-4; Garrett scores 4-4, Burns misses 4-4; Doran post 4-4, McClean scores 4-5

Glenavon: Taylor, Birney, A. Doyle, Waterworth, O'Connor, Campbell, Beggs, Snoddy, Fitzpatrick, Wallace, Ward subs Hall (replaced Beggs 86), Harmon (not used), O'Mahony (replaced Campbell 117), Doran (replaced Snoddy 117), Hunter (replaced A. Doyle 117), J. Doyle (replaced Waterworth 63), Garrett (replaced O'Connor 80)

Glentoran: McCarey, McCullough, Burns, Marshall, J. Donnelly, R. Donnelly, McDaid, McClean, Smith, McMenamin, Plum subs Bigirimana (replaced R. Donnelly 63), Mitchell (not used), Clucas (replaced Smith 63), O'Connor (replaced Plum 73), Marron (not used), Glendinning (not used), Cushnie (not used)