BANNSIDERS THROUGH AFTER EPIC SHOOT-OUT
Coleraine, last season's losing finalists, defeated Ballymena United at the end of an epic penalty shoot-out on Warden Street to make it through to the last eight.
The sides couldn't be separated after either 90 minutes, extra-time or - it seemed - penalties before the Bannsiders eventually emerged 18-17 victors at the end of one of the longest shoot-outs in the history of the game.
After a fiercely contested first half it was Ballymena that went in at the break on top when, on 44 minutes, Scot Whiteside opened the scoring with a powerful downward header from Steven McCullough's free-kick.
The Bannsiders levelled just before the hour when, somewhat ironically as it turned out, Josh Carson slotted home from the spot after Mikey Place was adjudged to have brought down David McDaid.
Isaac Westendorf might have restored home advantage with around ten minutes remaining after making his way into the area only to be denied by a superb stop from keeper Gareth Deane.
Both sides could have sealed the game in extra-time with McDaid dragging the ball just wide at one end while, for United, Place nodded over whilst unmarked in the area.
But that left the lottery that is a penalty shoot-out to decide the outcome of the tie ... and no-one could have anticipated the drama that was to come!
Eventually, after a remarkable 44 penalties, Oran Kearney's came through when Lee Lynch converted just before home keeper Sam Johnston dragged his kick wide.
Ballymena United: Johnston, Nelson, Burns, Rocks, Whiteside, Gawne, Waide, McCullough, Taylor, Boyle, Westendorf subs O'Neill, O'Boyle, McGrory, Murray, Crawford, Place, Stewart
Coleraine: Deane, Kane, D. Jarvis, Kelly, McKendry, Carson, Farren, Glackin, Mitchell, Wallace, Scott subs Gallagher, A. Jarvis, McDaid, Lynch, O'Mahony, McCrudden, Devine
Substitution 
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