Published Tuesday, 30 November 2010
Goals from Andy Waterworth, Matty Burrows and Grant Gardiner sealed the deal for the Glens as they comfortably saw off an off-color Linfield side.
A late pitch inspection took place at an icy Windsor Park, but referee Brian Turkington deemed the pitch playable.
Linfield almost took an early lead after only two minutes when Peter Thompson was played through by Curtis Allen, but the in-form striker fired his shot narrowly wide.
Andy Waterworth saw a seventh minute shot easily saved by Blayney before he gave his side the lead a minute later. David Armstrong appeared to bring down Waterworth inside the box and referee Brian Turkington had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Waterworth stepped up to drill a low shot into the left hand corner of Alan Blayney's net.
On 18 minutes, Linfield had a goal disallowed. Michael Carvill's free kick from the left was fired into the roof of the net by David Armstrong but the linesman had his flag raised for offside.
Glentoran took control of the game on 23 minutes following a defensive howler from Chris Casement. The Linfield defender's short back pass to Alan Blayney was intercepted by Matty Burrows and cooly slotted past the Linfield goalkeeper.
Jason Hill was the Glentoran hero on 35 minutes when he cleared Philip Lowry's header off the line as Linfield looked to pull a goal back before half time.
On 43 minutes, Chris Casement's great effort was deflected harmlessly wide by Peter Thompson.
The second half started slowly with very little being created from either side.
After 64 minutes, Paul Munster played a fine through ball to Peter Thompson but his low shot was well saved by James Taylor in the Glentoran goal.
Linfield fans thought their team had pulled a goal back on 68 minutes following a Michael Carvill corner. David Armstrong powered a header off the underside of the crossbar but despite Linfield protestations, neither referee Brian Turkington nor his assistant felt the ball had crossed the line.
The Glens should have been 3-0 up on 83 minutes. Matty Burrows low shot looked destined for the back of the net only for Alan Blayney to get down to make a good save.
David Jeffrey's side pulled a goal back a minute later. Substitute Marcus Kane produced a great cross from the left and Paul Munster's header was blocked on the line before Billy Joe Burns followed up to blast the ball home.
As Linfield pressed for the equaliser, they were hit with the sucker punch on 93 minutes. Grant Gardiner picked up the ball on the edge of the box and fired a great shot which gave Alan Blayney no chance in the Linfield goal.
So Glentoran inflict another year of County Antrim Shield Final heartache on Linfield as they grab the first silverware of the season. Scott Young's side fully deserved thieir victory as the table topping Blues never got going on a frosty night at Windsor Park.
Linfield Team: Blayney, Armstrong, Curran (BJ Burns 46'), Lowry, Thompson, Carvill, A Burns, Allen (Munster 56'), Ervin (Kane 78'), Mulgrew, Casement.
Subs: Murphy, Addis.
Glentoran Team: Taylor, McGovern (Hall 26'), Hill, Taylor, Gardiner, Howland, Callacher (Steele 77'), Clarke, Waterworth. Fordyce, Burrows.
Subs: Morris, McBurney, Murray.