No surprises in Irish Cup quarter-finals

Published Saturday, 02 March 2013
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There were no major surprises in Saturday's Irish Cup quarter-finals with all the favourites winning their respective ties.

No surprises in Irish Cup quarter-finals
Crusaders drew one each with Lisburn Distillery. (© Presseye)

Portadown will play Glentoran in the semi-finals of the Irish Cup while Cliftonville will play the winners of the replay between Crusaders and Lisburn Distillery after the draw for last-four stage was made on Saturday.

Cliftonville booked their place in the semi-finals courtesy of a hard-fought 2-0 victory over amateur League side Kilmore Rec, although the minnows made life far from easy for their illustrious counterparts.

With the Reds sitting pretty at the top of the Danske Bank Premiership and Kilmore plying their trade in the Amateur leagues, Cliftonville boss Tommy Breslin could have been forgiven for expecting his side to book their place in the next round with relative ease.

However, the visitors were not about to surrender their place in the competition without a fight, with keeper Michael McKenna pulling off a string of saves to ensure the sides went in goalless at the break.

The Reds did go in front soon early in the second half though, with Eamonn Seydak playing a superb one-two with Liam Boyce before blasting home the opener in the 56th minute.

Kilmore continued to battle gamely with McKenna excelling on several occasions, but after initially stopping Ciaran Caldwell's goalbound effort five minutes from time the keeper was powerless to prevent Martin Donnelly from firing in Cliftonville's second on the rebound.

The win keeps the Solitude outfit on course for a remarkable treble, although they will have to wait and see whether it will be Lisburn Distillery or fierce north Belfast rivals Crusaders who await them in the next round after the sides played out a 1-1 draw at Seaview.

The visitors took the lead after just 11 minutes, with Aaron Boyd rising to direct a looping header past Crues' keeper Yohann Lacroix from Scott Davidson's pinpoint cross.

However, Crusaders levelled proceedings six minutes later when Timmy Adamson swept home from close range under pressure from the Whites' defence.

Both sides had chances to win the game, but neither side could find a way past the opposition goalkeepers.

The replay will take place at Ballyskeagh on Monday 11 March.

Elsewhere on Saturday Glentoran earned their last-four berth courtesy of a 3-1 win away to Championship 2 side Knockbreda.

The Glens went ahead when Jay Magee converted from the penalty spot in the 13th minute after Conor Curry brought down Jim O'Hanlon inside the area.

The hosts produced a shock equaliser just five minutes later though, with Michael McClean forcing a volley through a sea of players and past Elliot Morris.

However the Glens retook the lead in the 53rd minute Knockbreda captain Jim McMenamin turned a Stephen Carson cross into his own net, and the hosts task was further compounded when they were reduced to nine men inside a three-minute period.

First Stephen Curley was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 58th minute, before Stephen Hislop received his marching orders after a headbutt on Andrew Waterworth, and the Glens' striker wrapped up the victory when he pounced on the rebound after Richard Clarke's effort had been saved.

Finally Portadown made short work of Coleraine at the Showgrounds, earning a 3-0 win to set up a meeting with the Glens on 6 April.

Kevin Braniff drew first blood for the visitors with a great turn and shot in the 34th minute, before Darren Murray doubled the advantage with a 68th minute penalty.

Braniff had the final say with a superb strike three minutes from time to seal a comfortable win for Ronnie McFall's side.

Donegal Celtic salvaged a valuable point but lost goal scorer Sean Cleary to a bizarre red card as they came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw with Ballymena at the Ballymena Showgrounds.

David Cushley opened the scoring for the hosts on the half hour when his well-struck shot found its way into the net, before a magnificent curling free kick from Tony Kane gave the Sky Blues a two goal cushion a minute before the break.

DC pulled one back in the 69th minute when Mark Miskimmin's effort was kept out by Dwayne Nelson in the Ballymena goal, only for Kevin Hughes to fire home the rebound.

However, there was to be late drama as Alan Jenkins brought down Sean Cleary inside the area, and the striker converted the spot kick before promptly picking up a second yellow card for removing his shirt as he celebrated the equaliser.


Irish Cup quarter-finals

Cliftonville 2-0 Kilmore Rec
Cliftonville: Seydak 56, Donelly 86

Coleraine 0-3 Portadown
Portadown: Braniff 34, pen 87; Murray pen 68

Crusaders 1-1 Lisburn Distillery
Crusaders: Adamson 18
Lisburn Distillery: Boyd 12

Knockbreda 1-3 Glentoran
Knockbreda: McClean 18; Curley s/o 58, Hislop s/o 61
Glentoran: Magee pen 12, McMenamin og 53, Waterworth 68

Danske Bank Irish Premiership

Ballymena United 2-2 Donegal Celtic
Ballymena united: Cushley 31, Kane 44
Donegal Celtic: Hughes 69, Cleary pen 90

© UTV News
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