GLENS SWEEP PAST SKY BLUES
Goals from Jay Donnelly, Conor McMenamin and Ben Cushnie saw Glentoran sweep to a comprehensive four-goal defeat of Ballymena United at The Oval.
Donnelly opened the scoring with as little as 40 seconds on the clock with a side foot finish past Jordan Williamson after Seanan Clucas played the ball into his path.
Ballymena might have levelled through Paul McElroy and Leroy Millar either side of a McMenamin effort for the Glens.
But Glentoran doubled their lead right at the end of the first half when McMenamin sent over a perfect delivery from the left for Donnelly to control and drive beyond Williamson.
McMenamin tried hard to extend Glentoran's advantage after the break, sending one effort wide and seeing another well saved while Donnelly came close to his hat-trick only to head against the crossbar.
However McMenamin finally got on the scoresheet on 71 minutes. Caolan Marron did well to carry the ball forward before it reached McMenamin to rifle into the net from around 25 yards out.
And substitute Cushnie made it 4-0 in stoppage time with a slotted finish after Shay McCartan went on a run down the left before laying the ball off.
Glentoran: Glendinning, McCullough, Burns, Marshall, J. Donnelly, McDaid, McClean, Clucas, Marron, McMenamin, Plum subs Morris (not used), Garrett (not used), McCartan (replaced McDaid 85), R. Donnelly (replaced J. Donnelly 78), Smith (not used), Crowe (replaced McCullough 45+3), Cushnie (replaced McMenamin 85)
Ballymena United: Williamson, Redman, Wilson, Winchester, McElroy, McCullough, Kane, McGrory, Loughran, Keeley, Millar subs Johnston (not used), Chapman (not used), Henderson (not used), Barr (replaced Winchester 25), Bramall (replaced Keeley 46), Smith (replaced McElroy 84), Beattie (replaced McGrory 84)
Substitution 
Substitution 
