SKY BLUES LEAVE IT LATE AT STANGMORE
Irish Cup finalists Ballymena United prepared for the decider with victory over Dungannon Swifts at Stangmore Park.
A low-key first half produced little by way of goalmouth action with Dungannon's Marc Walsh perhaps coming closest with a half volley from outside the area which produced a great stop from keeper Sean O'Neill.
The deadlock was broken five minutes after the break, however, when Oran O'Kane fired the ball across the face of goal with the unfortunate Jordan McMullan diverting it into his own net whilst attempting to turn it behind for a corner.
That was how it stayed until four minutes from time when Paul McElroy ran through to turn the ball past the oncoming Dwayne Nelson.
Then, in stoppage time, the Sky Blues claimed the points courtesy of an Andy McGrory spot-kick, awarded following a foul on Nathan Clarke.
Dungannon Swifts: Nelson, King, Knowles, Mayse, McCready, Campbell, Devlin, McGee, Mohsni, Walsh, O’Kane subs Coyle (not used), Gallagher (not used), Conway (replaced Mayse 79), Tavares (replaced Walsh 70), McDonald (replaced Campbell 79), Scott (replaced King 88), Francis (replaced Knowles 88)
Ballymena United: O’Neill, Chapman, Kelly, McElroy, Kane, Rodgers, McGrory, Loughran, Smith, Place, McMullan subs Johnston (not used), Waide (replaced Smith 77), Henderson (not used), Smith (replaced Rodgers 72), Clarke (replaced McElroy 88), Tennant (not used), McDonald (not used)
Substitution 
Substitution 
