Larne and Cliftonville Secure Spots in BetMcLean Cup Semi-Finals

Matty Lusty (left) scored a hat-trick as Larne defeated Annagh United. Larne and Cliftonville have advanced to the semi-finals of the BetMcLean Cup, securing decisive victories against Championship opponents on Wednesday evening. Matty Lusty achieved a hat-trick as Larne triumphed over Annagh United with a 5-0 scoreline at the BMG Arena. Simultaneously, Cliftonville secured a 3-0 win against Armagh City at Holm Park, with second-half goals contributed by Ryan Curran, Rory Hale, and the young player Coran Madden. Leroy Millar celebrated his much-anticipated return from injury by scoring Larne’s fourth goal. These two Premiership teams now join Crusaders in the final four, following Declan Caddell’s side’s 4-2 extra-time victory over Dungannon Swifts in their quarter-final match at Seaview on Tuesday. Ballymena United and Glentoran are scheduled to compete in the final quarter-final fixture at the Showgrounds on January 17. This comes after Glentoran, known as the Glens, defeated Linfield 1-0 at Windsor Park in their last 16 tie. Larne opened the scoring in their match midway through the first half when Lusty fired a shot into the corner of the net from the edge of the box, following home goalkeeper Jason Craughwell’s punched clearance of a corner. The visiting team extended their advantage two minutes after the interval, as Benji Magee’s pass back from the right flank found the net, aided by a deflection off a home defender. Lusty scored his second goal in the 50th minute after Mark Randall delivered a pass into the penalty area, which he controlled before striking a volley into the corner. Millar then scored a goal shortly after entering the game as a substitute; the former Ballymena player connected with Tomas Cosgrove’s pass back from the right and finished clinically. Lusty secured his hat-trick by scoring his team’s fifth goal. Following a scoreless opening half at Holm Park, Curran gave Cliftonville the lead early in the second half. Hale then extended his team’s advantage, placing the ball into the bottom corner after effective play by Michael Glynn. Teenager Madden netted the Reds’ third goal late in the game, after a strong contribution from Jack Berry.