Football: SEASIX PORTS TOR-AN APART

GLENTORAN marched into the final with a great display but it was almost forgotten in a day of controversy at Mourneview Park.

Portadown had two men sent off and then fights broke out after the game when fans invaded the pitch.

The scenes were disgraceful. Stewards tried to keep the peace but with no police inside the ground, they found it extremely difficult. There were skirmishes between the supporters for up to 10 minutes.

Around 100 people were on the playing surface in scenes reminiscent of the bad old days of Irish League football.

Many had said that the small Lurgan ground was the wrong place to hold this semi-final and they have been proved correct. Glens manager Roy Coyle said: "This ground has a good playing surface and generates a terrific atmosphere but I always thought it was not big enough to cater for a Cup semi-final between two big teams."

Coyle was a lot happier with what went on during the match although rival manager Ronnie McFall was left fuming.

With the score at 1-1 following a penalty by Andy Smith (right) on 15 minutes had cancelled out Gary Hamilton's effort, Ports defender John Convery was red-carded on 36 minutes when he brought down Smith in full flight.

To make it worse, Gary Smyth scored superbly from the resulting free-kick and from that moment on, the Ports were fighting a losing battle. Darren Armour made it 3-1 in first-half injury-time and then four on 52 minutes.

Three minutes later Vinny Arkins was sent off for a crude foul on Mark Glendinning.

To compound Portadown's misery, Darren Lockhart on 58 minutes and Armour on 62 added to Glentoran's impressive tally - the latter giving the Oval striker a splendid hat-trick.

McFall admitted: "I thought that we were the better side early on, then came the first sending off, which ruined the match."

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