Glens see off Blues after extra-time in Irish Cup thriller

Substitute Finley Thorndike scored an extra-time winner as Glentoran beat Linfield

Glentoran booked their place in the Irish Cup quarter-finals as they beat Big Two rivals Linfield 2-1 after extra-time with substitute Finley Thorndike scoring a fine winner at the Oval.

After a dull first period, Jordan Jenkins opened the scoring for the Glens on 53 minutes before Chris McKee equalised for the Blues on 72 minutes.

Momentum swung in Glentoran's favour when Joel Cooper was sent off in extra-time for kicking out at Jonny Russell on the ground.

Substitute Thorndike marked his introduction with a sweet strike from outside the area to seal the hard-fought victory for the Glens, who have won four and drawn one of their five meetings against the Blues this season.

Linfield's Chris Shields and Glentoran's Joe Thomson were then dismissed late in extra-time after both received second yellow cards.

Thorndike strike lights up exciting Oval encounter

The first half was far from a classic, with neither side having a clear-cut chance of note.

The closest either side came to breaking the deadlock was when Ben Hall rose highest to meet a Cooper corner and saw his effort strike the top of the crossbar.

But eight minutes into the second half, the deadlock was broken. A defensive mix-up from the Blues allowed Jenkins to nip in and strike from just inside the box, finding the bottom corner with a precise shot which gave keeper David Walsh no chance.

Linfield then levelled as McKee met Ethan McGee's long throw-in with his head, finding a way past Daniel Gyollai at the near post to find the equaliser.

Cooper was shown a red card in the first half of extra-time for kicking out at Russell, leaving his side with a huge ask with 10 men.

It took a moment of brilliance from substitute Thorndike to seal Glentoran's spot in the quarter-final as his long-range strike with his left foot won it for Declan Devine's side.

Shields and Thomson were also shown red by referee Tim Marshall late in extra-time.

Former Dundalk player Shields was dismissed for a cynical foul on Dylan Connolly, whilst Thomson was shown his marching orders after provoking a scuffle with the Blues captain, which continued down the tunnel.

Glentoran will discover their quarter-final opponents on Saturday evening with the draw taking place live on BBC Sportsound after the seven other Irish Cup fixtures.