Reds, Coleraine & Swifts into Irish Cup last four
Liam McStravick, Steven Scott and Joel Cooper scored for their teams on Saturday as Cliftonville, Coleraine, and Dungannon Swifts each defeated Championship opponents to secure places in the Irish Cup semi-finals.
Defending champions Dungannon Swifts won 3-0 against H&W Welders at Stangmore Park, with goals from Steven Scott, Shane McGinty, and Kobei Moore, maintaining their pursuit of retaining the trophy.
Cliftonville continued their campaign for a third consecutive final appearance by beating Loughgall 3-0 at Lakeview Park, with Keevan Hawthorne, Shaun Leppard, and Liam McStravick all on target.
Coleraine secured a 2-0 victory over Limavady United at the Showgrounds, thanks to second-half goals from Joel Cooper and substitute Matthew Shevlin.
Joining these three teams in the semi-finals is Larne, who triumphed over Glentoran in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw on Friday night.
The semi-final draw has paired Cliftonville against Dungannon Swifts in a repeat of last year's final, while Larne will face Coleraine. Both ties are scheduled to be played at neutral venues during the weekend of 3-4 April.
Bannsiders banish Limavady
Coleraine overcame resilient second-tier promotion contenders Limavady United with second-half goals from man-of-the-match Joel Cooper and Matthew Shevlin.
Cooper scored his 20th goal of the season shortly after the hour mark, rifling a 25-yard shot into the top corner past goalkeeper Marty Gallagher. Later, Cooper assisted Shevlin’s 19th goal of the campaign with a composed finish from 12 yards out.
Early in the match, Dean Jarvis missed a good opportunity after being set up by Zane Okoro, while teenager Senan Devine was Coleraine’s main attacking threat, repeatedly thwarted by Gallagher’s saves.
Limavady’s John Butcher fired over from the edge of the box after a cleared corner, and Ryan Schofield made a comfortable catch from a Leon Boyd cross.
After Cooper’s opening goal, Limavady increased their attacking efforts. Shevlin was denied by a goal-line clearance from Tiarnan Boorman, and Mark Coyle’s follow-up shot was also blocked before Coleraine doubled their lead.
Cooper intercepted an under-hit back pass from Boorman, rounded Gallagher, and set up Shevlin for the second goal.
Swifts continue cup defence
At Stangmore Park, H&W Welders had an early chance when Enomfon Nto ran from his own half into the Swifts’ box, but Declan Dunne saved his effort.
Steven Scott opened the scoring about 10 minutes later, expertly lifting a long-range pass from Gael Bigirimana over Welders’ goalkeeper Samuel Safaei.
Sean McAllister nearly doubled the lead but was denied by Safaei in a one-on-one situation. Safaei made several other significant saves throughout the match.
About an hour in, Dungannon extended their lead. Paul Doyle’s shot was cleared off the line by Ewan McCoubrey, but from the resulting corner, Leo Alves found Shane McGinty, who headed the ball into the net.
Dungannon maintained pressure, and Kobei Moore sealed the victory with a well-placed low shot into the corner from outside the area with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Reds ease past Loughgall
Cliftonville secured their semi-final spot with a 3-0 win over Loughgall.
Loughgall started strongly and nearly scored early when Rory Hale lost possession to Scott McCann, who set up Kirk McLaughlin, but his shot was comfortably saved by PJ Morrison.
Cliftonville took the lead when Adebayo Fapetu found Keevan Hawthorne on the edge of the area, and Hawthorne calmly finished into the far corner beyond Ross Glendinning.
Loughgall almost equalised shortly after when Paul McElroy backheeled to Darragh Stewart, but Stewart’s powerful shot went well over the bar.
Cliftonville doubled their lead just before halftime when Shaun Leppard rose highest to head Michael Glynn’s corner past substitute goalkeeper Berraat Turker, marking his second goal in successive games.
After the break, Cliftonville pressed forward. Rory Hale delivered a cross to the back post where Hawthorne connected, but James Carroll cleared the ball off the line.
Loughgall had a chance to reduce the deficit when McCann dispossessed Josh Kelly and passed to McLaughlin, whose powerful shot hit the crossbar.
Cliftonville secured the third goal when Fapetu played a neat through ball to Liam McStravick. Although Turker saved McStravick’s initial shot, the winger quickly converted the rebound.
