Linfield Swifts will face Newington in the semi-finals of this season’s Ladbrokes Intermediate Cup after a fine 5-1 win over Donegal Celtic in the last eight.
The final quarter-final tie saw Linfield Swifts travel the short distance to Donegal Celtic Park in west Belfast.
The hosts came closest to opening the scoring early on, seeing one shot hit the crossbar and another kept out thanks to a fine fingertip save from the Swifts’ goalkeeper.
As the game settled the Swifts started to pick up the pace and they took the lead on 32 minutes when Ryan Strain shot home after a scramble in the Celtic penalty area.
Celtic pushed hard for an equaliser but the Swifts held firm to go into the break with their one goal advantage intact.
As the game restarted the rain increased and Celtic saw a long range drive rebound off the top of the crossbar.
It was a wake-up call for the Swifts and they began to push forward in numbers, doubling their lead when man of the match Eamon Scannell hit an unstoppable drive from 40 yards which whizzed past Stephen McConnell in the Celtic goal.
Linfield went 3-0 up when Reece Glendenning tapped in from inside the six-yard box.
Pablo Andrade then made it 4-0 from the spot on 77 minutes before Celtic pulled one back through Stephen Doyle.
The scoring was not over, however. Scannell produced another stunning effort from distance which flew past McConnell in the Celtic nets.
The 5-1 victory saw Linfield Swifts progress to the semi-finals where they will take on Newington in another all-Belfast clash.
In the other semi Portadown-based Hanover will face Limavady United.
