The sides couldn't be seperated after 120 minutes of play so it was left down to the lottery of the dreaded penalty shoot-out to determine which side joined free-scoring Crusaders in the semi-finals.

Glentoran opened the scoring on 32 minutes through a Kyle Neill free-kick from the edge of the area which was expertly despatched beyond the reach of Ports keeper Kevin Pressman.

It was no less than the Glens deserved following a bright opening which saw Gary Hamilton and Michael Halliday threaten.

That Neill goal was the difference between the sides until the 75th minute when John Convery slipped in behind the Glens defence to nod home a Peter Kennedy free-kick at the back post.

And with neither side managing to find a way to goal in extra-time there was little option but to settle the tie in that most nerve jangling but dramatic of ways.

In the event Hamilton, Neill, Colin Nixon and Willo McDonagh all successfully converted their spot-kicks for the Glens with Peter Kennedy, Gary McCutcheon and Marc McCann replying for Ronnie McFall's side with the unfortunate Richard Clarke seeing his effort saved.