Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ANDY IS A TWO BLUE
Waterworth goals send Linfield into final
POACHER supreme Andy Waterworth fired Linfield into their second final of the season with a deadly double at the Showgrounds.
Ballymena substitute Cathair Friel teed up a grandstand finish when he headed past Roy Carroll with 13 minutes left on the clock.
But it was Waterworth who bagged the headlines as his two goals booked the Blues a County Antrim Shield showpiece with Crusaders on February 5.
The striker – in his 250th Blues appearance – swept home the opener on the half hour mark and he added a second in the 59th minute for his 21st and 22nd goals of the season.
It meant Ballymena suffered a first home defeat of the season, having gone 13 unbeaten at the Showgrounds prior to last night.
Linfield, who also face Ballymena in the League Cup final on February 16, had gone close to a breakthrough when Josh Robinson’s header was scrambled off the line by Tony Kane.
But Waterworth opened the scoring soon after when he flirted with offside to sweep home an initial Stephen Fallon effort from three yards out.
United hands raised in unison to claim offside, but the linesman’s flag stayed put and, after a cursory glance at the assistant, Waterworth raced off to celebrate.
Ballymena, without the suspended Adam Lecky and with skipper Jim Ervin plus strike duo Cathair Friel and Johnny Mcmurray on the bench, started brightly.
But a Ryan Mayse volley from a Kane cross, which was handily saved by Carroll, was their only effort of note in the opening period.
Kirk Millar headed a wicked Quinn cross wide at the start of the second half as Linfield chased a second and it eventually came on 59 minutes. United keeper Ross Glendinning did well to parry an initial Stewart shot after good work by Joel Cooper, but Waterworth was on hand to rifle the ball into the roof of the net.
Jeffrey sprang Friel and Mcmurray from the bench as he chased a riposte and it was Friel who pulled one back for the Sky Blues with his 13th goal of the season.
Willie Faulkner was released by Scot Whiteside and the midfielder produced an inviting cross for Friel to head home from close range.
Remarkably, it was the first goal conceded by Linfield in 640 minutes of action.
Chris Casement almost added a third for the visitors but his curling effort crashed off the upright as Linfield saw out a late United rally.
DUNGANNON Swifts have signed former Bray Wanderers and Republic of Ireland U18 keeper Evan Moran.