Armstrong: Glens fans never forget Cup heroes

Sean fondly recalls sinking Linfield in 2000 and tips a new icon to emerge

THE man who played a heroic role in one of the greatest Irish Cup games — the ‘Sean Armstrong Semi-final’ — is hoping his old club can land another knock-out blow on Linfield.

The Big Two Semi-final showdown at Windsor Park in 2000 was an emotional thriller that still brings back painful or joyous memories, depending on where your loyalties lie.

In a breathless and pulsating contest, Davy Larmour’s header put the Blues ahead before Rory Hamill’s free-kick levelled the scores.

Stuart Elliott fired the Glens in front in the second half before a dramatic climax.

Four minutes into added time, William Murphy rose to head Tony Gorman’s cross past Alan Gough.

A replay looked certain until Hamill swung in a cross in the 96th minute, and Armstrong’s header earned him a place in Glentoran folklore.

The Final served up less drama, but the Glens beat Portadown 1-0 thanks to Ian Gilzean’s second-half header.

Armstrong, a nephew of Northern Ireland World Cup hero Gerry, is allowing memories of the epic contest to return to the surface this week.

Linfield had snatched the League title off the Glens, and a double was within reach when Murphy struck at the death, sparking bedlam in the stands housing the home fans.

But it was striker Armstrong, a 74th-minute substitute for Brian Russell, who had the final say.

“It was a game which swung one way then the next, and I believe a lot of Linfield fans left early and didn’t see Winkie’s goal,” said Armstrong, who also won the Irish Cup with Coleraine when they beat the Glens in the 2003 Final.

“They heard the cheer and came back to celebrate, but then I scored, making it an anticlimax for them!

“Things happened so quickly, and we could see Roy Coyle’s face at 2-2, we thought that’s it, it’s a replay.

“We attacked straight away, and it was a fantastic day, even more special because we went on to win the Final.

“Rory (Hamill) got the ball in, and Winkie must have been knackered after doing a lap of the pitch as I tried to get in front of the defenders and head the ball in. I didn’t see the ball hit the net, I just heard the cheer — it was great, the celebrations were brilliant.

“Once a team scores late on, you are deflated, but the emotions changed so quickly, and we went from being deflated to feeling ecstatic in injury-time.”

The west Belfast man is hoping for more memorable Irish Cup theatre at The Betmclean Oval on Friday and a similar outcome. In the other Semi, Premiership champions Larne face Cliftonville at Windsor Park on Saturday.

“They are two hard games featuring the top sides, who are in form. There’s not much between them,” said the 47-year-old, who