Larne set up Co Antrim decider with Glentoran after seeing off Ballymacash Rangers

Larne 4 Ballymacash Rangers 0

Larne’s Leroy Millar holds off Ballymacash Rangers' Bradley Porter

Ballymacash Rangers manager Lee Forsythe

Larne’s hope of a record-equalling fourth successive County Shield triumph remains alive after booking their place in next month’s Final with 4-0 win over Ballymacash Rangers at Inver Park.

The Invermen will now take on Glentoran at Seaview on Tuesday January 23 after seeing off a dogged Rangers side on home soil.

A first half double from Leroy Millar was added to by Joe Thomson’s free-kick and Ilijah Paul’s goal late on to put the gloss on a victory against a Ballymacash side who gave a good account of themselves on the night.

Glentoran were the first team Larne defeated in the Final just over three years ago to kickstart their remarkable run in the competition, which was followed up back-to-back wins over Linfield.

With the incentive of booking their place in the season's final, Larne boss Tiernan Lynch made six changes from the team which ran out 3-0 winners at Seaview on Friday evening, but it still looked an ominous task for the Lisburn side, boasting the majority of the team who won last season’s Premiership title.

The Invermen came into this one in good form having scored seven goals in their last two outings. Rangers, meanwhile, advanced to the last four after Quarter-Final opponents Knockbreda were thrown out of the competition following a successful appeal by Ballymacash.

They showed they belonged in the tie in the opening exchanges of this one, however, Forsythe’s side looking well organised and compact and Larne’s best opportunities came courtesy of long-range efforts from Aaron Donnelly and Mark Randall, with one coming back off the crossbar and ex-Larne goalkeeper Brian