Not a major trophy, but still annoying. Even when you lose eight County Antrim Shield Finals in the last fifteen years, you’d think you’d be used to it.
No rotation for this game, with a mostly full strength team for Linfield, although David Walsh came in goal for this game, as he had done throughout this season’s competition.
The opening was mostly even, although Larne were having the slightly better chances. Neither side had anything clear.
Larne had the best moment when Leroy Millar diverted a shot with his head, just wide of the goal.
Just before half-time, the game swung in Larne’s favour when Kyle McClean was sent-off for a foul.
It was a bad tackle but it wasn’t reckless. Only a yellow.
Taking place in front of the Larne support, and followed by a melee, McClean never stood a chance.
Linfield now had to hold on until half-time and regroup.
Unsurprisingly, Larne were looking to immediately make the most of their advantage.
Linfield held firm from a flurry of corners. The only moment of worry was a header from Leroy Millar which hit the top of the crossbar.
Having made it to half-time at 0-0, Conor Pepper came on for Eetu Vertainen as Linfield looked to get an extra body in midfield.
Holding out for penalties? Not a bit of it.
Linfield came out and were the most likely team to score in the early minutes of the second-half. They needed to make the most of it though.
Despite all the possession and time spent in Larne’s final third, Linfield weren’t able to create a clear opportunity.
Having survived a period of Linfield pressure, Larne tried to press home their one man advantage.
Just like when Linfield were having a spell on top, Larne couldn’t really create a clear goalscoring opportunity.
With ten minutes to go, David Walsh was forced into a save when he had to turn a deflected effort from Micheal Glynn around the post.
At this point, just as in the previous year’s Final, it was looking like goal the winner as the seconds ticked down.
Paul O’Neill should have got that goal, but he headed over from close range when he should have been hitting the target.
Larne were finishing the game strongly. A flick on followed by a spot of pinball from a corner caused worry for Linfield fans, but not for David Walsh, who made the save with no worries whatsoever.
As the game neared it’s conclusion, Chris McKee came on for Joel Cooper, perhaps with an eye on a possible penalty shoot-out.
Despite the efforts of both sides, this was a match that was heading this way.
Going to be playing an hour with ten men, it was a surprise that Cameron Palmer wasn’t brought on, to freshen things up.
There would be a final substitution for Linfield, not one they were planning to make as David Walsh suffered an injury when making a tackle as Larne broke through at the start of four minutes of injury time.
As Linfield counter attacked the counter attack thanks to Walsh’s tackle, it soon became apparent that Walsh’s injury was serious.
Chris Johns was soon getting warmed up as Walsh continued to receive treatment, as Seaview fell silent, concerned for Walsh.
Suddenly, there was an announcement on the tannoy. A lot of people were speculating that it might have been for an abandonment, but it was to announce that the teams will be taken off the pitch for ten minutes.
By the time those ten minutes passed, Walsh was removed from the pitch.
Thankfully, it would later emerge that he would be released from hospital during the night, and was even able to participate in light training later that week.
It was unsurprising, with the long delay, short time remaining in the game and the conditions, a decision was made to prematurely blow the full-time whistle, the match finishing 0-0 and going straight to a penalty shoot-out.
A draw was a fair result. Even though Larne had the slightly better opportunities, neither side could really claim that they deserved to be outright winners.
The biggest compliment that you could pay Linfield, was that you didn’t really notice that they were playing with ten men.
So to penalties, which would be taken in front of Linfield’s fans.
I was at the other end of the pitch, where Linfield attacked in the second-half. I was too comfy to move, so i’d be watching the shoot-out from (relatively) afar.
A good start for Linfield when they were 2-1 up after two kicks, and taking first meant that they had the opportunity to go 3-1 up and really put the pressure on Larne.
It was too good to be true as Andrew Clarke had his penalty saved, and then Larne made it 2-2. All level now after three.
Mike Newberry then smashed his penalty against the bar. It was now advantage to Larne. They took it. Jeff Hughes put them 3-1 up after four kicks.
Linfield’s choice for next take took a lot of people by surprise, as Chris Johns got ready to step up.
He made no mistake, smashing it into the back of the net to keep Linfield in the match. Might be worth having him as back-up in case Chris Shields is unavailable.
It was only a temporary reprieve, as Mark Randall stepped up to win the game for Larne.
One trophy gone, albeit not the main aim for the season.
How crap must Cliftonville be at penalties if they have lost penalty shoot-outs to Linfield in successive seasons?
Onto Ballymena on Saturday.
Analogue Boy In A Digital World 