IRISH CUP: Lowry's late show sends Linfield into final at expense of Dungannon Swifts

Stephen Lowry's afternoon featured a penalty miss but winning goal to send Linfield into the Irish Cup final despite a spirited performance by Dungannon Swifts. Pic by PressEye Ltd.

Lowry popped up with the clock on 89 minutes to seal success by a single goal for Linfield in the first semi-final on a bumper day of Irish Cup football.

He converted with a back-post finish following Mark Haughey’s cross.

It handed Lowry a spot in the spotlight for the right reasons - having finished frustrated on 51 minutes when Swifts goalkeeper Andy Coleman produced a slick stop to block the Linfield man’s penalty.

Douglas Wilson felled Jamie Mulgrew in the box for the spot-kick shout.

In a goal-less first half, Wilson headed over after meeting a corner.

Dungannon’s best chance of the match came to substitute Peter McMahon in the 81st minute, but his deflected effort was brilliantly saved by Roy Carroll.

LINFIELD: Carroll, Stafford, Haughey, Callacher, Clarke, Lowry, Burns, Mulgrew, Quinn (Millar, 78), Smyth, Waterworth

Subs not used: Ward, Casement, Carson, Deane

DUNGANNON SWIFTS: Coleman, Burns, Hegarty, Armstrong, O’Rourke, Wilson, Harpur (Teggart, 89), Clucas, Glackin, Burke (McMahon, 56), Mitchell

Subs not used: Addis, Fitzpatrick, Lowe

Referee: Keith Kennedy (Lisburn)