Holders Dungannon Swifts are heading back to the Irish Cup final after a dramatic penalty shootout win over Cliftonville in Friday night's semi-final at Windsor Park.

In a repeat of last season's decider, Dungannon looked to have booked a return to the showpiece in May thanks to Kealan Dillon's strike in the first half of extra time after the sides had failed to fashion a goal in 90 minutes.

However, a late equaliser with the last action of extra time from Cliftonville sent the tie to penalties.

In the shootout, Dungannon – as in last year's final – successfully converted all four of their kicks. While Joe Sheridan and Harry Wilson missed for the Reds, to keep Dungannon's dreams of back-to-back Irish Cup triumphs alive.

Image source, Inpho

Three days on from their energy-sapping Irish Cup semi-final at Windsor Park these two teams meet again in an equally important league game at Inver Park.

Victory for hosts Larne would see them place one hand on the Gibson Cup while an away win would boost Coleraine's hopes of a runners-up finish.

Perhaps, surprisingly, Larne head coach Gary Haveron elects to go with the same starting XI from the defeat at the National Stadium.

Opposite number Ruaidhri Higgins takes a different approach, making five changes from Saturday as Dean Jarvis and Rowan McDonald get the night off with Lyndon Kane, Will Patching and Joel Cooper starting on the bench.

In come Dylan Boyle, Levi Ives, Zane Okoro, Senan Devine and weekend match winner Matthew Shevlin.

Larne: Ferguson, Ridley, Donnelly, Gallagher, Graham, Doherty, McEneff, Cosgrove (c), Bent, Ryan, Lusty.

Subs: Graham, McKendry, Randall, O'Connor, Nolan, Sloan, Simpson.

Coleraine: Schofield, Boyle, Shevlin, Ives (c), Glackin, Dunne, Stewart, Wylie, Okoro, Coyle, Devine.

Subs: Webb, Kane, Lyons-Foster, Patching, Cooper, McGonigle, Connolly.

Image source, BBC Sport

Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins says reaching May's Irish Cup final against Dungannon Swifts is "a special feeling" and just reward for everyone involved with the club.

The Bannsiders progressed to the decider against holders Dungannon Swifts by defeating Premiership leaders Larne 2-1 after extra time at Windsor Park on Saturday.

Joel Cooper fired Coleraine into a first-half lead, Matty Lusty levelled in the second half, but substitute Matthew Shevlin scored the winner in the second period of extra time.

"It's a special feeling and I'm so pleased for everyone connected with the club. So proud and delighted that we have our place in the final," Higgins told BBC Sport NI.

"It's a brilliant achievement as it's our first year together as a collective and we have something tangible to look forward to and something to be really excited about.

"Our players, our staff, everyone connected with the club, deserves it."

Read he full article here.

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Watch highlights as Coleraine beat Larne in extra time to secure spot in Irish Cup final alongside Dungannon Swifts.

Larne manager Gary Haveron says he believes his side should have made the most of the momentum being in their favour and gone on to win the game after scoring an equaliser in their 2-1 extra-time defeat by Coleraine in Saturday's Irish Cup semi-final.

"When we got the equaliser I feel we should have kicked on and won the game because I believe the game was there to be won, but we never really put them under enough pressure, and constant pressure," Haveron told BBC Sport NI after the game.

"They were strong in extra time, they pushed on and their subs made a really strong impact for them.

"There wasn't much in the game, Rohan [Ferguson] barely had a save to make bar the one near the end from Shevlin, whereas their keeper made some fantastic saves."

Image source, Inpho

A Matthew Shevlin goal in the second period of extra time gave Coleraine a 2-1 win over Larne at Windsor Park on Saturday to book their place in this year's Irish Cup final.

The substitute found the net with eight minutes remaining to ensure the Bannsiders would face holders Dungannon Swifts in this year's showpiece decider on 2 May, with European qualification also on the line.

Joel Cooper had fired Coleraine ahead in the first half, with Matty Lusty equalising for the Invermen in the second period.

For Coleraine, it will be a first Irish Cup final appearance for the first time since they last lifted the trophy in 2018, but for Larne the wait for a first-ever Irish Cup success goes on.

Gary Haveron's men will now concentrate their efforts on trying to secure a third Irish Premiership title in four years, with their ambitions of a possible league and cup double now at an end.

Read the full article here.

Image source, Inpho

Here is a reminder of tonight's fixtures.

Image source, BBC Sport

After two exciting Irish Cup semi-finals, attentions now turn back to the closing stages of Irish Premiership campaign.

Tonight, league leaders Larne will be seeking revenge against Coleraine, who knocked them out of the Irish Cup just three days ago.

Glentoran travel to face a Cliftonville side who will be aiming to bounce back from Irish Cup disappointment of their own after losing against Dungannon Swifts in a penalty shootout.

The Swifts return to league action with a home match against Linfield.

After their match on Saturday was postponed due to an unplayable pitch, Ballymena Unites host Glenavon.

Crusaders will aim to leapfrog the Lurgan Blues and move off bottom spot when they face Bangor.

At Shamrock Park, eighth placed Portadown take on Carrick Rangers, who occupy seventh.

As well as live text and radio commentary and in-play clips tonight, we will have a live stream from Inver Park.

We will also have a wrap-up report, highlights and reaction after the latest round of fixtures.

Thanks for joining us. Enjoy the games!

Image source, Inpho