Ballymena manager Glenn Ferguson sees his team reach semi-finals of Co Antrim Shield

BALLYMENA Utd are through to the semi-finals of the Co Antrim Shield sparking hopes of back-to-back silverware success.

They will now face one of Belfast’s ‘Big Three’ – Linfield, Cliftonville or Crusaders – who all reached the last four on Tuesday night.

Holders Ballymena had a 1-0 victory over Donegal Celtic after a 36th minute header for the Sky Blues.

Crusaders beat Lisburn Distillery 3-0 at Seaview.

A goal on the stroke of half time by Matthew Snoddy gave the north Belfast side a 1-0 lead.

And then 11 minutes after the interval, Stuart Thompson converted a cross for 2-0 after a David McMaster cross.

On 64 minutes, Snoddy bagged his brace after rifling home a shot from 12 yards out.

At Windsor Park, Linfield had a tough encounter with Premier League rock bottom team Ards FC finally running out 3-2 winners.

Blues’ fans were given something to cheer out in the first half with goals from Brian McCaul and Kyle McVey.

Matty Tipton made it three for Linfield only for Ards’ players Andy Mitchell drew one back on 90 minutes while Craig McMillen scored scored two minutes later.

At the Oval, Cliftonville beat Glentoran 3-0 to reach the semi-finals

Paddy McNally netted the opener with a half-time header in injury time in a team which Tommy Breslin had wrung the changes following their 1-0 defeat to Glenavon at Mourneview Park last Saturday.

In the second half, Liam Boyce set up Stephen Garret with a top class pass to give the visitors a two-lead on 59 minutes.

And Garrett made it 3-0 a short time later with a header in off the bar past Glens keeper Elliott Morris.

Glentoran tried to respond without success.

Johnny Addis headed a bullet off the cross bar and then Jordan Hughes fired a shot over the bar.