And what made their victory all the more dramatic was the second half dismissals of Paul Leeman and scorer Jason Hill which saw the Glens end the game with nine men.

Hill grabbed what proved to be the only goal of the game after just three minutes. He won the ball from Paul Keegan before cutting into the six-yard box to fire a seemingly mis-hit shot towards 'keeper Jamie Ewings - which somehow the home custodian let slip from his grasp and into the net.

Ewings redeemed himself a little a short time later with a fine stop to deny David Scullion while, at the other end, Elliott Morris did well to block an Adam Hughes close range effort.

But it was the Glens who almost went in at the break further ahead when Michael Halliday found himself in a great position only to be thwarted by a last gasp Graham Gartland clearance.

After the break Gartland came close again but, once more, Morris performed heroics to turn away his header.

The tables seemed to turn in the Drogs favour on 74 minutes. The Glens were reduced to ten men when Paul Leeman was sent -off for a harmless looking challenge inside the area on Declan O'Brien.

Referee Richie Winter pointed to the spot but justice was perhaps done when when Keegan blasted his kick against the bar.

Then, in the dying moments, scoring hero Hill became the second Glentoran man to walk following a clumsy challenge which earned him his second booking of the evening.

However, despite some intense pressure, the depleted Glens defence held out to book their place in the final amidst wild scenes of celebration from the visiting support.