Visitors Ballymena United, trailing 3-1 from the first leg, knew they had a mountain to climb if they were to progress and although their endeavours ultimately proved fruitless they did push Alan McDonald's side all the way.

Glentoran moved in front on 23 minutes through Andrew Waterworth when he latched onto a long clearance from Elliott Morris to withhold the challenge of Gavin McDonnell to stroll past Alan Blayney and slot the ball home.

United levelled on the night eight minutes into the second when leading scorer Neil Teggart received the ball from Liam Mullan with his back to goal before turning to deliver a low drive under the body of 'keeper Morris.

And they had the ball in the net again on 79 minutes but Gary Haveron's touch from a Stuart King corner was ruled out when referee Keith Halliday spotted a foul on Morris.

The Sky Blues did make it 2-1 on the night with two minutes remaining. King combined with Teggart for the former to deliver a cross-cum-shot from the bye-line which somehow crept past Morris to set up a furious finish ........ but the Glens held on to progress despite United's best efforts in the three minutes of added time that followed.