Close but not quite close enough, as Paul Kirk's depleted side took champions Linfield almost all the way in their long-delayed JJB Sports Irish Cup semi-final.

The Whites rattled the holders from the off, and on eight minutes Neil Alderdice got to the bye-line, his pin-point cross was met by James Bell and his header beat Alan Mannus but came of the base off the post.

On 15 minutes the Whites went ahead, another break down the right, a low cross from Marty Verner ran to Andy Kilmartin and he side-footed the ball high into the net on 15 minutes.

Linfield had a few chances, Matthews making one good stop before Kilmartin headed off the line. The Whites went in one nil ahead and it was no more than they deserved.

Minutes into the second half, Verner pounced on a mistake by Blues' skipper Noel Bailie but his 20 yard effort flew just over the bar, keeper Mannus looking to have it covered in any event.

Paul Kirk's men then lost Darren Armour and Marty Verner to hamstring injuries and after that the Blues took the upper hand, mounting attack after attack.They equalised on 71 minutes, Mark Dickson getting on to the end of a quickly taken free-kick that caught the Whites defence cold.

It was tough at the back, then in injury time youngster Aaron Johnston almost snatched a dramatic winner, but Mannus showed his quality to pull off a magnficent reaction save and that effectively was the game over for the Whites.

Linfield grabbed two quick goals early in extra time - Dickson netting his second on 95 minutes after Matthews has superbly kept out a blistering drive from Jim Ervin but the ball unfortunatey dropped to Dickson.

A minute later it was 3-1, Thomas Stewart connecting with Dickson's cross.

On 109 minutes, Dickson got his hat-trick, following up from the penalty spot to inflict a score-line on the Whites that did them no justice given their performance over the ninety. In any other year there would have been a replay but not this year (and perhaps now never), Linfield now march on to play Dungannon Swifts in the final on Saturday week..