Peter Thompson wins the ball ahead of Glentoran's Colin Nixon

Paul McAreavey headed in after five minutes with William Murphy nodding the second on 28 and Glenn Ferguson netting the third just before the interval.

Tim Mouncey's free-kick made it 4-0 in the second half for Linfield who will play Shelbourne in Saturday's decider.

Glentoran pulled goals back through Darren Lockhart's 61st minute shot and another from Shaun Holmes (71 mins).

The Blues looked the more threatening from the start and McAreavey put them into the lead from close-range after Ferguson's initial header had been blocked on the line by defender Kevin Keegan.

Jeffrey jubilant: match reaction

Murphy then beat Elliott Morris with a firm header after Aidan O'Kane had sent a free-kick in the danger area.

Ferguson snapped up a typical predator's goal on 42 minutes after Sean Ward's block on Peter Thompson fell invitingly in front of goal.

Linfield had two efforts hit the bar early in the second half before Mouncey's 54th minute free beat the wall and Morris to make it four.

Chris Morgan played Lockhart through to fire a low shot past Alan Mannus to pull one back on 61 minutes.

Then a good strike from Holmes made it 4-2.

Glentoran: Morris, Ward, Nixon, Leeman, Glendinning, Keegan (sub McCallion HT), Lockhart, Melaugh (sub Kilmartin 78), Holmes, Halliday (sub McLaughlin HT), Morgan.

Linfield: Mannus, Douglas, W Murphy, Bailie, D Murphy, Mouncey, Gault (sub Picking 56), McAreavey, O'Kane, Ferguson, Thompson (sub Campbell 86).

Referee: Ian Stokes (Dublin)