Aidan O'Kane fires in Linfield's late winner at Windsor Park

Cork will wonder how they failed to qualify for the decider against Drogheda after dominating the contest.

Denis Behan and John O'Flynn missed glorious chances before the break while Colin O'Brien also hit the crossbar and Alan Mannus also denied Behan.

Cork were punished five minutes from time when O'Kane pounced to score after a Joe Gamble mistake.

The Blues had the majority of their big names back for the Windsor Park contest with Noel Bailie returning for his 900 appearance for the club and Glenn Ferguson partnering Thomas Stewart up front.

Linfield's best chance of the first half fell to the hard-working Paul McAreavey on 12 minutes but his weak shot was easily stopped by Cork goalkeeper Michael Devine.

The remainder of the first period was a tale of missed Cork chances with Admir Softic hitting over the crossbar on 17 minutes and O'Flynn and Behan then squandering great opportunities.

Dan Murray's fine pass sent O'Flynn through on goal in the 23rd minute but the Cork player sliced the shot wide.

Thirteen minutes later, Behan should have pulled the trigger from 10 yards but he attempted to take a first touch and Jim Ervin got back to produce a splendid tackle.

Noel Bailie was making his 900th appearance for Linfield

Linfield, helped by the introduction of Michael Gault for Stewart, did improve after the break but Cork were still the better side.

Behan tested Mannus with a long-range effort on 49 minutes and the Linfield keeper then did well to gather another snapshot from the Cork striker.

At the other end, McAreavey had a half-chance after a Gault nod-on but the Blues midfielder fired over the bar.

The Blues had lost William Murphy because of a neck injury by this stage and they had a real escape on 69 minutes when Colin O'Brien fired against the woodwork after Mannus had flapped at a cross.

Two minutes later, Behan outpaced the Blues defence but Mannus did superbly to turn his shot out for a corner.

McAreavey's quick free-kick almost set up Linfield's Mark Dickson in the 77th minute only for Devine to smother the effort.

Extra-time was looming but in the 85th minute Devine flapped at a Linfield cross and when Gamble failed to clear, O'Kane reacted to stab the ball home from a tight angle.

Shellshocked Cork pressed for an equaliser in the remaining eight minutes of action but while the Blues endured a few nervous moments they held on for an unlikely win to set up a decider against Drogheda at Windsor on 12 May (1700 BST).