Glentoran's Andy Smith scored with a superb lob

Ballymena 0-3 Glentoran

Glentoran retained the County Antrim Shield with a comfortable win over First Division Ballymena United at the Oval.

Ballymena put up determined resistance in the first half but fell behind to a Darren Armour goal four minutes before the break.

Then goals in the second half from Andy Smith and Scott Young sealed Glentoran's fifth Shield triumph in six seasons.

Glentoran always had the edge, but in the early stages Kenny Shiels' underdogs closed the Premier League leaders down well.

Man-of-the-mach Darren Lockhart forced an early save from Robert Robinson who also blocked a close-range header from Colin Nixon.

But there was nothing the United keeper could do to keep out Armour's close-range header from Nixon's right-wing cross on 41 minutes.

'Good football'

Smith got number two with a well-judged lob 12 minutes into the second half after Chris Walker had played the ball through.

Then Young bundled in the third on 67 minutes with a far post header from Lockhart's chip.

"Ballymena made it difficult for us in the first half," said goalscorer Smith, now on 30 for the season.

"But in the second half we played some good football.

"Now it is on to the Irish Cup this Saturday - that it one I really want to win.

"However, we always find it difficult against Ards."

Ballymena boss Shiels said he could draw some satisfaction from the performance.

"I felt we matched Glentoran in some departments and our supporters showed we are a Premier League club.

"But the better team won - there is no doubt about that."

Ballymena United: Robinson, Carlisle, Boyd, McMullan, G Kearney, Byrne (capt), O'Loughlin, O Kearney, Campbell, McLernon, Evans.

Glentoran: Morris, Nixon, Leeman, Walker, Smyth, Young, Lockhart, O'Neill, Smith, Armour, Timothy McCann.