Irish Cup: Crues and Swifts progress to quarter-finals
Last updated on .From the section Football
Crusaders eased to a 2-0 win over Bangor while Dungannon Swifts need penalties to see off Ballyclare Comrades in the Irish Cup sixth round.
Diarmuid O'Carroll put Crusaders ahead from a penalty and Stephen O'Flynn added a second before Crues captain Colin Coates was sent-off.
Conor Mullan was the Swifts hero with the winning penalty in a 5-4 shoot-out success at Dixon Park.
Dungannon's Ryan Harpur missed a penalty as the game ended scoreless.
Harpur hit the bar with his penalty four minutes from the end of normal time.
Andrew Simpson struck a post for the Comrades after two minutes while Dungannon striker Gary Liggett was also denied by the woodwork.
Sam McIlveen saw his free-kick saved by Swifts keeper Alvin Rouse and Mullan also went close from a set-piece.
Crusaders had a more comfortable progression into the quarter-finals after knocking out a Bangor side which had beaten them twice in cup competitions this season.
O'Carroll slotted home from the spot on 17 minutes after a foul on the impressive Paul Heatley.
Richard Gibson squandered a good chance to equalise when he failed to guide his lob over a stranded Sean O'Neill.
O'Flynn rifled into the Seasiders net from eight yards to double the advantage for the north Belfast side after 63 minutes.
Coates was shown a straight red-card five minutes later, for a challenge on Ethan Boyle, but the Crues had few scares for the remainder of the game.
Crusaders will entertain Carrick Rangers in the last-eight while Dungannon's reward is a visit to Glentoran.
