Ballymena faced a tougher opponent in this quarter-final tie at the Showgrounds, than in the last round - where the Braidmen disposed of Orangefield OB with consumate ease.

However, it took only 11 minutes for the home side to open the scoring.

Aidan Watson's fierce volley from outside the box was handled in the penalty area by Celtic midfielder Stephen McAlorum and referee Alan Black didn't hesitate as he pointed to the penalty spot.

Davitt Walsh, on loan from Bohemians, stepped up to tuck the ball away for his fifth goal in only three games for his new side.

Ex-United favourite Ciaran Donaghy came closest for the visitors when he headed Andrew Bonner's free-kick over the bar from close range.

Chances were few and far between, but Ballymena dominated possession in the first half and were good for their lead going into the break.

Paddy Kelly's Donegal Celtic side came out all guns blazing in the second half and came within a whisker of equalising when Sean Armstrong rattled the crossbar in the 58th minute.

However, it was Mark Picking who sealed victory with 20 minutes remaining, as he latched onto a sublime pass from Walsh, and weaved his way into the penalty area before unleashing a fantastic shot past the helpless Declan Brown.

In the closing minutes Stephen McAlorum was fortunate to stay on the field after a dangerous tackle on goalkeeper Paul Murphy, he was one of four Donegal Celtic players cautioned on the night.

A place in the semi-final assured the Warden Street Sky Blues can look forward to facing one of Linfield/Cliftonville, Glentoran or Crusaders in the semi-final, next month.

Teams:

BALLYMENA UNITED	DONEGAL CELTIC
1: MURPHY, Paul	1: BROWN, Declan
2: KELLY, Simon	2: BONNAR, Andrew
3: McCLEAN, Craig	3: DONAGHY, Ciaran
4: SCATES, Garth	4: CARDWELL, Noel
5: WATSON, Albert (c)	5: HEAGNEY, Tony
6: HAVERON, Gary	6: McALORUM, Stephen
7: PICKING, Mark	7: MUNSTER, David
8: WATSON, Aidan	8: LAVERY, James
9: BROWN, Paul	9: ARMSTRONG, Sean
10: WALSH, Davitt	10: McDONALD, Paul
11: LOWRY, Stephen	11: McVEIGH, Paul
Substitutes	-
12: REID, Randal	12: CRAWFORD, Anto
Replaced Davitt Walsh (80 mins)	Replaced Tony Heagney (65 mins)
13: O'NEILL, Sean	14: GARGIN, Ciaran
Not Used	Replaced Paul McDonald (65 mins)
14: PATRICK, Lee	15: McCOURTY, Conor
Replaced Garth Scates (84 mins)	Replaced James Lavery (75 mins)
15: FLYNN, Johnny	16: HARBINSON, Mal
Not Used	Not Used
16: McNEILL, Paul
Replaced Mark Picking (89 mins)
Yellow Cards:	-
None	McDONALD, Paul (33 mins)
-	MUNSTER, David (38 mins)
-	ARMSTRONG, Sean (63 mins)
-	McALORUM, Stephen (87 mins)
Red Cards:	-
None	None