Larne defeated Crusaders 2-0 at Inver Park on Tuesday to progress to a County Antrim Shield final against Glentoran on 21 January.
The decider will afford Tiernan Lynch’s side an opportunity to win the competition for a fifth consecutive time against the club they saw off 2-1 in last season’s Shield final.
A Lewis Barr own goal and Mark Randall’s effort direct from a corner proved enough to ensure the hosts’ passage, while the visitors had Philip Lowry sent-off for kicking out at Conor McKendry.
Chances were at a premium early on, before Larne made the breakthrough on 18 minutes with their first meaningful attack.
Conor McKendry’s teasing cross was deflected past his own keeper by Barr, with Benji Magee turning away to lead the Larne celebrations.
The Crues responded well and Ross Clarke rattled the crossbar with a free-kick from 25 yards.
Larne extended their advantage in the most unlikely of circumstances when Randall’s corner kick drifted all the way over Ryan Kerr in the Crusaders goal and into the net on 33 minutes.
Randall then struck the bar himself with a free-kick in first half stoppage time as the hosts had the game firmly in their grasp.
The second half was also a slow starter but Crusaders went down to 10 just before the hour mark when captain Lowry was shown a straight red after kicking out at McKendry after a coming together at a midfield free-kick.
Larne didn’t take full advantage as they were not at the same pace in the second half but Kerr in the away goal produced some excellent saves to deny Matty Lusty on more than one occasion.
However, his best save came from a rasping McKendry drive as he cut in off the right and forced a save to tip on to the bar before Joe Thomson was denied from the rebound.
Glentoran beat Ballymena United 2-0 in the first semi-final on Tuesday.
