Chris Morgan (left) had missed a glorious chance earlier in the game

Chris Morgan returned to haunt Linfield by notching the extra-time winner in Glentoran's 2-1 CIS Cup Final win over Blues on Tuesday night.

The outstanding Darren Lockhart headed the Glens ahead in the fourth minute after a Mark Glendinning cross.

Linfield pressed hard for an elusive goal and they were eventually rewarded by Mark Picking's 81st minute equaliser direct from a corner.

Morgan struck the winner in the 104th minute after great work by Lockhart.

Linfield started the match with veteran Noel Bailie a surprise inclusion after making a quicker than expected return after his recent injury.

However, the Linfield skipper and his fellow defenders were at fault in the fourth minute when the unmarked Lockhart headed the Glens ahead.

To their credit, Linfield responded almost immediately when Aidan O'Kane fired a shot against the Glentoran woodwork.

Michael Halliday missed a glorious chance to add to Glentoran's lead in the 20th minute after a superb Shaun Holmes cross.

Darren Lockhart celebrates his early goal

A mistake by Linfield goalkeeper Alan Mannus then gifted another chance to Halliday but Noel Bailie made a brilliant tackle to avert the danger.

Linfield's first serious chance fell to Davy Larmour 25th minute but he fired his shot straight at Elliott Morris after ghosting into the Glentoran area.

Glentoran had another escape when goalkeeper Morris almost punched into his own net but Andy Kilmartin managed to clear off the line.

At half-time, Linfield made a substitution with Stuart King replacing the ineffective Fitzroy Simpson.

Morgan should have extended Glentoran's lead in the 58th minute but he blasted over the bar from 15 yards.

At the other end, a bad clearance by Paul Leeman gave a half-chance to Larmour but a poor first touch enabled Lockhart to get in a saving tackle.

As the match entered the final quarter, Linfield began to look increasingly dangerous.

In the 80th minute, Morris made a brilliant save to keep out a Michael Gault header.

Linfield then won a controversial corner and Picking's delivery went straight into the net to level matters with nine minutes left although furious goalkeeper Morris claimed he had been impeded by Peter Thompson.

I didn't have a great game and missed a sitter but eventually the ball dropped for me Chris Morgan

The winner came late in the first period of extra-time with Glendinning's initial shot parried by Mannus after Lockhart's delightful backheel but Morgan stroked the rebound into the net.

Morgan was forced to leave the field at the start of the second period of extra-time because of a hamstring problem and the burly Pat McGibbon was introduced as a makeshift centre-forward.

A half-chance for Larmour was Linfield's only threat thereafter but Glentoran repelled the danger and held on comfortably to claim the first trophy of the Irish League season.

Morgan was delighted after scoring Glentoran's winner although he acknowledged that it hadn't been one of his better individual displays.

"I didn't have a great game and missed a sitter but eventually the ball dropped for me and I couldn't miss," said Morgan.

Manager Roy Coyle added: "I am proud of my players. We showed character and resilience as the conditions were not conducive to playing good football."

Glentoran: Morris, Nixon, Glendinning, Melaugh, Leeman, Holmes, Kilmartin, Keegan, Morgan, Halliday, Lockhart.