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Marc McKenna's goal put Queen's into a 1-0 first-half lead

Irish Premiership champions Linfield have been beaten 2-1 by Queen's University in one of the biggest ever upsets in Irish Cup history.

The Championship side were 1-0 up at half-time through Marc McKenna but Linfield, cup winners a record 43 times, equalised through Shayne Lavery.

Queen's regained the lead in the fifth-round tie through a 76th-minute Jonah Mitchell penalty after a hand ball.

Linfield, managed by David Healy, last won the cup in 2017.

This was no fluke result with the students running out deserved winners after a brilliant display at the Dub.

The hosts created the better first-half chances with Matthew Hughes twice going close before McKenna rifled into the bottom corner after 39 minutes.

Linfield winger Kirk MIllar takes a tumble in the thrilling fifth round game at the Dub

A sluggish Linfield side almost levelled when captain Jamie Mulgrew hit the crossbar and David Healy's side came out firing in the second half.

Linfield were denied by the woodwork again with defender Mark Stafford seeing his header crash off the bar.

The equaliser came on the hour mark as substitute Shane Lavery connected with an inswinging corner to head in at the near-post.

The visitors were now favourites to go on and take the victory but Queen's defended resolutely before scoring the winner.

Stafford's handball gave Mitchell the spot-kick chance and he sent Rohan Ferguson the wrong way to make it 2-1.

Jimmy Callacher netted as Linfield pressed for an equaliser but it was ruled out for offside and Matthew Shevlin headed wide from close range in the dying seconds before Queen's celebrated a famous victory.

What they said:

Queen's manager Peter Thompson: "I got the boys in a huddle at the final whistle and said 'Gentlemen, you thoroughly deserved that'.

"To me that wasn't a game that was nicked or shaded - we won that through our own play and were rewarded for our aggression, our pressing from the front and our ability to say 'Let's have a go at Linfield!

Queen's players start their celebrations as Marc McKenna's shot hits the Linfield net

"We've worked hard for seven years to get this club senior status and that's why we brought Linfield to the Dub. The result has vindicated that."

Queen's scorer Marc McKenna: "It was unbelievable - the ball just fell to me, the space opened up, I just hit it and luckily it went in.

"Obviously Linfield are the biggest club in the country and they were playing in Europe at the start of the season.

"We know how good we can be and we worked during the week on how we could counter-attack, where we could hurt Linfield and exploit the space that they would leave for us."