Linfield boss David Healy said the playing surface at Windsor Park was "borderline unplayable at times" in his side's BetMcLean Cup semi-final win over Ballymena United.

Isaac Baird scored the only goal of the game in the first half to help the Blues reach the decider on Sunday, 15 March, where they will face either Glentoran or Coleraine as they look to win the competition for a record 13th time.

The game at Windsor Park was initially set to take place on Tuesday but was postponed by 24 hours due to storm Chandra and Healy was critical of the state of the pitch.

"The pitch is tough, it is borderline unplayable at times and that's no disrespect to Matt, the groundsman who has been left on his own with no afterthought given, so that's disappointing," he told BBC Sport NI.

"I'm disappointed for Matt because it's not his fault, he needs a little bit of help and my question would be if there are international games in and around this period there's no way the pitch would be the standard it is at the minute.

"Gary Haveron was heavily critical of it as was Oran [Kearney] and Lee Feeney in recent weeks and that's frustrating because everyone is talking about improving everything, the infrastructure and pitches and if we can't as the national football stadium no one else can."

Despite his frustrations with the pitch, Healy was pleased with his side's professional display as they kept a clean sheet on their way to the final.

"I thought we were deserved winners. We should have created better opportunities in the game. I thought in some moments our play was good and we linked the ball well.

"Straight away the overriding emotion is really pleased to be in a cup final and I thought the performance levels and clean sheet were good."