Click the picture for Kevin Braniff’s video interview with the Lurgan Mail.
Just the one change for Glenavon, David Elebert in for Kris Lindsay who is on the bench.
Glenavon: McGrath, Kelly, Kilmartin, Bradley, Patton, McGrory, Marshall, Braniff, Martyn, Elebert, Singleton subs Neill (not used), Lindsay (replaced Kelly 73), Hamilton (replaced Singleton 73), Caldwell (replaced Elebert 77), O’Brien (not used)
Cautions: Singleton, Elebert, KIlmartin
Cliftonville: Cherrie, McDaid, M. Donnelly, Knowles, Seydak, Smyth, Catney, Winchester, Gormley, Cosgrove, Bonner subs McGovern (not used), Scannell (not used), McMullan (replaced Winchester 80), J. Donnelly (replaced Knowles 62), McMurray (replaced McDaid 62)
Cautions: Winchester
Referee: Ian McNabb
| Glenavon | 5 |
1 4 |
1st half 2nd half |
0 0 |
0 | Cliftonville |
| Shots | 17 | : | 11 | Shots |
| Shots on goal | 8 | : | 5 | Shots on goal |
| Corners | 5 | : | 5 | Corners |
| Free kicks | 4 | : | 24 | Free kicks |
| Offsides | 9 | : | 5 | Offsides |
| Penalties | 0 | : | 0 | Penalties |
| Yellow cards | 3 | : | 1 | Yellow cards |
| Red cards | 0 | : | 0 | Red cards |
| Possession | 41% | : | 59% | Possession |
Kevin Braniff headed the Lurgan Blues in front with a powerful 12th minute header from a pin-point cross from the right by Rhys Marshall.
Three minutes before the break Marty Donnelly played a great long ball down the right for the run of Joe Gormley and when the prolific striker cut inside onto his left foot and a goal looked certain but James McGrath made a great save to ensure Glenavon maintained the 1-0 lead at half time.
Braniff made it 2-0 five minutes into the second half with a great run into the box wrong-footing Marc Smyth and planting a right foot shot into the bottom corner that gave Cherrie no chance. This came after Marshall had won back the ball with a great tackle on James Knowles in the Cliftonville final third, the ball breaking kindly for Braniff who powered past the Cliftonville centre half into the box before unleashing an unstoppable low drive.
Photo by Alan Weir.
In the 63rd minute it was 3-0 to the home side when Eoin Bradley powered past the defender into the Reds box and tucked a right foot shot under Cherrie’s body, the ball slowly trickling over the line.
Photo by Alan Weir.
Moments after Ciaran Martyn was denied by a last ditch tackle after a great run and cut back from Bradley, David Elebert slotted home his first goal for Glenavon when he pounced on a loose ball from the resulting corner.
Photo by Alan Weir.
Mark Patton tucked away a fully-deserved 5th goal three minutes from time after good work by Ciaran Caldwell and a low cross from Andy McGrory and although Martyn’s shot was smothered the ball broke to the winger and he slotted it home from 6 yards.
Photo by Alan Weir.
