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Con do approach

Institute 0-3 Cliftonville

Two Conor McMenamin goals set Cliftonville on course for victory over Institute in this afternoon’s Danske Bank Premiership clash at Brandywell Stadium.

He struck at the start of both halves before Joe Gormley’s cool lob wrapped things up.

Amid a bright start in Derry, some quick-thinking from Ronan Doherty and Gormley teed Ruaidhri Donnelly up for an early opportunity but, from a narrow angle, he steered his low strike wide of the far post.

It wasn’t long before the deadlock was broken, however, when Doherty’s short corner saw him exchange passes with Ryan Curran before picking out McMenamin at the edge of the box. Though his initial strike was charged down, the ball fell for Donnelly, who had the presence of mind to present McMenamin with a second shot at goal – and this time he made no mistake.

The Reds continued to dominate possession without adding to their tally during the first-half, but any fears of complacency setting in were dispelled shortly after the turnaround when McMenamin’s inch-perfect free-kick doubled the visitors’ advantage.

Donnelly then drew a good save out of Rory Brown, who was also on hand to deny McMenamin a hat-trick on more than one occasion.

He was left helpless on 73 minutes, though, when Conor McDermott’s ball over the top was seized upon by Gormley, who coolly lifted it over the advancing keeper to put the seal on a fine afternoon’s work for Cliftonville.

Cliftonville: Brush, McDermott, Harney, C Curran, Breen, R Curran, R Donnelly, Doherty, Gormley, McMenamin, A Donnelly. Subs: Dunne, McKee (R Curran, 83 mins), Foster, Wilson, Bagnall, Maguire (Gormley, 87 mins), Gorman (Harney, 77 mins).