Semi serious

Cliftonville 2-1 Coleraine

Jamie McDonagh swept in an eye-catching winner as Cliftonville hit from behind to defeat Coleraine and book a Samuel Gelston’s Whiskey Irish Cup semi-final spot.

Trailing to a well-taken Lyndon Kane strike at the break, the Reds turned the tie on its head after the interval when substitute Joe Gormley levelled from a McDonagh cross before the winger curled in a beauty from distance to complete the comeback.

The first chance of the night saw Rory Hale lift a shot over the top before an acrobatic Ryan Curran effort drifted harmlessly wide.

Kris Lowe was next to try his luck only for Gareth Deane to gather at the second attempt, while Stephen O’Donnell got himself in the road of a goalbound blast from Levi Ives.

Despite Cliftonville doing all the early running, it was Coleraine who took the lead when Kane exchanged passes with Patrick Kelly and confidently dispatched a shot into the far corner.

The Reds appeared somewhat rattled by falling behind and struggled to reassert their early authority on proceedings, almost going 2-0 down when Rodney Brown tried his luck from distance only to see his audacious lob clear the crossbar.

Boss Paddy McLaughlin sprung Gormley from the bench on 54 minutes and, with his first touch, the striker drew Cliftonville level when he met a wonderful McDonagh cross at the back post.

Coleraine came close to going back in front soon later when James McLaughlin saw a header blocked by Kris Lowe, with the same player also drawing a routine save out of Luke McNicholas.

There was, however, nothing straightforward about the goal that would put the Reds in front and ultimately settle the tie.

A careless touch by Jamie Glackin resulted in Ronan Doherty slipping possession to McDonagh, who let fly with an unstoppable effort that swirled past a static Deane.

The late stages of the contest saw Cliftonville forced into some resolute defending, but Matthew Shevlin and Conor McKendry sent strikes of target while, with arguably the Bannsiders’ most promising opening, Eoin Bradley misjudged a throughball, allowing McNicholas to gather.

Cliftonville: McNicholas, Ives, Hale (Gormley, 54 mins), R Curran, McDonagh, Lowe, Addis, Doherty, Turner, C Gallagher (Coates, 78 mins), Kearns (C Curran, 69 mins). Unused subs: McKenna, McDermott, O’Neill, Donnelly.