Deja view

Glenavon 0-2 Cliftonville

For the second time in as many visits to Mourneview Park, goals in either half earned Cliftonville a 2-0 Danske Bank Premiership victory over Glenavon.

Paul O’Neill set the Reds on course when he reacted quickest to hook a throw-in beyond goalkeeper James Taylor, while fellow League Cup Final scorer Joe Gormley put the seal on things with a header from a Jamie McDonagh cross shortly after the interval.

In a game largely ruined by an unpredictable swirling wind, the first real opening almost fell Chris Curran’s way but Taylor was quick to smother the ball at the skipper’s feet ahead of the hosts going close to making the breakthrough when Peter Campbell saw an attempt come back off the underside of the crossbar.

That would prove telling because, just minutes later, Cliftonville were in front.

There seemed little danger when Levi Ives’ throw made it into the box but O’Neill raced onto the ball and touched it goalward, with Taylor failing to grasp possession as it crept through his legs.

The same combination almost made it 2-0 on 38 minutes but, after Glenavon defender Calum Birney had inadvertently flicked Ives’ throw into his path, O’Neill was unable to steer his shot on target.

The first-half ended with Gormley twice trying his luck from range but it was third time lucky for the striker after the interval when he rose unchallenged to nod McDonagh’s delivery into an unguarded net.

A good challenge by Danny Wallace stopped McDonagh getting a shot away inside the box ahead of Gormley and Ryan Curran being unable to make the most of openings down the left channel.

Late in the game, Birney and Fitzpatrick squandered opportunities to set up an interesting finale as the Reds comfortably held on for three points.

Cliftonville: McNicholas, Ives, C Curran, R Curran, O’Neill, McDonagh (McDermott, 90 mins), Lowe (Coates, 46 mins), Addis, Gormley (Doherty, 86 mins), Turner, C Gallagher. Unused subs: McKenna, Harney, Donnelly, Kearns.