Sun total

Cliftonville 3-0 Moyola Park

Cliftonville continued their pre-season preparations with a win over Premier Intermediate League Champions Moyola Park at a sun-splashed Solitude this evening.

Ahead at half-time through Brian Healy’s classy finish, the Reds extended their advantage courtesy of Joe Sheridan early in the second period before Joe Gormley rounded things off late on.

As well as handing a first appearance to summer signing Dan O’Connor, Cliftonville boss Jim Magilton named two trialists in his side for the team’s first home outing of their friendly schedule.

After hitting the post on 15 minutes, Healy made no mistake with the effort that produced the 27th minute breakthrough; seizing on a defence-splitting pass from Ben Quinn and dinking the ball over the advancing goalkeeper.

Joel Thompson should have made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time only to head wide from another Quinn delivery while, five minutes into the second-half, Trialist 2 went close with a curling attempt that whistled just off target.

The Reds doubled their lead soon afterwards, though, when a clever pass from Healy put Sheridan through on goal and he confidently slotted home.

Cillian Murray almost converted Paudie O’Kane’s cross before playing a vital role in Cliftonville’s third goal two minutes from time when his effort from range was turned on to the woodwork by Moyola’s goalkeeper and the ball fell invitingly for Gormley to tap over the line.

Cliftonville: Morrison, Wightman, Thompson, O’Connor, McClelland, Trialist 1, Fapetu, Sheridan, Trialist 2, Quinn, Healy. Subs: Ridd, Kelly (O’Connor, 59 mins), Stanfield (Wightman, 46 mins), Cassidy (Thompson, 45 mins), Wilson (McClelland, 59 mins), Connolly (Quinn, 59 mins), Gormley (Healy, 59 mins), Murray (Fapetu, 69 mins), Campbell (Trialist 1, 59 mins), O’Kane (Trialist 2, 59 mins).