Mark Picking's goal brought Linfield level against Cliftonville

Cliftonville had led at half-time though a fine John McElroy header.

But the Blues battled back to level through Mark Picking and scored further goals with a Glenn Ferguson penalty and a late effort from Aidan O'Kane.

However it was not enough for David Jeffrey's men as Glentoran's win at Crusaders saw the title go to the Oval.

McElroy's opener stunned the home side as it came from Cliftonville's first real attack. The central defender rose unchallenged to direct the ball past Alan Mannus from a Sean Friars corner.

Linfield went close to levelling when Peter Thompson's header went just over and again when Paul McAreavey blasted wide from an tight angle.

But the equaliser did come two minutes into the second half when Picking's low shot beat Paul Straney at his near post.

The Blues went ahead when Keith Mulvenna was penalised for hands and Ferguson fired in the 70th-minute spot-kick.

O'Kane got a third near the end but the atmosphere was flat at the end as Linfield fans knew the title was on its way to their cross-city rivals Glentoran.