 Nathan McConnell scored Cliftonville's opening goal |
Goals from Nathan McConnell and Sean Friars helped the Reds to victory. Cliftonville had the better of the first half chances but it took 48 minutes for McConnell to break the deadlock with a right-foot volley.
Sean Friars scored the second with a brilliant curling right foot free-kick which floated over the wall and into the top right corner on 72 minutes.
Philip Matthews denied Conor Downey before Francis Murphy pulled one back with a cool finish in added time.
Early in the game, Gary Kennedy dragged a shot across the face of goal and saw his headed effort tipped over the bar by Matthews.
McConnell also went close and Mark Holland headed straight at the Whites goalkeeper.
Distillery's best chance fell to James Willis but his lob went over both Paul Stranney and the bar.
McConnell opened the scoring from six yards after good work by Sean Cleary and then Willis' header from a Conor Hagan cross failed to find the target.
Friars scored what proved to be the matchwinner before Murphy's late consolation.
MMIX
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