Gary Kennedy scored twice as Cliftonville went through

Kennedy made the breakthrough for the Reds five minutes before half-time after Vincent Sweeney had set him up.

The Ports got level midway through the second half when Wesley Boyle's shot beat John Connolly at his near post.

A mistake by keeper Kevin Pressman saw Kennedy make it 2-1 and Ports manager Ronnie McFall was sent-off before sub Daniel Lyons got a late third goal.

There were several bottle-throwing incidents reported to referee Mark Courtney and match stewards.

Afterwards Cliftonville manager Eddie Patterson was full of priase for his team.

"I am absolutely delighted for the players because they have worked their socks off since the very start of the season," said the Solitude supremo.

"They have still got that hunger even though they have already been in two finals and are second in the league.

"We kept digging in and created the chances."