Chris Scannell (left) tries to burst away from Michael Ward

Cliftonville's Declan O'Hara was sent off for a tackle on David Scullion on 26 minutes and Gary Hamilton put the Glens ahead eight minutes later.

Eddie Patterson, back in the dugout after a ban, was ordered off before half-time and he had an object thrown in his direction as he walked off.

Francis Murphy's penalty levelled in first-half injury time but Colin Nixon hit the winner on 66 minutes.

George McMullan went close for Cliftonville in the fourth minute with a dipping shot which clipped the crossbar.

However, the Reds suffered a bad blow with O'Hara's 26th-minute dismissal with referee Brian Turkington punishing the player's two-footed challenge on Scullion.

Things went from bad to worse for the holders eight minutes later when John Martin was caught in possession with Hamilton taking the ball around John Connolly and producing an accomplished finish from a tight angle.

Patterson had been infuriated by a number of Turkington's decisions and the Reds manager made one complaint too many in the 40th minute which resulted in him being banished to the stands - in his second game after a 14-match ban from the dugout.

A baseball was thrown at Patterson from the enclosure holding Glentoran fans as he made his way off the pitch and the Irish FA will almost certainly investigate the incident.

Patterson saw his side level matters before the break with Chris Scannell earning the penalty after being taken down by Elliott Morris and Murphy stroking the spot-kick past the Glens goalkeeper.

Glentoran's winner came 21 minutes into the second half with Nixon scrambling the ball home at the back post after a Kyle Neill free-kick.

Hamilton and Darryl Fordyce wasted further chances for the Glens while Connolly made a couple of smart saves to deny Hamilton in the closing stages.

The winner of Wednesday's semi-final between Ballymena United and Crusaders will meet the Glens in the final on 30 October.