Ronan Scannell put Cliftonville ahead just before the interval

Stephen Hynds blasted Armagh into a surprise lead with a superb 25-yard free-kick on six minutes.

Armagh should have had a penalty after a Barry Johnston handball and they were even more frustrated when Davy McAlinden levelled from a free-kick.

Ronan Scannell hit Cliftonville's winner a minute before the interval.

Cliftonville were on top in the second half and Armagh goalkeeper Stuart Addis made good saves to deny Kieran O'Connor and Francis Murphy while Chris Scannell and John Martin also squandered chances.

However, the key moment of the match was the first half incident when Johnston somehow escaped giving away a penalty when he clearly handled the ball after he had slipped in his own penalty area.

After Hynds had blasted Armagh ahead from a long-range free-kick, McAlinden's goal also came from a dead ball situation with the Cliftonville defender's drive flying pass Addis.

Scannell produced a neat finish for his clinching goal.