Glenavon started the better and Andy Hall hit the bar with a free kick in the 15th minute. The visitors continued to play the better football in the first half but just couldn’t get the goal their play deserved.

Peter Burke can only watch as Andy Hall’s free kick rebounds off his cross bar. Photo by Alan Weir.

Burke reacts quickly to prevent Kris Lindsay stabbing home the rebound. Photo by Alan Weir.

Tomas Cosgrove glanced a 26th minute corner from James Knowles across goal and past the far post for a goal kick and two minutes later it took a great tackle by Rhys Marshall to deny Jay Donnelly’s run onto Chris Curran’s through ball.

Unfortunately Kevin Braniff pulled up with a hamstring pull as he ran into the box to get onto a through ball and had to be replaced by Declan O’Brien after just 29 minutes.

Kevin Braniff pulled a hamstring and will likely be out for up to six weeks. Photo by Alan Weir.

In the final minute of the half Kris Lindsay headed just over from a Hall free kick.

Ten minutes into the second half the hosts went ahead when Chris Curran benefited after a clearance was blocked and the ball spun up and as he controlled it his touch took him clear of Kris Lindsay’s attempted last-ditch tackle and he smashed a shot past Jonny Tuffey. That was very hard on Glenavon after they had dominated the first half.

Andy Kilmartin gets the ball away under pressure from Chris Curran and James Knowles. Photo by Alan Weir.

Fabio equalised with a tap in after great work by subsitute Joel Cooper who raced down the left wing onto Hall’s pass, left Jonny Flynn for dead and sent over a low cross leaving the striker an easy finish.

Fabio O’Brien celebrates with Joel Cooper after scoring the equaliser. Photo by Alan Weir.

The Lurgan Blues had a 72nd minute ‘goal’ disallowed for offside after Lindsay headed back Kyle Neill’s cross to the back post and Mark Sykes fired the ball into the net.

Glenavon had a great chance to win it in the last minute of stoppage time when Cooper’s shot was parried by Peter Burke and the ball fell to O’Brien about 8 yards out but he sliced his shot well wide.

Teams

Cliftonville: Burke, Ives, Flynn, Smyth (McGovern 87), Cosgrove, Curran, Knowles, Garrett (George 81), Donnelly, McDaid (C Murray 73), Catney (c). Subs: McMullan, McGovern, C. Murray, M Murray, George

Cautions: Smyth 31, Cosgrove 52, C Murray 90+4

Glenavon: Tuffey, Marshall, Lindsay(c), Kelly, Neill, Hall, Kilmartin, Sykes, Patton (Cooper 65), Braniff (O’Brien 29), Kearns (McGrory 87). Subs: McKeown, Cooper, McGrory, Buckley, O’Brien.

Cautions: Neill 40, Marshall 68, Hall 74

Referee: Raymond Hetherington