Tommy Kincaid brought on Johnny Topley at half time to replace the ineffective Scott Walker and, ten minutes into the half, he brought Glenavon level when he bundled Walsh's corner over the line. McVeigh then replaced McKnight who had taken a knock in the first half and, for the next ten minutes, Glenavon looked like they could threaten the City goal again. McVeigh gave the City defenders a different problem to deal with through his physical presence. In the 66th minute he held up the ball and released Hyndes down the left wing. His cross was just deflected behind McMahon in the box but McVeigh had got himself over to the centre and got in a shot that was blocked.

A minute later Glenavon's hopes were dashed when Reilly broke through onto a ball over the top and finished with an emphatic strike past the helpless McDonald. Minutes later Glenavon penalty claims were waved away as McVeigh went down under pressure from Murphy. Delaney then replaced Hyndes and within a minute of coming on fired a shot from 30 yards that Rice held easily. In the 78th minute the City defence got themselves in a mix-up but McVeigh was unable to profit as he was forced wide and his off-balance shot was dragged wide.

The game was killed off in the 86th minute when Hawthorne took on the Glenavon defence down the right wing, cut inside, drew the keeper and squared the ball to the unmarked Maguire who had been on the pitch only a couple of minutes. He seemed to take an age to make up his mind but he finally stroked the ball past McDonald as the keeper desperately tried to regain his position.