Moyola, celebrating the 125th year of continuous occupation of the picturesque grounds on the Moyola Estate, made a lively start. Glenavon also made progress down the flanks but every cross seemed to be too close to former Portadown keeper, Davy Wells. His handling was exemplary and this seemed to give confidence to his defenders.

The first real attempt at goal came in the 15th minute when Chris Larkin turned well at the corner of the Glenavon box and let fly with a shot that flashed over the bar. The next effort, ten minutes later, from former Cliftonville winger, Anthony Lagan, was on target but well saved by Glenavon's 17 year old keeper, Simon Steele. The Under-18's keeper, standing in for the suspended Andy McDonald, had no chance with Larkin's shot two minutes later as he lashed in Gary Quinn's cross to give him his 121st goal for the County Derry outfit.

Glenavon pulled level five minutes later when Gareth Walsh cut across the edge of the box and was brought down by McAlea, the referee who was very close to the incident, deciding that the foul was inside the box. Damien O'Kane was cautioned for disputing the decision before Johnny Topley confidently drove the spot kick past Wells.

Early in the second half the Glenavon fans welcomed their hero Gerard McMahon on to the pitch to replace Gareth Walsh who had picked up a knee injury in a couple of heavy tackles in the first half. McMahon came close to giving Glenavon the lead when Topley's excellent cross-field ball picked him out and his first-time shot across Wells went narrowly wide of the post.

Gerard McMahon is just happy to be playing football again

With Glenavon dominating the early part of the second half, Clifford had the opportunity to pick out Batey in the middle of the goals but put his cross over the bar. In the 57th minute Aidan O'Kane put in a dangerous free kick that Glenavon failed to clear but when the ball fell to Larkin he wasted the opening by blasting the ball over the bar. Another excellent O'Kane free kick 12 minutes later was met by Duffy's head and flashed back across goal and out of play.

McMahon then went close with a curling shot that was a couple of yards wide after Wright had made a surging run up the left wing and cut across the front of the Moyola box. Two minutes from time Glenavon messed up a free kick in the home side's half and allowed them to break quickly up field. Wright managed to get back to slow down their progress and when Duffy eventually released the ball Larkin was caught offside.

In stoppage time McAlinden went close when he got his head onto Batey's flick on from Wright's long throw but it was safely gathered by Wells. Just before the final whistle Damien O'Kane's spectacular volley flew wide from the final corner of the game.