It wasn't for the want of trying, though, with Glentoran hitting the woodwork and missing a penalty while Newry were denied on numerous occasions.

Dean Fitzgerald might have opened the scoring for the Glens early in proceedings only for his low, hard effort to strike an upright with Paul Murphy beaten.

David Scullion also came close but Murphy was on hand to tip his header over the bar.

Then, on 42 minutes, Gary Hamilton wasted an opportunity to break the deadlock when his penalty was well saved by Murphy.

Andrew Waterworth won the spot-kick after he had been tripped by Emmett Friars on the edge of the six yard box.

After the break City threatened when Ross Black crossed for Emmett Friars but he was unable to convert while Chris Morgan held off the attentions of two defenders to force Elliott Morris into a fine save.

Waterworth then came within a whisker of breaking the deadlock only for Murphy to save at point blank range.

And later in the half Richard Clarke and Lee Feeney both crafted ultimately fruitless scoring opportunities while Michael Halliday was kept out only by Murphy's fingertips four minutes from time.