The Reds might have moved in front after just three minutes when Ciaran Donaghy went just wide with an acrobatic scissor kick.

For Glenavon Tony Grant came closest to breaking the deadlock in the opening moments when he found himself one-on-one with John Connolly only for the 'keeper to get the better of the exchange.

Then, on 28 minutes, Gary Liggett was denied by a goalline Chris Scannell clearance after a Hugh Dickson header fell at his feet.

However, Cliftonville went in at the break in front when, on 44 minutes, Francis Murphy beat teenage 'keeper Gareth Buchanan with a left-foot volley after Mark Holland and Chris Scannell combined to create the opening.

Murphy struck again ten minutes later with a header to double Cliftonville's lead after Chris Scannell flicked on an Aaron Smyth cross.

It was 3-0 on 83 minutes when Reds leading scorer Scannell was rewarded for his earlier endeavour following a moment of hesitation from Adrian Harper to curl the ball past Buchanan.

And Murphy capped a fine individual performance with his hat-trick goal a couple of minutes from time with an unstoppable strike to complete the rout.