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Champions Cliftonville celebrated the return of the Gibson Cup to Solitude by edging out a determined Ballinamallard United outfit.

With the Reds due to receive the Premiership trophy after the game, goals from Diarmuid O'Carroll and Ciaran Caldwell put them 2-0 up.

But the Mallards looked dangerous throughout and missed several chances before Ryan Campbell's reply on 58.

Chris Scannell made a return to action for the Reds in the closing stages.

O'Carroll notched Cliftonville's opener on 24 minutes as he ran on to a long ball before lobbing over Alvin Rouse.

The Reds doubled their lead within a minute with Caldwell rounding Rouse before stabbing into the empty net after a mix-up in the Mallards defence.

Ballinmallard wasted several chances to open their account as the Cliftonville energy levels dropped.

Campbell finally hit the net in the 58th minute after slack Cliftonville defending and in truth the Fermanagh club should have at least got on terms during the remainder of the contest.

In the closing stages, Chris Scannell was given his first action since sustaining a serious Achilles injury last August.

The champagne flowed after the final whistle as the Gibson Cup was handed to Scannell and George McMullan.