Holders Cliftonville beat Ards to reach Irish Cup final

Gormley opened the scoring for Cliftonville

Holders Cliftonville moved a step closer to retaining the Irish Cup as they eased past Championship side Ards 3-0 in the semi-finals at Windsor Park.

Joe Gormley fired the Reds ahead on 29 minutes with a composed finish before substitute Alex Parsons added a second with a close-range header and Ryan Corrigan scored a late third.

After winning the competition for the first time in 45 years last season, the Reds now have another final to look forward to on Saturday, 3 May.

Jim Magilton's side will discover their opponents on Saturday as Bangor face Dungannon Swifts in the other last-four tie.

Gormley fires Cliftonville ahead

The first real chance of the game arrived on 12 minutes as Rory Hale clipped the ball into Ryan Curran, who attempted to dink the ball over Alex Moore, but the goalkeeper spread himself to save.

A similar ball over the top presented Cliftonville with another opportunity as Harry Wilson picked out Shea Gordon, but Moore was quick off his line to clear before Gordon could get a shot off.

Ards went close on 21 minutes as Conor Maxwell fed Aidan Steele in the box and he side stepped Jonny Addis before his rising strike was blocked by Luke Conlan.

Cliftonville continued to control the tempo of the game and Gormley broke the deadlock just before the half-hour mark.

He ruthlessly smashed the ball past Moore on the half-volley after Hale had slipped the ball into his path to give the Reds a deserved half-time lead.

Reds make second-half dominance count

Parsons doubled Cliftonville's lead after a well-worked move

Cliftonville continued to dominate possession but were guilty of spurning a number gilt-edged chances to extend their advantage in the second half.

Addis played in Curran, but his low poked effort was smothered by Moore. Kearney kept the move alive, working the ball to Gormley, who snatched at his shot.

Kearney then drilled in a dangerous low cross to substitute Arran Pettifer, but unmarked at the back post, he skewed his close-range finish wide.

Gormley did likewise soon after, swivelling and firing off target after connecting with Curran's delivery.

The Reds were thankful for their goalkeeper Lewis Ridd, who did well to tip Darius Roohi's looping deflected effort over the crossbar at the other end.

Parsons eventually doubled their advantage on 73 minutes, meeting a fine cross from Hale and planting a downward header beyond Moore.

As Ards pushed to get back in the game, Cliftonville continued to threaten on the counter-attack with Pettifer hitting the post after cutting in on his left foot.

Substitute Corrigan then sealed the win by netting the third five minutes from time.

The young forward had a simple finish, tapping into an empty net after Gormley took advantage of a mistake from Moore and unselfishly squared the ball to Corrigan.