Irish Premiership: Cliftonville 4-0 Institute

Joe Gormley scored a second-half hat-trick as Cliftonville eased to a 4-0 win over Institute which moves the them up to second in the Premiership table.

Jay Donnelly's sweet right foot strike put the champions into the lead after just four minutes.

David McDaid's superb through ball set up Gormley to score with a first-time strike on 54 minutes.

Gormley added another goals for his third hat-trick in six weeks and to take him to 24 goals for the season.

The win takes Cliftonville ahead of overnight leaders Portadown on goal difference and they are one point behind Linfield who went top by beating Ballinamallard 3-0.

Jay Donnelly's well-struck shot put Cliftonville in the driving seat but they failed to take chances to extend their advantage.

Gormley hit the crossbar while Institute goalkeeper Martin Gallagher made saves from David McDaid and Martin Donnelly.

Top scorer Gormley should have made it 2-0 but he hit the post with a first shot and then scuffed the rebound wide.

For Institute, Cormac Burke had a shot saved by home keeper Conor Devlin in the first half.

The second half belonged to star striker Gormley who has now netted 105 goals in 162 matches since joining Cliftonville from Amateur League club Crumlin Star in 2011.

The second goal was set up by McDaid, a similar strike followed on the hour and the third was poked in at the back post in the 67th minute

Cliftonville chairman Gerard Lawlor makes a presentation to skipper Gorge McMullan who was making his 500th appearance for the north Belfast club

Institute's Robbie Hume closes in on Tomas Cosgrove of Cliftonville