BLUES CLINCH EURO SPOT
Linfield hit two goals past Cliftonville at Solitude to finish second in the Danske Bank Premiership and secure European football next season.
The Blues needed just nine minutes to move in front when, from a Kirk Millar corner, Jimmy Callacher was on hand to power the ball home.
Cliftonville perhaps came closest to levelling through David Parkhouse who rose highest to connect with a Jamie McDonagh cross but he could only direct his attempt narrowly off target while, early in the second half, Colin Coates nodded just the wrong side of the post.
However Linfield doubled their advantage on 56 minutes when Chris Shields converted from the spot after Eetu Vertainen had been taken down in the area by Luke Turner.
Further efforts came from Joel Cooper and Matthew Clarke but, in the end, those two goals were enough for the Blues as the Reds ended the game with ten men following Rory Hale's late dismissal following a challenge on Kyle McClean.
Cliftonville: Gartside, Gallagher, Rory Hale, Parkhouse, McDonagh, R. Doherty, Gormley, Casey, Turner, Coates, Moore, G. Doherty, Ives, Addis, Lowe, Robinson, Rocks, Ronan Hale
Linfield: Johns, Roscoe, Shields, Callcher, Millar, Cooper, M. Clarke, Finlayson, Fallon, Mulgrew, Vertainen subs Walsh, McClean, Devine, Haygarth, Pepper, Quinn, A. Clarke
Substitution 
Substitution 
