The Sky Blues might have taken an early lead only for Davitt Walsh's effort from an Aidan Watson pass to strike the crossbar.

But moments later Glenavon had opened the scoring through Lewis Hamlin who crept in unmarked at the near post to nod home an Ormond Okunaiya free-kick.

And it was 2-0 on 13 minutes when Hamlin nodded home the rebound after his initial effort from a Stephen Magennis cut back was blocked by 'keeper Paul Murphy.

Hamlin then completed his hat-trick on 24 minutes from the spot after Okunaiya was upended by Stuart King as he burst into the area.

United pulled one back on 30 minutes when a Garth Scates penalty awarded for a foul on Stephen Lowry was saved by the 'keeper only for Mark Picking to follow-up.

The revival continued seven minutes from the break when Walsh directed a glancing header past Tuda Murphy from a Picking right-wing cross.

Amazingly, United levelled just four minutes into the second half when Walsh combined with Aaron Callaghan for the latter to dispatch a low shot home.