Rodney McAree angered by officials as penalty decision costs Coleraine dear
With the game in the sixth minute of stoppage time Gregg pointed to the spot after a tangle of legs between Josh Carson and Ryan Curran sent both players to the deck.
The Coleraine players and officials were left dumbfounded by the call which looked soft.
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Hide AdCurran scored the spot kick to send the game into extra time, before the Reds kicked on and scored two more to set up a showdown with Glentoran in Saturday's final.
McAree though was fuming with the decision afterwards, which he felt cost his side a place in Europe and a potential £200,000 windfall.
"We find ourselves 3-1 up and then we lose the game in extra time, it all hinges on a decision," he said.
"Not that long ago in the semi final of the Irish Cup went against us and killed us, and I genuinely feel that there is another decision that's went against us tonight.
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Hide Ad"It has given Cliftonville a lifeline. They had a lot of pressure and we had to soak a lot of it up, but I thought we had done that.
"I thought it was a free kick out when it happened at the time.
"Josh Carson is goal side of it, there's a tangle of legs, but that's caused by the Cliftonville player. It looks like a poor decision from our point of view."
Cliftonville boss Paddy McLaughlin though felt the officials got the decision right.
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Hide Ad"I think it was a penalty, I know Coleraine disagree with that, but I wouldn't expect them to agree with it with it coming so late on," he said.
"I think the player has gone in with the tackle and missed the ball completely, it's a foul to be honest."