Cliftonville vs Linfield 04/05/24

CLIFTONVILLE ROAD TO THE 2024 FINAL Words Nigel Tilson

Cliftonville saw off NIFL Premiership sides Larne, Loughgall and Coleraine as well as recently crowned NIFL Championship winners Portadown on the way to today’s showpiece game.

First up, in round five, was a trip to The Showgrounds in Coleraine where they needed extra time to edge past Oran Kearney’s Bannsiders. The Reds’ next outing was at their home ground, Solitude, where they defeated Premiership new boys Loughgall by four goals to nil. Another Co Armagh side provided the opposition in the quarter-finals. Cliftonville took on Portadown at Shamrock Park and they booked their place in the last four by scoring twice without reply. It was the Reds v Inver Reds in the semi-finals, with the north Belfast Reds defeating the high flying Larne variety by two goals to nil at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park. The Reds have yet to concede in the Irish Cup this season. And they have scored 11 goals on their way to the decider.

Sean Stewart fired a shot wide for the visitors before Shea Kearney’s well-struck snapshot was pushed away by Brown. The Reds upped the tempo after the interval. They saw an early penalty appeal waved away as Ronan Hale went to ground. Then the Reds’ Luke Turner had a goal-bound shot blocked, while Ben Wilson’s long range effort sailed over the bar. Late on in the second half referee Raymond Crangle brandished a straight red at Cliftonville’s Sam Ashford for a late tackle on Dean Jarvis, while Coleraine’s Lyndon Kane got his marching orders for two bookable offences in what was his 300th appearance for the club. In the first period of extra time Brown saved a Rory Hale effort before his brother opened the scoring with a superb strike from 25 yards. As the game drew to a close Ronan Hale exploited hesitancy in the home defence to make it 2-0 before completing his hat-trick with a neat finish. SIXTH ROUND Cliftonville 4-0 Loughgall Ronan Hale was back among the goals when the Reds faced Loughgall in the sixth round. Hale contributed two of his side’s four goals in a fine win against the NIFL Premiership new boys from Co Armagh. Joe Gormley and Rory Hale also got on the scoresheet at Solitude. Loughgall posed problems for Cliftonville in the opening exchanges, especially in the midfield area, however the Reds’ defensive line held firm. The visitors enjoyed plenty of possession, although their final ball repeatedly let them down and Cliftonville keeper David Odumosu was rarely tested. Gormley opened the scoring towards the end of the first half with a neat finish past Berratt Turker and the Reds never looked back after that. It was Gormley’s 25th goal for the club in the competition. On 54 minutes Stephen Mallon sped towards the bye-line and cut the ball back to Ronan Hale. He twisted and turned about 12 yards out before firing in a low shot which took a huge deflection off Loughgall’s Pablo Andrade before the ball nestled in the back of the net.

FIFTH ROUND Coleraine 0-3 (AET) Cliftonville

A Ronan Hale hat-trick in extra time helped Cliftonville seal a place in the sixth round. There was little to choose between the NIFL Premiership sides during regulation time, however Hale’s excellent intervention ensured Jim Magilton’s side would reach round six. Very few clearcut chances were created within 90 minutes, although the Reds did fashion some half chances prior to the period of extra time. Coleraine goalkeeper Rory Brown saved a deflected effort from Ronan Hale in the first minute before Bannsiders striker Davy McDaid tested Cliftonville keeper David Odumosu.

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