Cliftonville vs Linfield 04/05/24

SEMI-FINALS Cliftonville 2-0 Larne Cliftonville got the better of a lacklustre Larne in the last four. Goals from Jonny Addis and Ronan Hale saw Jim Magilton’s side win the entertaining contest at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park by two goals to nil. Cliftonville got their tactics spot on. They kept Larne’s star players quiet and produced some fine attacking football in front of circa 5700 fans. Chris Gallagher’s curling shot from 30 yards was superbly pushed over the bar by Reds keeper David Odumosu before Cliftonville took the lead on 34 minutes. Captain Rory Hale played a one-two with Ben Wilson from a corner and then whipped the ball to the back post where Addis headed it powerfully into the net. It was an excellent move. Just after the break Levi Ives’ drilled corner was met by Inver Reds centre back Ro-Shaun Williams and his header went inches past the post. The Reds’ Odhran Casey planted a powerful header over the bar, while Cliftonville skipper Rory Hale smashed a shot just past the upright. Substitute and Reds icon Joe Gormley lifted an effort over the top and Larne keeper Rohan Ferguson pushed out a Ronan Hale drive before the action swung to the other end of the pitch where Larne substitute Joe Thomson hit the side netting with a rising shot. Cliftonville got their second on 85 minutes. Ronan Hale raced forward and played a one-two with Gormley inside the area - and Hale’s deflected shot flew past Ferguson into the net. In the closing stages Donnelly’s crisp strike was superbly saved by Odumosu, while Ferguson saved two efforts from Ronan Hale and another from Gormley.

Then it was Rory Hale’s turn to score against the Villagers. His goal came just a couple of minutes later and it was a beauty. He turned his marker inside out before smashing the ball into the top corner from nine yards out. Ronan Hale grabbed his second of the afternoon in the 82nd minute. Chris Curran spotted the run of Sam Ashford and he teed up Hale for a simple finish at the back post.

QUARTER-FINALS Portadown 0-2 Cliftonville

The Reds journeyed to Co Armagh for their last eight tie. Providing the opposition at Shamrock Park were Championship side Portadown. Two second half goals were enough to get Jim Magilton’s side over the line in what was a cracking cup tie. Portadown pressed from the start, although the first clearcut chance of the game fell to Cliftonville. Ronan Doherty slipped the ball to Sam Ashford and he rattled the woodwork with a rasping drive. Ports striker Eamon Fyfe struck the frame of the goal before a Mark Russell clearance rebounded off the Reds’ Ronan Hale and flew just over the bar. Cliftonville keeper David Odumosu pushed away a Zach Barr strike, and Portadown goalie Aaron Hogg produced a great stop to keep out a clever flick from Ronan Hale. After the interval Hale was unlucky to see a sweet strike rebound off the Ports’ crossbar. The visitors took the lead on 63 minutes. Rory Hale sent Sean Stewart free down the left flank. His cross into the danger zone was met by Portadown defender Luke Wilson who managed to put the ball into his own net from inside the six-yard box. Fyfe thought he had equalised for the home side with a cool finish, but he was adjudged to have been offside in the build-up. Cliftonville doubled their lead in the 86th minute. Wilson slipped and Ashford pounced on the loose ball. He found Rory Hale down the right flank. He put the foot on the gas before delivering a cross into the six-yard box where Ashford was on hand to tuck it home. www.irishfa.com

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