Cliftonville vs Linfield 04/05/24

CLIFTONVILLE 2024 CUP FINAL SQUAD

Shea Gordon Midfielder

Ronan Doherty Midfielder

Ben Wylie Midfielder

Kris Lowe Midfielder

One of seven January 2021 recruits, Kris boasts considerable Premiership experience despite being just 28 years old. The Omagh man spent more than a decade with Dungannon Swifts prior to his switch to the Reds, for whom he has endured something of a stop start season through injury, with a particularly nasty fall in the Irish Cup semi-final defeat of Larne keeping him out of late.

A January arrival from Larne, midfielder Shea came through the youth ranks at Dungannon Swifts prior to joining Sheffield United in 2016. Capped by Northern Ireland at Under-21 level, Gordon (25) enjoyed a five year spell in Scotland with Motherwell, Partick Thistle and Queen of the South before moving to Inver Park and, despite going close three times on his debut, is still awaiting his first Cliftonville goal.

Sought by a host of clubs in the summer of 2019, Donegal man Ronan has been a virtual ever present during the five years since. After stepping up from the Ulster Senior League with Cockhill Celtic into the Premiership with Institute, ‘Olly’ (28) has delivered a series of stylish displays in the middle of the park and was the last Cliftonville player to score a winning goal against Linfield.

After a spell with Linfield’s Under-18s, 21-year-old Wylie made the move to Celtic prior to a loan stint with hometown side Ballymena United during the 2020-21 season. A further loan at Airdrie duly followed prior to a six-month spell with Ytterhogdals in Sweden. The Under-21 international has been nursing an injury sustained shortly after his January switch to Cliftonville from the Swedish side.

Sam Ashford Forward

Ronan Hale Forward

Ben Wilson Forward

Joe Gormley Forward

The greatest goalscorer in Cliftonville’s history surpassed Kevin McGarry’s record of 170 strikes when he scored against Crusaders in October 2018. A double title winner with the Reds prior to a move to Peterborough in 2015, the man known simply as ‘The Goal’ is currently in his testimonial season. The 34-year-old extended his goals haul with the equaliser in last month’s north Belfast derby against Crusaders at Seaview.

Signed from Ayr United, the 28-year-old, who has made two appearances for England at C international level, began his career in the Tottenham Hotspur Academy before stints at various Non League clubs. On target in recent wins over Coleraine, Glenavon and Loughgall, he picked up an injury in the process of scoring against the Villagers and was subsequently ruled out until last week’s clash with Linfield - when he duly marked his return with another goal.

After becoming just the second person in history to mark his Cliftonville bow with a European goal, Ronan (25) went on to score 29 times last season - the highest ever return for a player’s debut term. Injured during pre-season, the younger of the Hale brothers has wasted no time in getting back on the goal trail; his penalty against Glentoran a fortnight ago marking his 20th of the campaign.

Ben (22) was signed following a spell with Brighton and Hove Albion, whom he joined from Coleraine in the summer of 2018, having the previous year become the Bannsiders’ youngest ever senior goalscorer at the age of just 15. A Northern Ireland Under-21 international, a calf injury has limited Wilson’s appearances since the turn of the year but he notched his 20th goal of the season against Larne last month.

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