Reds win Barr brawl

Cliftonville 4-0 Barry Town United

Cliftonville roared to the Club’s biggest ever European victory as Barry Town United were put to the sword in a swashbuckling display at Solitude.

Conor McMenamin’s headed opener put the Reds in front on the night and in the tie, with Joe Gormley leathering home a fine strike to make it 2-0 just before the interval.

Defender Conor McDermott, on his home debut, added the third after the break before Rory Donnelly’s first Euro goal put the seal on a superb performance against the Welsh Premier League visitors.

With high expectations among a noisy home support so large that many fans had to be accommodated in the Bowling Green Stand, it was Gormley who had the first chance of the night when he tried his luck from range.

Kayne McLaggon smashed an attempt wide for the visitors before the deadlock was broken when McMenamin rose to connect with Ronan Doherty’s corner.

Garry Breen was next to go close before Gormley doubled the Reds’ advantage with an unstoppable blast from the edge of the area to put his side in firm control of the tie on the stroke of half-time.

As comfortable as Cliftonville were, a third goal was always going to be required to take the edge off any lingering worries about a Barry fightback and, after Gormley had somehow scaled the crossbar when presented with an open net from a couple of yards out, it was McDermott who did the damage with a well-taken finish after cutting in from the right.

Two minutes later, it was 4-0 when superb work from Gormley ended with Donnelly coolly curling home via the inside of the post as the Reds sealed victory and First Qualifying Round dates with Haugesund of Norway.

Cliftonville: Brush, McDermott, Ives, Breen, C Curran, Harkin, R Donnelly, Bagnall, Doherty, McMenamin, Gorman. Subs: Dunne, Harney, R Curran (for McMenamin), Foster, Wilson, Gormley (for Doherty), Maguire (for McDermott).