Cool for Cats

Cliftonville 4-2 Irish League Legends

Ryan Catney signed off from Cliftonville duty by scoring AGAINST the Reds in his Testimonial Match at Solitude this afternoon.

After playing the first-half for the hosts, the 32-year-old made an interval switch to the Irish League Legends XI, for whom he netted from the penalty spot on a day when he could lay claim to victory despite ending up on the losing team.

With a host of former Cliftonville favourites, plus a few guest stars, in action, the Reds took the lead through Garry Breen’s header before Caoimhin McConnell made it 2-0 with a sublime strike into the top corner.

In the second period, two quickfire goals from Ross Lavery extended Cliftonville’s advantage further before the Legends were awarded a penalty when referee Raymond Crangle pointed to the spot after Paul McAreavey’s tumble inside the area.

After wrestling the ball off George McMullan, Catney made no mistake in reducing the arrears ahead of Diarmuid O’Carroll pulling another one back for Tommy Breslin’s side in the closing exchanges.

Cliftonville: Dunne, Foster, Ives, A Donnelly, Breen, Catney, O’Connell, Rocks, R Curran, R Donnelly, Lavery. Subs: McKenna, Whiteway, Gorman, Casey, Harney, C Curran.

Legends XI: Neeson, Cosgrove, Seydak, Smyth, McGovern, M Donnelly, Johnston, McMullan, Garrett, O’Carroll, Caldwell. Subs: Brennan, McAlorum, Gault, B Holland, M Murray O’Hara, O’Connor, Flynn, McAreavey.

Referee: Raymond Crangle/ Michael Gault