Saturday Stepback: 1978

With the authentic matchday experience on hold for the time being, today sees the latest chapter of our recently-introduced weekly series transporting us back to a game played on this day in yesteryear.

With the help of the Club’s Heritage Development Officer, Paul Treanor, every Saturday during football’s downtime, cliftonvillefc.net will revisit a match from the past via the medium of contemporary newspaper reports – with today’s spotlight falling on a 1978 Tyler Cup exit to Drogheda United on a night when the Solitude Board were engaged in another battle entirely.

Reds appeal to IFA over Shield tie

Cliftonville bowed out of the Tylers All-Ireland Cup and then decided to appeal to the Irish FA against the County Antrim FA’s decision ordering them to replay their second round Shield tie against Glentoran at Castlereagh Park.

The Cliftonville board were unanimous in their decision and secretary Des Kirkwood will be forwarding the necessary letter.

This will not arrive at Irish FA Headquarters until the morning, when a meeting will be called by secretary Billy Drennan. It is, therefore, unlikely that the match will now take place tomorrow night.

Cliftonville’s two main points of appeal are:-

1- They feel the Co Antrim FA ignored the report of referee Eddie Weir; and

2- They, the County Antrim FA, are condoning the actions of certain Glentoran players.

As the decision was taken on Monday, Cliftonville have four days to lodge their appeal and if it arrives with the Irish FA tomorrow, as is indicated, they are within the rules.

Meanwhile, it was goalkeeper Brian Johnston who was their hero and villain when Drogheda edged through at the penalty stage at Solitude.

After a scoreless first half and his team leading 1-0, Brian stretched full length to turn away a Martin Donnelly penalty. But with the scoreline finishing 2-2 and 4-4 after the compulsory five kicks, Brian stepped up to take one himself and shot wide at the sudden death stage. Bobby McAuley then hit the winner for Drogheda.

The 13th minute almost proved unlucky for the Reds when a back pass from Michael Adair stopped short of goalkeeper Johnston but he recovered to force Drogheda striker Cathal Muckian to shoot over the crossbar.

Adair almost made amends one minute later with a spot on pass to Ciaran McCurry but the midfield player’s attempt flashed wide.

The game burst into life in the second half when, after only three minutes, leading scorer John Platt put Cliftonville into the lead. McCurry was fouled by Donnelly, John Hewitt took the free kick from 30 yards and Platt rose to nod the ball wide of goalkeeper Leo Byrne.

Four minutes later came a controversial penalty decision by referee Freddie McKnight, awarding the spot kick against centre half Marty Quinn who appeared to be struck by the ball as centre forward Jerome Clarke tried to find a way through a strong Cliftonville defence. But Johnston pulled off a magnificent save, hurling himself across the goal to palm away Donnelly’s hard hit shot.

Brendan Tully finally equalised for Drogheda midway through the second period, finding the net with a ball which caught Johnston stranded as it floated over his head and squeezed in at an upright.

But the Reds hit back straight from the kick-off and Tony Bell raced on to a Walter Mills chip forward to steer a grounder well out of the reach of Byrne.

Eight minutes from the end, Muckian squared the match with a fine glancing header from a Clarke centre to send the game into a decision on penalties.

Platt, Bell, Barney Bowers and Mills scored for the Reds in the opening five, goalkeeper Byrne diving to save from John Hewitt.

Jackie McManus, Clarke, Muckian and Willie Roche scored for Drogheda with Johnston saving from Jim Jackson.

McCurry found the net for Cliftonville at the sudden death stage and Donnelly equalised. But tragedy for the Reds when Johnston shot wide and McAuley stepped up to blast the Eire League side into the semi-final.