Latest News

Drive time

Paddy McLaughlin outlined the “determination and drive” behind Cliftonville’s comeback in yesterday’s North Belfast Derby at Seaview.

Having taken a first-half lead through Colin Coates, the Reds trailed Crusaders 3-1 with a quarter of an hour left on the clock but rallied to earn a well-merited draw courtesy of Ryan Curran’s double, meaning the Danske Bank Premiership title race will go down to the wire.

“We live to fight another day, we will take it to the very last game and no-one predicted that at the start of the season,” said McLaughlin, whose side are one point behind Linfield at the summit.

“At one stage, the boys looked dead and buried at 3-1 down but they showed the same determination and drive they have shown all year to pull it back to 3-3.

“Crusaders dominated parts of the game and that was disappointing but it was good to see our boys recover and come back. Mistakes were made but that can happen sometimes. It’s important that we keep going into the last game, keep our heads down and go again.”

The Reds conclude their campaign against Glentoran next Saturday but, regardless of the outcome, McLaughlin is proud of the role his team has played in an exhilarating campaign.

“It’ll be a tough game at The Oval and you never know what can happen but it’s great for the League to have two teams going toe to toe right until the end of the season,” he added.

“It’s important that we focus on our game now and if we can deliver, you never know what could happen up the road.”