Monday Monthly: March

With the 2022/23 season now formally under way, cliftonvillefc.net continues a weekly mini-series reflecting on the good, the bad and the in-betweens of last term.

Every Monday throughout the summer, we’ve been taking a chronological look back on a month from the the year just finished – with a majestic March taking centre stage today.

It all started amid an electrically-charged atmosphere that saw the Reds host Coleraine in a Samuel Gelston’s Whiskey Irish Cup quarter-final under Solitude’s Friday night lights.

A superb passing sequence saw Lyndon Kane shoot the Bannsiders into an advantage they would hold until the second-half introduction of Joe Gormley, whose close-range finish levelled matters ahead of Jamie McDonagh (above) offering up the latest addition to his extensive repertoire of eye-catching strikes when he rattled home the winner from distance.

The following midweek, a disciplined display at The Oval saw Cliftonville strengthen their grip on securing automatic European qualification for the first time in eight years; Rory Hale notching the goal after a sensational defence-splitting assist from Ryan Curran in front of another huge Red Army turnout.

Those numbers and noise were blown away a few days later, however, when the League Cup Final took centre stage at Windsor Park.

Having sold out multiple allocations – including additional seating after all tickets for an extra stand were snapped up – Cliftonville fans looked on in near dejection when two quickfire goals early in the second-half had Coleraine cruising towards the trophy.

As had been the case in the Irish Cup clash between the sides nine days earlier, though, Gormley’s arrival from the bench would have a momentum-swinging impact.

His header reduced the arrears as the contest entered its closing exchanges and, amid a barrage of late pressure as the Reds laid siege to the Bannsiders’ goal, fellow substitute Paul O’Neill sparked scenes of wild celebration when he poked home an injury-time leveller (below).

After Coleraine had James McLaughlin sent off right at the start of extra-time, O’Neill lashed Cliftonville in front befroe Gormley put daylight between the sides with a strike that ultimately proved decisive in the aftermath of the Bannsiders pulling one back right at the death.

Silverware safely stowed in the cabinet, Paddy McLaughlin’s side returned to Danske Bank Premiership duty with a trip to Mourneview Park, where Cup Final heroes O’Neill and Gormley were on target in a 2-0 success.

Gormley’s golden streak continued when he plundered the only goal of a tight showdown with Dungannon Swifts at Stangmore Park, where McDonagh became the team’s first and last player to receive a red card in the campaign.

Gormley was unsurprisingly voted Cliftonville’s Player of the Month as the Reds made it five wins from five – and 10 in a row – heading into the final month of the season.

March 2022
Coleraine 1-2 Cliftonville
Gormley, McDonagh

Glentoran 0-1 Cliftonville
Hale

Cliftonville 4-3 Coleraine
Gormley [2], O’Neill [2]

Glenavon 0-2 Cliftonville
O’Neill, Gormley

Dungannon Swifts 0-1 Cliftonville
Gormley