We didn’t do enough: O’Hara

Declan O’Hara credited Cliftonville’s players for their work rate but admitted they didn’t do enough to win yesterday’s Danske Bank Premiership clash with Larne at Inver Park.

For the second time in as many visits to the east Antrim venue, the Reds found themselves controversially reduced to 10 men early in the second-half; Jamie McDonagh being issued with a second yellow card for an alleged dive after appearing to tangle with Aaron Donnelly.

Assistant Manager O’Hara said he would reserve judgement on that call for the time being but acknowledged that the dismissal – which, as was the case in October, came with Larne 1-0 up – made a tough task all the more challenging.

“I claimed for a penalty,” he explained.

“Jamie’s gone down and the referee’s decided to give him a second yellow card. I haven’t seen it back so I can’t complain about it at the minute but it might be a different story when I get a chance to have a look at a replay. Jamie’s gutted because I think we started the second-half a lot better but 10 men against a good full-time outfit is difficult.

“That’s football, the referees make these decisions and that’s what they’re paid for. I’m not here to comment on the referee because it’s a difficult enough job as it is, but we’re frustrated we’ve lost a player in a big game.”

Andy Ryan added to Leroy Millar’s first-half opener to double Larne’s advantage before an emphatic finish from Jonny Addis set up an intriguing finale, during which the Reds were unable to fashion the opportunity they were crying out for.

“We came here at the start of the season and they battered us 4-0,” recalled O’Hara. “We came here this time thinking we could go and match them up. Credit to them, they kept the ball well and they made us work hard.

“At the start of the second-half, we did come out and we did get at them, but when they go up the pitch and score, it’s a massive task for us. Our boys are disappointed but we can’t be too disappointed, we have to be ready for next week. Solitude next week against Glentoran is going to be massive. That’s what we have to focus on now.

“We’ll look back over this game and assess things we did right and wrong but, looking over it now, did we do enough to win it? The answer’s no.”