O’Hara presses play

Declan O’Hara opted against offering a critical analysis of Cliftonville’s defeat to Linfield yesterday, declaring that a united approach is key to tackling next month’s European Play-Offs.

The Reds will host either Coleraine or Crusaders in a semi-final tie and, until confirmation of his team’s opponents arrives, the Interim Manager says he and his coaching staff will work with the players to ensure they are in the best possible shape for the occasion.

“We don’t like losing football games, nobody likes losing football games no matter what but, as I said to the boys, now it’s all down to the Play-Offs,” he said after goals in either half from Jimmy Callacher and Chris Shields earned three points for the Blues.

“It’s down to us to get the boys lifted for it. We can’t feel sorry for ourselves, it’s important our boys come into training next week with smiles on their faces again and get ready for the Play-Offs.

“Last week, the boys were excellent and I’m not going to criticise them because they’ve emptied the tank for me again. Our boys worked hard and they’ve given everything since I’ve taken over. It’s important now that we stick together and get ready for whoever we play in the Play-Offs.”

While the outcome of the game was largely academic in the bigger picture, O’Hara admits the late red card that will rule Rory Hale out for the rest of the season was a setback Cliftonville could have done without.

“What that does is it gives me another headache when I think about who else is going to go in there and play,” he adds.

“He’ll be a massive miss for us and we all know that because he’s been quality this season.

“These things happen in football – I did it myself back in the day – but somebody else is going to have to take the opportunity to go in and play for us.”