Players had won vision: Magilton

Jim Magilton says Cliftonville proved that a will to win is part of their DNA after yesterday’s last-gasp comeback against Newry City.

Barry Gray’s side had taken an early lead through Adam Salley and, though the Reds laid siege to City’s goal from that moment onwards, they were unable to get the better of debutant goalkeeper Conor Mitchell until Jonny Addis unleashed an outrageous strike from distance to level things in the opening minutes of the second-half – by which time Newry had seen Ciaran O’Connor sent off for a crude challenge on Rory Hale.

Chance after chance followed cross after cross as Cliftonville went in desperate search of a winner and, with Addis redeployed up front for the closing exchanges, it duly arrived on 97 minutes when Ronan Hale’s delivery was expertly controlled by the centre-half, who leathered in from close range to complete the turnaround.

“Crazy start, crazy end,” was Magilton’s succinct surmisal.

“In between that, we huffed and puffed and weren’t as clinical as we have been, but you have to applaud the resilience of Newry and what they did when down to 10 men. They showed tremendous character and Barry can be very proud of his team, which I’m sure he is.

“I’m equally as proud of my team to show that mental fortitude that you need to get us over the line in difficult conditions. We kept going and kept going and the unlikeliest of heroes has popped up.

“It’s not a coincidence. We’ve kept going in recent weeks to show the side of our game that maybe wasn’t part of Cliftonville’s DNA but it’s certainly part of our DNA now moving forward.

“Jonny deserves all the plaudits, I think he’s been fantastic for us all season. The first goal’s a wonderful strike which we know he possesses, and then the second one is probably even better given the context of the game; to have the composure to take it down and then rifle it in.

“It was fantastic and then the scenes at the end are just magnificent.”

Even outside of Addis’ goalscoring feat, Magilton had particular words of praise after learning that the 31-year-old was mourning the loss of his grandmother ahead of the game.

“Doesn’t that speak volumes of him?,” he added.

“Someone up above was looking down on him and smiling on him. Obviously, our thoughts and prayers are with him. It just sums up the person and the man that he is. I’m delighted with the result but in the context of family, that’s the most important thing.”