Monday Monthly: February

As Cliftonville’s preparations for the 2024/25 season continue, cliftonvillefc.net maintains a weekly mini-series reflecting on the good, the bad and the in-betweens of last term.

Every Monday between now and the new domestic campaign getting under way, we’re taking a chronological look back on a month from the the year just finished – with a pivotal February taking centre stage today.

Progression to the quarter-finals of the Clearer Water Irish Cup was claimed courtesy of an emphatic home win over Loughgall; Joe Gormley opening the scoring before a Pablo Andrade own goal and finishes from Rory (below) and Ronan Hale put the seal on things.

The Reds’ Sports Direct Premiership title challenge looked set to take a significant hit at The Oval a few days later when they found themselves 2-0 down at half-time against a Glentoran side that had controlled proceedings, but an eye-catching Ronan Hale effort sparked some renewed hope shortly after the restart and a deserved point was duly claimed when Odhran Casey pounced for an injury-time leveller.

Having left it late that night, Cliftonville got off to a flying start when Coleraine visited Solitude on League duty; Ronan Hale seizing on an early goalkeeping error before Shea Kearney (below) fired home for 2-0.

The Bannsiders pulled one back at the start of the second-half but what hope they had of mounting a comeback was snuffed out when Sam Ashford restored the Reds’ two-goal cushion, which was further extended when Rory Hale netted despite Casey’s dismissal having put the team at a numerical disadvantage.

Four goals were also put past Glenavon the following week and, having failed to perform in the opening 45 minutes, Jim Magilton’s side were fortunate to only be a single goal behind at the interval – a deficit that was quickly eradicated when Rory Hale and Ashford turned things around (below).

The Lurgan Blues hit back to level, though, only for a Gormley double to ensure the pocketing of three valuable points – the Reds’ final return of a month that ended on disappointing notes.

A 3-0 reverse at the hands of Linfield at Solitude was followed by a 3-1 loss away to Dungannon Swifts – Chris Curran having levelled matters on the day – leaving Magilton to acknowledge that, with a title charge now unlikely, all of his team’s eggs were now firmly in an Irish Cup basket…

February 2024
Cliftonville 4-0 Loughgall
Gormley, OG, Rory Hale, Ronan Hale

Glentoran 2-2 Cliftonville
Ronan Hale, Casey

Cliftonville 4-1 Coleraine
Ronan Hale, Kearney, Ashford, Rory Hale

Cliftonville 4-2 Glenavon
Rory Hale, Ashford, Gormley [2]

Cliftonville 0-3 Linfield

Dungannon Swifts 3-1 Cliftonville
C Curran

Player of the Month: Rory Hale
Goal of the Month: Ronan Hale v Glentoran