Donn deal on striker’s return

Cliftonville Football Club are pleased to welcome Ruaidhri Donnelly back to Solitude on a one-year deal.

A scorer of 67 goals in 178 appearances across two spells with the Reds, Ruaidhri returns following a four-and-a-half year stint with Glentoran.

The 32-year-old made his Cliftonville debut against Linfield in 2010 and bagged his maiden strike in a League Cup victory over Larne a few weeks later, while a memorable hat-trick in a 6-2 County Antrim Shield success over the Blues in October 2011 proved the first of three trebles in little more than a month with Ballymena United and Dungannon Swifts suffering a similar fate.

Linfield were also on the receiving end of scintillating Donnelly efforts that earned the teenager successive Goal of the Month awards for October and November of 2011 ahead of his move to Swansea City during the January 2012 Transfer Window after 70 appearances for the Reds.

A loan spell at Tranmere Rovers and subsequent switch to Gillingham followed before he again signed up at Solitude, helping the Reds lift the Shield and twice qualify for Europe during the next three-and-a-half years prior to a Deadline Day switch to the Glens in January 2021.

The last player to score a goal in a European victory for Cliftonville, Ruaidhri – who spent the second half of last season on loan at Newington and was on the scoresheet as a Trialist in Sunday’s friendly with St Patrick’s Athletic – provides an experienced and physical addition to Jim Magilton’s frontline as preparations continue for our imminent return to UEFA Conference League action.