An extra special clash

Jim Magilton lauded his Cliftonville players for finding a way to win a “marvellous” Irish Cup showdown with Glenavon at Solitude yesterday.

Leading through Arran Pettifer’s finish on the stroke of half-time, the Reds were pegged back by Michael O’Connor’s leveller only to regain the lead courtesy of a sensational late strike from Rory Hale.

That had looked set to send the holders through to the quarter-finals, only for Barney McKeown to stroke home an injury-time leveller after David Odumosu had spilled the ball inside the box – a situation which Magilton praised his goalkeeper’s reaction to.

Cliftonville took the lead for the third time in the contest when Jonny Addis lashed home a beauty of an effort in extra-time, which proved enough to finally book a last-eight berth.

“It’s a Cup game, it’s a one-off game and it’s all hands to the pump,” said Magilton.

“It’s frantic and there’s chaos and all of these things that add to a wonderful occasion. We’ve scored two unbelievable goals, we’ve had wonderful opportunities for both teams, and I think both teams will probably look back and think they could do better defensively – we certainly will – but it was all about winning the game.

“Cup games are about doing everything you can to get into the next round.”

Though Cliftonville led courtesy of Pettifer’s first goal for the Club just before the break, the Reds should arguably have been further in front come the interval having gone close on a number of occasions, with Joe Gormley squeezing two efforts just wide as well as striking the post.

Gormley was also inches away from making it 2-0 early in the second period before O’Connor’s header levelled matters, with Magilton noting that Paddy McLaughlin’s side were rewarded for their positive approach to the game.

“If you don’t take opportunities, you always run that risk, especially with the way Paddy has set up his team – they were very attack minded and he deserves immense credit for that,” he added.

“They’re always on the front foot and always very strong on the counter attack. I thought they played really well and controlled parts of the game and they’ll go away disappointed but with huge credit.”

Having conceded another leveller with just seconds of normal time remaining, Magilton insisted it wasn’t a tough job to pick his players up for an additional 30 minutes of action, with just weeks having passed since the Reds enjoyed a similar triumph over Larne in the BetMcLean Cup.

“We had to go to Coleraine last year and win in extra-time and to win any game, you have to go to the death, it’s as simple as that,” he said.

“We did that and the players showed immense courage.

“David Odumosu showed immense courage. I don’t really know what happened with their equaliser, I’d actually turned my back because I thought he had it as I think the vast majority of the crowd did, but then he’s come out and he’s plucked two or three out of the air in extra-time for us, which showed real courage, character and resilience, which he has in abundance.

“It was a marvellous Cup game. I’m sure it wasn’t that great for Cliftonville supporters but it kept us on the edge of our seats.

“Both teams set out to win the game and I think that’s important. You’ve got to respect that your opposition have good players who will have their periods in control of the ball but you’ve got to react to that and try and come out stronger and get yourself back on top. You’ve got to do more to keep the ball out of our net, we’re disappointed with the goals we conceded, but Jonny Addis has come up with a magnificent goal to win it.

“When it comes to him in that area of the pitch, you’re thinking ‘goal’ – and that’s for a central defender.

“He just has that wonderful knack. He’s got wonderful technique as it is, and I thought Axel Piesold did a great job manipulating the ball, then played a great pass and it was a great touch and finish.”