Magilton urges finishing power

Jim Magilton admitted that Cliftonville lacked a certain ruthlessness in stages of last night’s Clearer Water Irish Cup semi-final victory over Ards, but was delighted to lead the team through to the May 3 decider.

Having seen a couple of promising early openings come and go, the Reds pulled in front when Joe Gormley smashed home an effort from the edge of the box with 30 minutes on the clock.

Ards caused one or two nervy moments in the second period before Gormley linked up with Rory Hale to tee Alex Parsons up to make it 2-0, with Gormley once again involved in supplying Ryan Corrigan with a simple finish in the closing minutes.

“We were very aware of Ards’ strengths and very aware that they’ve come into the game buoyant and confident,” said Magilton.

“Winning games breeds that and players are confident, so we talked about tempo, possession of the ball, movement and trying to be really clinical, and we were sloppy at times but then we get Rory in a really good area, it’s a fantastic run from Joe and a magnificent finish to set us on our way.

“Credit goes to the players and I’ve no hesitation in saying that, but there are different things we could have done slightly better and one criticism is probably about being more clinical in front of goal. We did create opportunities and at 1-0, it’s still quite precarious and, to be fair to Ards, they came out, they had a go and they had one or two opportunities which we managed to see out.”

Supporters of a certain vintage will well recall that leading 2-0 against Ards in the closing minutes of a Cup semi-final at Windsor Park doesn’t always translate into victory but there would be no repeat of the infamous 1993 Budweiser Cup horror show when Cliftonville grabbed a late third courtesy of Gormley supplying the pass for Corrigan to wrap things up following an error from goalkeeper Alex Moore.

“It was a wonderful act, an unselfish act and it was Christmas morning for Ryan Corrigan to score a tap-in in an Irish Cup semi-final laid on by the great Joe Gormley,” added Magilton.

“That’s what’s written in the stars and he’ll remember this for the rest of his life, thanks to Joe.”