Monday Monthly: April

A day ahead of Cliftonville’s penultimate pre-season friendly, cliftonvillefc.net continues a weekly mini-series reflecting on the good, the bad and the in-betweens of last term.

Every Monday ahead of the new domestic campaign getting under way, we’ve been taking a chronological look back on a month from the the 2024/25 schedule – with April taking today’s spotlight.

Having booked their place in the Clearer Water Irish Cup Final, the Reds’ focus was on securing seventh place in the Sports Direct Premiership to guarantee themselves the safety net of a spot in the European Play-Offs.

Their mission to achieve that got off to an inauspicious start when Danny Gibson gave Carrick Rangers a fourth minute lead at Taylors Avenue.

Luke Conlan, however, levelled matters before half-time and though it took until six minutes from time for the visitors to edge in front, the goal was certainly worth the wait as Eric McWoodsassumed possession deep inside his own half and set off on a menacing run that ended with him opening his Club account in style.

Joe Gormley’s firm finish four minutes later wrapped things up to put Cliftonville in pole position to claim that last remaining Euro shot.

Those hopes were further boosted when, having lost all four of the sides’ previous meetings, the Reds finally put Ballymena United to the sword with a five-star display at Solitude, where a stunning Shea Gordon effort broke the deadlock early on.

Gormley made it 2-0 after the break, with McWoods (above) finding the net either side of a Ryan Curran finish to put the seal on a comprehensive victory.

Both Curran (below) and McWoods were then on target as Cliftonville brought the curtain down on their season’s commitments at Solitude by defeating Glenavon 2-0, but finding themselves on the wrong side of that same scoreline against Portadown the following week meant Jim Magilton’s men approached their final Premiership engagement with that Play-Off place still on the line.

Thankfully, though, a much improved performance saw Loughgall overcome at Lakeview Park; Gormley’s double setting the visitors on their way with Alex Parsons making it 3-0 and Curran getting his name on the scoresheet shortly after the Villagers had pulled one back.

With the contingency of a European Play-Off berth now secure, it was full focus on an Irish Cup Final date with Dungannon Swifts… and the possibility of having to book UEFA Conference League football the hard way.

April 2025
Carrick Rangers 1-3 Cliftonville
Conlan, McWoods, Gormley

Cliftonville 5-0 Ballymena United
Gordon, Gormley, McWoods [2], Curran

Cliftonville 2-0 Glenavon
Curran, McWoods

Portadown 2-0 Cliftonville

Loughgall 1-4 Cliftonville
Gormley [2], Parsons, Curran