Monday Monthly: January

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 dramatic January taking centre stage today.

Having ended 2023 with a long-awaited festive derby success against Crusaders at Solitude, the Reds began the New Year with a daunting trip to Coleraine on Clearer Water Irish Cup fifth round night.

The balance of an edgy affair looked to be tilting in the Bannsiders’ direction when Cliftonville had substitute Sam Ashford sent off in the closing stages, but the subsequent dismissal of home captain Lyndon Kane levelled the numbers up again and the visitors pulled away in impressive style during a dominant period of extra-time.

Ahead when Ronan Hale lashed in a beauty from distance (above), progress to the sixth round was all but confirmed when the same player doubled his tally before toasting a hat-trick for good measure as the Reds eliminated Coleraine from the Cup for a third year in succession.

There was more late drama the following week during an unforgettable Sports Direct Premiership tussle with Newry City at The Showgrounds.

Having fallen behind in the opening minutes, Cliftonville equalised courtesy of a stunning long-range blast from Jonny Addis early in the second-half but, despite laying siege to the home goal, the visitors were unable to bank a vital winner until the seventh minute of injury-time when Addis sparked scenes of rapturous celebration when he slammed home from close range with virtually the last kick of the ball.

Hale’s double prior to an eye-catching effort from Ronan Doherty (above) accounted for Ballymena United at Solitude before the Reds ended the month with yet more last-gasp delight when a feisty battle with Carrick Rangers was settled at the death.

As the clock ticked down on what looked set to be an unremarkable 0-0 draw, Odhran Casey’s injury-time header sparked a repeat of the scenes that had been savoured in Newry a fortnight earlier as Cliftonville made it four wins from four to kick 2024 off in buoyant fashion.

January 2024
Coleraine 0-3 Cliftonville
Ronan Hale [3]

Newry City 1-2 Cliftonville
Addis [2]

Cliftonville 3-0 Ballymena United
Ronan Hale [2], Doherty

Carrick Rangers 0-1 Cliftonville
Casey

Player of the Month: Jonny Addis
Goal of the Month: Jonny Addis’ first v Newry City