STAND-IN Cliftonville manager Declan O’Hara (inset) will be eager to hit the reset button for the European play-offs after a dismal April, but the Reds must wait another week to find out who their
semi-final opponents will be.
Cliftonville had taken just two points from their four games in April going in to Saturday’s match against Linfield. A Jimmy Callacher header from a Kirk Millar corner in the 10th minute soon
highlighted the current defensive problems at Solitude.
Chris Shields doubled Linfield’s lead from the spot in the 57th minute after Luke Turner had brought Eetu Vertainen down in the box and the home side showed little sign of getting back into the game after that.
The win secured second spot for Linfield and a shot at next season’s Europa Conference League. While Cliftonville will have home advantage in their play-off semi-final, they will have to tackle it without influential midfielder Rory Hale after he was sent-off for a 90th minute collision with Kyle McClean.
Cliftonville’s opponents in the play-off will depend on the outcome of this weekend’s Irish Cup final.
If Ballymena United lift the cup for the first time since 1989, there will be a north Belfast derby at Solitude next Wednesday. However, if Crusaders retain the trophy and take the European spot that goes with it, Coleraine will be taking on Cliftonville at Solitude for a place in the play-off decider.
Elsewhere, on Saturday, although goals from Joseph Moore and Mayowa Animasahun secured Dungannon Swifts a 2-1 victory over Newry, City’s vastly superior goal difference meant they were never in any danger of dropping into the relegation play-off spot.
In theory, the Swifts now face that play-off for their Premiership future, but a question mark hangs over who their opponent will be.
Dean Shiels’s side were down to play second-placed Championship side Warrenpoint Town tomorrow night, but Barry Gray’s side have been denied a licence by the IFA.
With Warrenpoint set to appeal that decision and Annagh United potentially waiting in the wings if that appeal fails, the play-off has been “tentatively” rescheduled for May 10.
