Soccer

Barry Gray expecting spicy north Belfast derby in Co Antrim Shield

Cliftonville's Rory Donnelly with the match ball following his hat-trick against Dungannon Swifts on Saturday Picture by Pacemaker
Cliftonville's Rory Donnelly with the match ball following his hat-trick against Dungannon Swifts on Saturday Picture by Pacemaker Cliftonville's Rory Donnelly with the match ball following his hat-trick against Dungannon Swifts on Saturday Picture by Pacemaker

County Antrim Shield quarter-final: Cliftonville v Crusaders (tonight, 7.45pm, Solitude)

CLIFTONVILLE manager Barry Gray says tonight’s north Belfast derby knock-out tie will be spicy enough without the added factor of recent controversy surrounding the sides.

On Saturday, the Solitude club hit out at the content of a BBC documentary True North: Crusaders – Keeping the Faith, aired last week, which they said “slurred both our club and our supporters”. For their part, Crusaders said they regretted “any unintended perceived offence caused to Cliftonville” by the production.

Tonight’s County Antrim Shield quarter-final between the north Belfast rivals couldn’t have been better timed to stir the pot, but from what he’s seen in his time at the helm of the Reds, Gray is convinced the rivalry is already at fever-pitch.

“Generally, the fixture has plenty of spice as it is. I’ve only been at the one so far and there was plenty in that,” said Gray of the Reds’ league defeat to Crusaders earlier in the season.

“You have the local rivalry first and foremost and then you have some history in recent times of injuries and characters on both sides. But I think the club were brought back by some of the comments that were made in the documentary and, for the boys who have been with the club for a while, it can’t help but to be a bit hit with that.”

The former Warrenpoint Town boss added: “I don’t think it will consume the game in any way. It maybe puts a competitive edge to it, but I think the fans will maybe enjoy the rigmarole of it more than anyone will.

“I’ll be trying to keep our boys focused on the football aspect of it, that’s what’s important for us. Who says what outside of that is not really my responsibility.”

Gray is clearly more concerned about gaining revenge on the Crues for that league defeat on the Shore Road than he is for any perceived slight via the media: “I’ve said we owe Crusaders one from before that documentary came out,” he said.

“For me, we have unfinished business. I don’t think we conducted ourselves well in that game, we gifted them a 2-0 lead early on and probably never gave a good showing of ourselves, generally.

“I think when Cliftonville play Crusaders, regardless of the competition it’s in, it’s always important. Whether they play it up or play it down, both sides will be wanting to win and I’m making no bones about that. We certainly don’t want to be beaten by Crusaders at any stage of the season or in any competition, simple as that.”

Cliftonville got back to winning ways in the Danske Bank Premiership on Saturday with a 4-0 win over Dungannon Swfits at Stangmore Park, with Rory Donnelly netting a hat-trick for the visitors.

“It was probably one of our better all-round weeks, to be totally honest with you,” admitted Gray, who was particularly pleased with the clean sheet his side kept.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Coleraine stayed five points clear at the top of the table with a 3-0 win over Glentoran. Ian Parkhill, Darren McCauley and Jamie McGonigle grabbed the goals for Coleraine.

Second-placed Glenavon were 2-0 winners away to Carrick thanks to Andy Hall's opener and a Sammy Clingan penalty, while champions Linfield saw off Ards 2-0. Ballymena United were held to a 3-3 draw by Warrenpoint Town.