Soccer

Joe Gormley strikes late as Cliftonville knock Linfield out of Irish Cup

Cliftonville players celebrate Gormley's 80th minute winner Picture by Pacemaker
Cliftonville players celebrate Gormley's 80th minute winner Picture by Pacemaker Cliftonville players celebrate Gormley's 80th minute winner Picture by Pacemaker

Tennent's Irish Cup quarter-final: Linfield 0 Cliftonville 1

BIG Joe Gormley last night sent Cliftonville into dreamland.

The striker grabbed a priceless late winner in last night’s Tennent’s Irish Cup quarter final showdown with Linfield at Windsor Park – sending the Red Army into raptures.

Barry Gray’s boys will now face Loughgall in the semi-final at the end of the month.

Cliftonville haven’t won the Irish Cup since that famous day back in 1979. The Class of 2018 are now on course to zap that horrible hoodoo.

Reds goalkeeper Brian Neeson was called into action after only four minutes when he tipped a Kirk Millar header over the crossbar following a brilliantly whipped in cross from Niall Quinn.

Urged on by a big away support, the Reds attempted to hit back. They had a chance to put rookie goalkeeper Alex Moore under pressure with a Conor McDonald free kick, but Garry Breen failed to make any sort of contact after defender Mark Stafford had hauled down Gormley.

Quinn was always a danger from his set-piece routine. He whipped in another teasing cross which was met by Kurtis Byrne, but Neeson was alert to the striker’s flick header.

And, seconds later, skipper Jamie Mulgrew’s pin-point cross sent Byrne motoring into the box, but his snap shot was superbly beaten away by Neeson.

It was all one-way traffic at this stage. Defender Mark Haughey then roared forward and let go with a fierce 30-yard drive that was tipped over the crossbar by the outstretched glove of Neeson.

Stafford then held his head in his hands on 19 minutes. He also joined his front men to meet another Quinn cross, but looked on in horror as his header crashed off the top of the crossbar.

The Reds goal was leading a charmed life at times as seconds later, Millar sent in a delicious delivery which was met by Byrne.

Neeson got both hands to his header, but it squirted away and defender Jamie Harney was perfectly placed to mop up.

The visitors at last mustered a half-chance at the other end five minutes from the break when Neeson’s monster free kick was picked up by Gormley, but his scuffed shot posed no problems for Moore.

Cliftonville upped the ante after the half-time cuppa and they really should have been ahead on 63 minutes when Breen climbed to meet a Shane Grimes corner kick only to see his header flash inches past the post.

In another lightning break, Chris Curran sent in a cross that looked destined for the unmarked Rory Donnelly, but Haughey got back to head clear at the expense of a corner kick.

The Reds had a real let-off with 12 minutes left when Haughey’s cross was met by Quinn. His header was brilliantly saved by Neeson, but substitute Stephen Lowry looked a likely scorer only to scuff his shot against the outside of the post.

But Gormley stole the show on 80 minutes. Substitute Ruairi Harkin sent a delicious pass through the middle and the big striker superbly guided a low shot into the bottom corner.

LARNE will meet Coleraine in the other semi-final after they stunned fellow Antrim club Ballymena United at the Showgrounds last night.

The home side took the lead from the penalty spot on 32 minutes after referee Andrew Davey ruled that Chris Ramsey had blocked a Johnny McMurray shot with an outstretched arm. Tony Kane slotted the resulting spot kick past Conor Devlin.

But Larne were level on 52 minutes when Kyle Owens sliced a harmless looking Martin Donnelly cross into his own net.

The Championship side took the lead 15 minutes later as Thomas Stewart headed a Martin Donnelly cross past Ross Glendinning.

There was just the one goal in Coleraine as Oran Kearney’s side beat Glentoran, Darren McCauley netting his 16th goal of the season in the first half.