Soccer

Cliftonville's Jamie Harney: Reds know just how important winning the Irish Cup is to club

Cliftonville's Jamie Harney celebrates winning the Co Antrim Shield last month
Cliftonville's Jamie Harney celebrates winning the Co Antrim Shield last month Cliftonville's Jamie Harney celebrates winning the Co Antrim Shield last month

Danske Irish Premiership: Crusaders v Cliftonville (tonight, Seaview, 7.45pm)

CLIFTONVILLE’S Jamie Harney says the Reds players have an intimate understanding of just how important winning the Irish Cup is to the club after sealing their semi-final berth on Saturday.

The north Belfast men haven’t won the Irish Cup since 1979, losing deciders in 2009, 2013 and 2018. The Reds have probably left themselves with too much to do in trying to challenge for the league title this season as they prepare for the short trip to neighbours Crusaders this evening.

Cliftonville sit in fifth place 11 points off league leaders Linfield but have a game in hand over their crosstown rivals.

“I think we have to be realistic that it’s going to be a big ask for the league this season but that doesn’t mean we’re going to take these games lightly,” said Harney, who has been rock-like at the heart of the Cliftonville defence this season.

“And you just don’t know because things can be so unpredictable. There are still nine games and in those games we’ve still to play the top six. You just never know. You also want to better yourself from the previous season. We want to finish as high and as strongly as possible.”

Crusaders crashed out of the Irish Cup to Glentoran last weekend, they also suffered a League Cup final loss to Coleraine last month and are level on points with tonight’s visitors.

Paddy McLaughlin’s men take on the Glens in the Irish Cup semi-finals at the end of the month, while Coleraine and Ballymena face-off in the other last four tie.

“I don’t think other than Joe [Gormley] that there are any starting places assured,” said Harney.

“There are lots of people challenging for places and there’s no doubt in my mind that Paddy’s going to keep us on our toes because he’s someone who doesn’t let standards drop at any time. And we don’t want to put all our eggs in the one basket because there might be the opportunity to get second place or even third if the second placed team wins the cup to qualify for Europe.

“[But] We do know the importance of the Irish Cup and I think it’s something we thrive off. There are a lot of us like that. Paddy [McLaughlin] has alluded to that too.

“He actually wrote '41 years' on a page on the wall in the changing rooms on Saturday, so he’s not shying away from it. I think he uses it to his advantage insofar as we have the chance to leave a lasting legacy at Cliftonville and none of us should shy away from that.

“We may have done in the previous final in 2018. It’s something that we should just take on and that the rewards are there in front of us.

“I was lucky enough to play in the final a couple of years ago and it is an incentive for quite a few of us this year. I feel if our league form is good and momentum is there it will only leave us in better shape going into the semi-final.”

The former West Ham and Colchester United defender, who signed for Cliftonville at the end of the 2016/17 season, has been exceptional this campaign, evolving into one of the most consistent central defenders in the league.

There were some fans who doubted his credentials when he joined the Solitude club, but Harney’s imperious form alongside Garry Breen has silenced the critics.

“It’s probably better for other people to talk about those things, but it has been enjoyable this year. There have obviously been disappointments this season but overall it has been a good season for myself as we got a bit of silverware [Co Antrim Shield], so maybe I’m proving some of the critics wrong, which is always a nice feeling.

“It’s good to get a bit of consistency to my game because at the start of the year I think it was questioned by some people. I really wanted to play my part in this team.”

Meanwhile, second-placed Coleraine can cut Linfield’s lead to four points if they overcome Glenavon at Ballycastle Road tonight while Dungannon Swifts will take some lifting at home to Ballymena United this evening after exiting the cup to Cliftonville on Saturday.