Soccer

Ronan Doherty making big gains in Cliftonville's engine room

Ronan Doherty is hoping to get Cliftonville back to winning ways this afternoon against Glenavon
Ronan Doherty is hoping to get Cliftonville back to winning ways this afternoon against Glenavon Ronan Doherty is hoping to get Cliftonville back to winning ways this afternoon against Glenavon

Danske Bank Irish Premiership: Cliftonville v Glenavon (Solitude, today, 3pm)

WHEN Ronan Doherty was a kid he wasn’t strong, fast or tall. In order to survive and indeed thrive in football he knew he had to be technically better and think quicker than his peers.

Doherty learned how to play in the future. Since signing for Cliftonville in the summer of 2019, the 25-year-old midfield schemer has gone from strength to strength.

After a bright start to his Reds career, his form nose-dived last season due to a series of injuries, a punishing playing schedule and a bout of COVID.

He took a complete rest in the summer and has returned to Cliftonville’s engine room better than ever.

Doherty spent his youth between Inishowen intermediate club Cockhill Celtic and Institute before making the move to Solitude.

“Up until I was 15 or 16 I was always 5ft 1in,” says Doherty.

“I was tiny so I couldn’t out-run or out-strength anybody so I think that’s where I started to play one and two-touch football. I love playing one and two-touch, I’m not a fan of six or seven touches and trying to run with the ball. In training, I’d prefer a game of possession than a shooting drill. It sounds bad but that’s my preference.

“I’m a United fan and I always loved watching Paul Scholes. I loved watching him more than Rooney or Ronaldo and what they were doing.”

Doherty is probably an acquired taste for some Irish League clubs. The player himself reckons if he was at a different club his skills set mightn’t carry the same value as they do at Cliftonville.

“If I was playing for Crusaders or a team like that I’d be sitting on the bench every week,” Doherty says. “It’s a lot easier for me when you play in a team that gets the ball down and plays. My main job is to play.

“Paddy [McLaughlin] would give out to me about getting more assists and more goals but as long as we win I don’t care. I do find myself trying to start up the play.”

When McLaughlin was appointed Cliftonville boss, he made it a priority to bringing the ball-playing midfielder he had at Institute to north Belfast.

Toss a coin between the Carndonagh native and Jonny Addis as the team’s best player this season.

Although there are no club stats for touches per game, it would be another toss of a coin between Addis and Doherty for the highest percentage of passes completed. And progressive passes, too.

Central defender Addis, if anything, has enhanced Cliftonville’s possession style – and he’s a player Doherty loves playing with.

“Jonny’s perfect for our club. I don’t understand how Ballymena let him go. He’s just the calmest player you’ll see. He’s never under pressure. When you know he’s going to give you the ball you can think of your next pass, so you need to do know what you’re going to do next. So I’ve a good understanding with Jonny. I don’t think he sweats in games!”

Between the ages of 15 and 18, Doherty plied his trade at Institute before returning to his boyhood club Cockhill Celtic, just outside Buncrana, Co Donegal.

When McLaughlin took the reins at 'Stute, he signed Doherty as a left winger. After one pre-season game in central midfield, Doherty never left the position.

“The main thing for me is just enjoying my football,” he says. “We’ve been given a lot of freedom to go and play and it’s great for me. And the new pitch has been a help; it’s not as sore on the body.”

Last Saturday, the Reds suffered a 1-0 defeat away to Ballymena United, their first of the new season. But Doherty was consoled by the fact that their second half display was the best of the season.

“People might say, we’ve finally lost a game – are you going to lose again? Are your going to fall apart? But the big thing for me last week was the second half was the best we’ve played in a long time – we just couldn’t put the ball in the net. Our aim is to get back on another unbeaten run starting with Glenavon tomorrow.”