Soccer

Cliftonville chisel out gutsy win to sink derby rivals Cruaders

Conor McMenamin grabbed Cliftonville's two goals in their derby win over Crusaders yesterday
Conor McMenamin grabbed Cliftonville's two goals in their derby win over Crusaders yesterday Conor McMenamin grabbed Cliftonville's two goals in their derby win over Crusaders yesterday

Danske Bank Irish Premiership: Crusaders 1 Cliftonville 2

CLIFTONVILLE raced to the top of the Irish Premiership last night thanks a brace from the brilliant Conor McMenamin to sink north Belfast rivals Crusaders at Seaview.

The Reds had to come from behind after David Cushley gave the home side the lead after just two minutes, but McMenamin replied five minutes later and grabbed the winner with 11 minutes of normal time remaining.

What we’ve learned over the last five days is that Cliftonville can mount a serious league challenge and that manager Paddy McLaughlin has performed heroically since taking the reins in February.

Also, Conor McMenamin has morphed into one of the best attackers in the top flight while Crusaders appear to be suffering from an identity crisis, even though they were without their first-choice central defensive partnership for yesterday’s St Stephen’s Day derby clash.

On Saturday, the Reds eked out a gutsy 1-0 win over a teak-tough Coleraine – with McMenamin proving the match-winner that day too – and yesterday they showed tremendous fighting qualities to stave off Crusaders' late aerial onslaught.

A year ago, the north Belfast men most certainly would have lost both Coleraine and Crusaders games – but this is a different, more resilient Cliftonville team under McLaughlin that has lost none of its aesthetic appeal.

“I think the days of seeing Cliftonville as soft are over,” said McLaughlin yesterday.

“That has been put to bed over the last two games, and we’ve got to maintain that. We are nice to watch and we’ve got talented players in there but we’ve also got players who are prepared to put their body on the line and that’s what it takes. We’ve shown over the last two games that not only can we play but we can fight for our lives as well.”

It’s approaching a decade since the Reds left Seaview on St Stephen’s Day as victors. While their new-found warrior spirit is beyond reproach, their hosts lacked their usual zeal.

Granted, Colin Coates and Howard Beverland were sorely missed at the heart of the Crues defence yesterday – but there seemed something more worrying than some defensive absenteeism.

Crucially, the Reds were given that extra half yard of space that they are rarely afforded in Crusaders’ half of the field and the touch and finesse of McMenamin, Joe Gormley, Ryan Curran and the tireless Chris Curran made them pay.

As soon as Cushley accepted Ross Clarke’s short pass to find the corner of the net with his wand of a left foot on two minutes, the Reds pressed forward and were soon back on level terms from a perfectly placed shot from McMenamin from inside the penalty area.

The in-form wide man accepted Ryan Curran’s low pass from the left and just when you it seemed McMenamin had held onto the ball too long, he angled his effort through a ruck of defenders and into the corner of the Crusaders net.

Declan Caddell cleared Gary Breen’s goal-bound effort off the line on 22 minutes and McMenamin was desperately close on 34 minutes with a rasping drive following some intricate build-up play from the visitors.

Paul Heatley replaced the ineffective Jamie McGonigle just after the restart and although the Crusaders winger threatened a couple of times, he was kept at bay by the impressive Seanan Foster who was deputising for the suspended Conor McDermott.

Yesterday’s derby seemed to be destined to end all square until McMenamin unleashed another low drive that found the corner of the net.

Crusaders huffed and puffed in the closing stages but the Reds defence and ‘keeper Richard Brush defended bravely to deny Stephen Baxter’s men a share of the spoils.

McLaughlin declared a drinks ban on the Reds squad over the festive period. So far, it's paying off.

Crusaders: G Doherty, BJ Burns, J O’Rourke (K Owens (81), R Brown, C Hegarty, D Caddell, P Lowry, R Clarke, J McGonigle (P Heatley 58), R Clarke, J Owens Subs not used: S O’Neill, M Ruddy, G Thompson, R McGinley, P McElroy

Cliftonville: R Brush, S Foster, A Donnelly, J Harney, G Breen, L Bagnall, R Doherty, C Curran, C McMenamin (R Wilson 90), J Gormley (J Gorman 83), R Curran (T Maguire 93) Subs not used: D Dunne, M McKee, D Rocks, C McCurry

Referee: A Davey