Cliftonville’s Joe Gormley lifts Irish Cup after ‘unbelievable gesture’ by Rory Hale

Cliftonville legend Joe Gormley was left shocked, but was happy to accept captain Rory Hale’s “unbelievable gesture” of letting him lift the Irish Cup after yesterday’s thrilling 3-1 final win over Linfield at Windsor Park.

The premier domestic cup competition was the only one Gormley had failed to win before yesterday’s victory, in a career that stretches back 17 years with the Reds.

The club’s record goal scorer did not get onto the pitch yesterday after being named on the bench, but he was front and centre with club captain Chris Curran when the pair hoisted the trophy in front of the Cliftonville fans.

The gesture from Hale was not lost on Gormley, with the club having waited 45 years to reclaim the cup, which was last lifted by Reds captain Walter Mills in 1979.

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“I wasn’t expecting to lift the trophy,” he said.

“Chris is club captain and Rory was captain on the day. Rory, the man he is, came over to me and said ‘Joe, I want you and Chris to lift the trophy’.

“I asked him if he was sure and it was an honour. I appreciate him even saying that to me, but that’s just Rory Hale in a nutshell saying he wanted us two to lift it.

“I wasn’t going to refuse it! Fair play to the man he is and he’s a credit to this club, his family and Cliftonville.”

Hale responded by saying how it was fitting that two players who will go down in Reds folklore got to lift the trophy.

“Them two men have gave their lives to Cliftonville. The man (Gormley) didn’t even get on the pitch today and he was the first one celebrating and congratulating everybody,” said Hale.

“They are two legends of the football club and done way more for it than me. If I do half of what those two men have achieved, I’ll be doing alright for myself, so it was just the right thing to do.”

Gormley had to endure a nail-biting game on the sidelines, with Sam Ashford being given the nod to start ahead of himself and Ben Wilson, and things didn’t look great when Ethan McGee headed in a first-half opener for the Blues.

But Cliftonville fought back to equalise through Ashford in the second half, before the younger Hale Ronan scored an extra-time double to lift the roof off Windsor.

“First-half I thought Linfield were a bit better, but when the lads came out in the second-half they were outstanding,” said Gormley.

“That’s been all year round...I said to the boys before the match that they’re a credit to the community, to their families and the people that play for this team.

“I’ve personally never been prouder of a group of lads...it’s amazing. It came up on my Facebook memories the other day from two years ago that I posted that this team is one to look out for and there you go.” He continued.

“This trophy hasn’t been near Solitude in 45 years, but there are a few boys in the changing room that haven’t even been waiting six months to win the trophy...I’ve been waiting years! My wee lad is two weeks old and he’s already seen it which is crazy! Credit to Rory and the boys - they are something else.”

Few would disagree.