Northern Ireland

Cliftonville fans paint town red after historic Windsor Park victory over Linfield

Solitude outfit end 45-year wait for Irish Cup glory

PACEMAKER PRESS BELFAST 04-05-24 Clearer Water Irish Cup Final Cliftonville Fans during this Afternoon’s game at NFS @ Windsor Park, Belfast. Photo - Andrew McCarroll/ Pacemaker Press
Cliftonville players celebrate in front of their fans after the Reds' Irish Cup victory at Windsor Park. PICTURE: PACEMAKER/ANDREW MCCARROLL (Andrew McCarroll/Andrew McCarroll/ Pacemaker Press)
By Staff Reporter

Cliftonville fans painted north Belfast red on Saturday night as they celebrated the Solitude outfit’s victory in the Irish Cup Final.

The team came from behind to beat Linfield 3-1 after extra time, ending a 45-year wait for cup glory.

PACEMAKER PRESS BELFAST 04-05-24 Clearer Water Irish Cup Final Cliftonville Fans during this Afternoon’s game at NFS @ Windsor Park, Belfast. Photo - Andrew McCarroll/ Pacemaker Press
Cliftonville fans ahead of Saturday's Irish Cup final. PICTURE: PACEMAKER
PACEMAKER PRESS BELFAST 04-05-24 Clearer Water Irish Cup Final Cliftonville Fans during this Afternoon’s game at NFS @ Windsor Park, Belfast. Photo - Andrew McCarroll/ Pacemaker Press
Cliftonville fans celebrate their team's Irish Cup victory over Linfield. PICTURE: PACEMAKER
PACEMAKER PRESS BELFAST 04-05-24 Clearer Water Irish Cup Final Cliftonville Fans during this Afternoon’s game at NFS @ Windsor Park, Belfast. Photo - Andrew McCarroll/ Pacemaker Press
Cliftonville fans at Saturday's Irish Cup Final. PICTURE: PACEMAKER

Ronan Hale stepped up in the first period of extra time to score the goal of the game, sidestepping fatigued Linfield defenders before curling a right foot shot past Chris Johns at the far post.

Linfield rallied late on but it was their decision to throw the kitchen sink at Cliftonville which proved their final undoing.

Reds’ club vice-captain Joe Gormley, who sat out the final on the bench, was called upon to lift the trophy with Chris Curran, who ended his career on a high after 440 appearance’s for the north Belfast side.

There was a lively and colourful return to Solitude for the victorious team later on Saturday evening, where the celebrations continued well into the night.