SOMETIMES an act of leadership can be simply staying silent. Chris Curran has always been a player whose actions speak louder than his words.
As Cliftonville’s remarkable season has progressed, the 31-year-old has found himself on the Reds bench more than on the pitch.
It's one of the most competitive squads in the Irish Premiership.
Of late, the performances of Kris Lowe, Chris Gallagher and Daniel Kearns have demanded they start games.
Lowe has been dropped into right back and is currently keeping Conor McDermott out of the side – and possibly Curran too who’s played quite a bit of his football in the defensive role.
A substitute for large swathes of the season, Kearns has won the left wing slot in recent weeks and has taken his chance with both hands.
Chris Gallagher also experienced a bit of mid-season turbulence but has nailed down the defensive midfield berth and had a storming League Cup final on Sunday.
McLaughlin has made the hard call in playing Ryan Curran ahead of Joe Gormley because to play the two strikers the team loses width.
All these decisions have meant that players such as Chris Curran, McDermott and Gormley have had to content themselves with a place on the bench.
Some quality players haven't been that fortunate.
After Sunday’s remarkable cup final victory over Coleraine, McLaughlin name-checked Jamie Harney and Senan Foster who didn’t make the bench.
Chris Curran’s claim for a regular starting berth will always be a compelling one – but you won’t hear a peep of dissent from the club captain and 2013/14 league medalist.
“I was watching the Manchester United game [against Spurs] and they were talking about players’ roles and players not being happy with their roles,” Curran said.
“They made a good point that it was very disrespectful about players who come into a role like that – myself or Joe [Gormley] – to players who have done that previously and have carried themselves so professionally.
“I thought about that, I thought about people like Daniel Kearns who in the earlier part of the season had probably the same role that I’ve had now over the past couple of months.
“Never once did he throw his head up, never once did he sulk. He trained, unbelievably well – in matches too, and did what was needed when he was asked to come on. And that’s the way I think of it now.
“If I was to sulk around the changing room now it would be so disrespectful to him or to somebody who’s not getting on the bench as a substitute.
“People that Paddy has mentioned – Senan and Jamie. That’s my attitude towards it. How disrespectful would it be towards them to carry myself in that way if I’m disappointed or down? It really doesn’t enter my mind.”
Curran was one of three game-changers during Sunday’s epic 4-3 win over the Bannsiders at Windsor Park. He entered the fray after 53 minutes and within 10 minutes Cliftonville were trailing by two goals.
But Curran, alongside fellow substitutes Joe Gormley and Paul O’Neill, turned the tide.
Curran settled the Reds midfield, assisting for his side's third goal, while Gormley and O’Neill bagged a brace apiece.
“I’m no spring chicken,” Curran said. “I’m not getting any younger, so it’s just about the collective and that’s the way I look at it.
“I knew going into the final that I mightn’t start the game. I just wanted to give everything I have. I think Joe was the same. If we’re needed, you have to give everything – and that has to be our mindset.”
McLaughlin paid tribute to his bench men claiming that the team was “on their knees” and were “crying out” for some inspiration after Coleraine forged ahead.
Curran, Gormley and O'Neill certainly provided it on Sunday.
The Reds, meanwhile, return to league action on Saturday, away to Glenavon, trailing Linfield and Glentoran but with a game in hand that can bring them within touching distance of Belfast's Big Two.
Their Irish Cup semi-final against north Belfast neighbours Crusaders takes place on Friday April 1.
