Being Reds boss is a piece of cake for Paddy

INEVER thought I would get the chance to use the words Paddy, McLaughlin, Yaya and Toure in the same sentence, but football is indeed a funny old game.

The former Man City player caused a bit of a stir a few years back after his agent threw a bit of a hissy fit when the Blues didn’t do enough to make a fuss of Toure on his birthday.

It was the same for McLaughlin — for whom life began when he hit 40 last week — but, like Toure, he didn’t even get as much as a fairy cake from his players.

“I didn’t even get to celebrate my birthday because we were in training and not one of the boys brought me in a cake,” he said after Saturday’s 1-0 win over Larne.

“I’ll happily sacrifice those celebrations for the ones we had today, though. The players have sacrificed so much and given me everything they have for me since I came to the club and that win summed it up.”

Those celebrations continued on Tuesday night with the penalty shoot-out win over Linfield in the quarter-final of the Co. Antrim Shield, the perfect icing on top of the cake that he doesn’t have.

They are joined in the last four by Ballymena United, Glentoran and Harland & Wolff Welders after what was a bizarre night of action. The Welders were the onlyteamtomakeitthroughinnormal time, but only just with a late, late goal against Ards, while the Glens needed extra-time to see off Larne.

For the second time in four days, the Sky Blues and Crusaders couldn’t be separated and, like Cliftonville, David Jeffrey’s men needed penalties to progress.

The Reds would love to pick up the Shield I’m sure but, given their manager’s moans, maybe the Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup will be their main push next season!