POPE SPRINGS ETERNAL

Boss Gray prays Reds will be alert but laughs off talk of divine intervention

BARRY GRAY has warned his players it’s “very dangerous” to assume this year’s Irish Cup final will be an all-top tier affair.

Cliftonville and Coleraine are huge favourites to beat Championship outsiders Loughgall and Larne in today’s semi-finals.

But ahead of their clash with Loughgall at the Oval, Cliftonville boss Gray is determined to avoid a giant killing at the hands of The Villagers, who shocked Glenavon 2-1 in the quarter-finals.

He said: “I sense less of a buzz around this game because it’s a Premiership club facing a Championship club, but that’s a very dangerous mindset.

“On paper, we’ll be favourites, but we have to tread very carefully. Loughgall have put out Ards and Glenavon already, so that stands as a warning.

“They’ve already fired a few warning shots in the competition, so there should be no shock factor for us at The Oval. For me, it’s all about how we conduct ourselves. It’s simple – if we don’t bring our A-game, we won’t reach the final. That’s been drilled into the players.”

Gray is all too aware of Cliftonville’s long wait for Irish Cup glory and the Belfast club’s so-called hoodoo in a competition they last won in 1979. He also laughed off suggestions the Reds are destined to lift the trophy because Pope Francis is set to visit Dublin in August; the first Papal visit to Ireland since... 1979.

“It would be nice to say we only have to turn up because the Pope’s visiting Ireland, but if that was the case, all we’d have to do is arrange for the Pope to be here every year,” said Gray.

“I understand why other people maybe hang on to so-called signs and statistics, but my job is to ensure the players go out and perform to their maximum.

“It’s a semi-final of an Irish Cup and it’s there to be enjoyed. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing, it’s a big opportunity to reach a major cup final.

“That’s a huge incentive.

“There’s maybe not a massive amount of hype around the tie and there’s been a lot of focus on upcoming league games, but an Irish

Cup final is at stake and we will relish that.”

Gray, who is without defender Garry Breen (ankle, inset), accepts anything other than a win will be viewed as a catastrophe for the Reds.

He said: “Loughgall have beaten two Premiership teams en route to the semis and they have absolutely nothing to lose. If we lose? It’ll be viewed as nothing short of disaster.

“If I was their manager, I’d be saying the pressure’s firmly on Cliftonville. They’ll be bouncing and we have to ensure we match that intensity.”