N talks to Cliftonville’s new goalkeeper RICHARD BRUSH

out injured at Sligo and joined Shamrock Rovers at a time when they were towards the top of the table halfway through the season,” explained Brush.

“They were in the qualifying stages of the Champions League at the time and we ended up winning the league and getting to the group stages of the Europa League where I got to play a couple of games. So that for me was a big personal highlight.”

It was at Ballinamallard, however, where Brush first came to the attention of Irish League fans.

Gavin Dykes, not long appointed as Whitey Anderson’s successor, was a wily operator in the League of Ireland, particularly with his knowledge of players around the border regions, and managed to prise the experienced stopper from Finn Harps, with Brush putting pen to paper for the Mallards on Janauary 1, 2017.

Naturally, at a club used to fighting for survival, highlights were few and far between, but Brush does single out one of the craziest games of last season as one of his best memories – even if he did concede four against his new club.

“Looking back, it’s strange to say a highlight but we played against Cliftonville and we seemed to be a bit of a bogey side for them and we beat them 6-4,” recalled Brush.

“Unfortunately, at the end of the season it didn’t mean a lot, but at that time, it was a big result for us and a massive three points.

“It was a great game to be involved in, and as a keeper to concede four goals it’s strange to say it was a highlight but it was a good game and one of those you look back on and are glad you were involved in.

“For the neutral and for people watching, it was an entertaining game.”

SAFE HANDS Richard Brush gets ready to deliver a pass while with Sligo Rovers in 2010 A NEW OVAL BALL GAME Not the picture he would have chosen from his first game in a Reds’ shirt, but despite John Mcguigan scoring, Brush ended up on the winning side...