Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
IT IS A RED LETTER DAY FOR CONOR
Mcmenamin brace sparks Solitude men into life as they earn first win over Blues in three years
TWO goal hero Conor Mcmenamin ignited a Cliftonville fightback as the Reds bathed in the glow of a first league win over the Blues in three years.
David Healy’s men led twice in North Belfast thanks to Jordan Stewart’s third goal in three games and a deflected shot from skipper Jamie Mulgrew.
But a poacher’s finish from Michael Mccrudden made it 1-1 before a second half brace from Mcmenamin and late Ryan Curran goal turned the game on its head.
Kirk Millar teed up a grandstand finish when he arrowed home a free-kick in added time, but the Reds held out for a memorable win.
The result ended a seven-game winning streak for Linfield over Cliftonville and sealed a first victory for the Solitude men over the Blues since April 2018.
Linfield were ahead after only 12 minutes when Stewart pounced for his ninth goal of the season after superb approach play from Mulgrew.
Stewart still had plenty to do when he raced clear, but the power and accuracy of his rising shot beat Reds keeper Aaron Mccarey all ends up.
If the visitors thought they were in control after a bright start in North Belfast, they were rocked six minutes later when Cliftonville equalised.
Window signing Rory Hale outpaced Mark Haughey and steered a low cross into the path of Mccrudden who swept home from point blank range.
Linfield were back in front in the 65th minute when the tireless Mulgrew rippled the net from distance, via a deflection off the unfortunate Jamie Harney.
Healy introduced on loan Oxford United winger Joel Cooper for his second Linfield debut soon after, before Cliftonville almost levelled in the 67th minute.
Chris Curran’s deep cross found Ryan Curran lurking at the back post, but the striker’s downward header was cleared off the line by Haughey.
It was 2-2 soon after when man of the match Mcmenamin cut inside Conor Pepper and kept his cool to sweep a close range shot into the bottom corner.
Mcmenamin then made it 3-2 when he bagged his second of the night in the 82nd minute, latching onto a superb Harney pass to cut inside Pepper and fire past Chris Johns.
Linfield had a late penalty appeal waved away by referee Raymond Crangle when Stephen Fallon fell under a challenge by Harney inside the area.
And Cliftonville put the game to bed soon after when substitute Daire O’connor pulled the ball back for Ryan Curran to sweep home his fifth goal of the season.
Millar pulled one back for Linfield when he curled an added time free-kick past Mccarey, but Cliftonville weren’t to be denied a famous win after a seven goal thriller.