Linfield back with a bang against Cliftonville
Cliftonville 0 Linfield 4
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
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Linfield are back! For the last three weeks they have been criticised both collectively and individually, written-off as a spent force - despite three successive league and cup doubles - and laughed at by their rivals.
This evening those critics are choking on a rather large helping of humble pie after the Blues gave a magnificent response to a run of four successive defeats in amazing style.
And with the game being broadcast live on Sky Sports, they showed the entire world just what they are made of.
David Jeffrey's side fired home four goals in the first-half alone to leave Cliftonville shell shocked on the night they returned to Solitude as their plush new stand opened for the first time.
In the second-half it seemed Linfield took the foot off the gas to save the beleaguered Reds any further embarrassment.
The real Linfield stood up, their big players gave big performances, William Murphy and Noel Bailie in particular at the back were as resolute as ever and that allowed the youthful exuberance of Robert Garrett and Michel Carvill to shine like a beacon.
And then there was Paul Munster, a relative unknown in his home city after spending his career in far flung spots from Canada to the Czech Republic and home via Sweden.
Now everyone knows who he is after his double strike.
The first after just four minutes was a shot in the arm for a team who hadn't found the net in any of those four successive games they lost. The second - a minute before half-time - killed off any slight hope there might have been of a Cliftonville comeback and ensured that the second 45 minutes would be academic.
Linfield may never replace the prolific Peter Thompson after banking over £100,000 from his sale to Stockport County in the summer, but Munster is as close as they are going to get for the time being.
He acts on instinct and that's what got him into the right place at the right time to slot home the first goal and in a split second the weight of any pressure that was on the team after the losing streak had gone.
Yes, they relied on an Alan Mannus save from Kieran O'Connor a minute later to protect their lead, but even the goalkeeper himself will tell you that's what he's paid to do.
There was nothing spectacular about William Murphy's goal on 17 minutes which
doubled the lead, it came after a classic goalmouth scramble, but that hardly mattered to the 500 or so travelling Bluemen behind the goal.
Carvill delivered the class when he put the Blues 3-0 up nine minutes before half-time, cracking home a beautiful left-foot shot into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the box after Damian Curran's free-kick was only half cleared.
If the Linfield fans were already happy they were delirious seconds before the break when Munster all but wrapped up the points.
Billy Joe Burn's cross was pinpoint and Munster met the ball in the same way his strike partner Glenn Ferguson has done for years, getting clear of his marker to power a header into the net.
The second-half wasn't so much a non-event, but the hard work had been done. All that remained was for Linfield to stay strong and determined to make sure there was no let up.
Neither Jeffrey, any of his players or even a single Linfield fan could have imagined an outcome like this to bring that run of successive defeats to an end. It really would have been beyond their wildest dreams.
The dreams last night would have been sweet though and there is one more that still exists - a fourth successive league title and maybe even a quadruple double.
Who would dare rule it out?
Those who have written Linfield off will surely be reluctant to do it again and risk an even bigger slice of that humble pie, because Linfield are back and they are back in style.
CLIFTONVILLE: Connolly, B Holland, O'Hara, Donaghy, R Scannell, Hamill, Johnston, O'Connor, McMullan, M Holland, C Scannell. Subs: Murphy, Catney, Patterson, Downey, Boyce.
LINFIELD: Mannus, Burns, Murphy, Bailie, Harkness, Carvill, Garrett, Curran, O'Kane, Ferguson, Munster. Subs: Douglas, McAreavey, Martin, Doherty, White.
Referee: Alan Black (Antrim).
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Comments
29 Comments
Its a game Linfield won they were fantastic! Sectarian comments have no place in the game. All our players are amazing, friendly men. The only chant needed is 'Come on the Blues'. Well done Linfield and my hero David Love you all x
Posted by Joanne | 30.10.08, 18:22 GMT
anyone who thinks this country will ever get better are mugs.there will always be bitterness....there will always be rangers and celtic.everyone stands for wat they believe in and that wont change.
Posted by jeff | 29.10.08, 14:02 GMT
Mick
The GAA operate a GAA for All Policy, with recent initiatives including liaison with schools in East Belfast, liaison with Ulster Scots Agency, Orange Order members guests at All Ireland Finals.
Also the GAA's various presidents over the last decade have come from all religious backgrounds
Posted by Tony Fearon | 29.10.08, 13:14 GMT
Somebody mentioned the IFA's hugely succesful Football for All campaign which has allowed Northern Ireland fans to receive awards and international recognition.
I was wondering, given the monocultural & sectarian nature of the GAA, is there a GAA For All campaign aimed at attracting those from traditionally NON-republican communities, in the same way the support of their national football team (Northern Ireland) is on the increase from those in traditionally non-Unionist communities?
BILLY> "This country will never move forward as long as there are people like you - while the rest of us have a real go of making our wee country a continued success.
Posted by mickey | 29.10.08, 10:37 GMT
Tony, I suppose you blame the IFA for world recession, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and maybe the westlink underpass flooding!!
Posted by Billy | 28.10.08, 17:51 GMT
The truth is that every single Irish league club is sectarian in terms of its support base, directors etc. Granted Linfield no longer operate a No Catholics policy as this would be commercially detrimental. Once again the IFA must accept responsibility for allowing this to happen.
Posted by Tony Fearon | 28.10.08, 16:44 GMT
bluebell,Cliftonville and Donegal Celtic.
Posted by davyblue | 28.10.08, 15:14 GMT
Tony, Downey is a good player, he was well liked by the Linfield fans and Im sure he would be the first to say that he was well treated and Respected during his tenure with Linfield. To suggest he departed due to sectarianism is a complete joke. I wish I could sit down with you and have a chat to see what makes you tick.
Posted by Billy | 28.10.08, 14:39 GMT
Tony - McShane has lasted well over 10 years (without mentioning Gault, O'Kane etc)
Posted by Barrack Jeffrey | 28.10.08, 14:31 GMT
Fearon, People only read your drivel to laugh at you.
Thanks for brightening up a cold afternoon.
Posted by Atticus | 28.10.08, 14:25 GMT
Billy, I don't know how many protestants/catholics play for anyone. The FAI doesn't need to do anything as their team gets support from all communities in the 32 counties and never lost a player due to death threats from his own supporters.
Posted by Tony Fearon | 28.10.08, 14:00 GMT
what do you mean by your comment davyblue? who would stand out?
Posted by bluebell | 28.10.08, 13:58 GMT
Tony Fearon
"I am not obsessed by such matters"
How many letters written this week, Tony?
How many submissions to various media outlets' user-generated content sites?
How many bile-filled posts on internet forums?
No, not obsessive at all.
Posted by Atticus | 28.10.08, 13:52 GMT
Tony, so how many protestants play for Cliftonville, Linfield are top of the league on this front, do the maths and work it out. The IFA should be congratulated on the Football for All Campaign!! Whats the FAI doing?
Posted by Billy | 28.10.08, 13:25 GMT
Could not agree with you more,lets have an enquiry into the makeup of every Irish premier league club,two clubs would stand out a mile,one is still in the premier and the other was one of the clubs relegated!
Posted by davyblue | 28.10.08, 13:17 GMT
Well done Blues- even better, oul Tony gettin himself in a right old kerfuffle
Posted by Barrack Jeffrey | 28.10.08, 13:13 GMT
Billy! Linfield/IFA the team that represents all the communiy? bawahahahahahahahahahahaha! Im picking myself up off the floor laughing.
On a more serious note when is the IFA going to effectively tackle sectarianism and promote inclusiveness?
Posted by Tony Fearon | 28.10.08, 13:04 GMT
Tony Fearon - This country will never move forward as long as there are people like you. I just hope you are a minority. As far as the match went last night it was a superb performance from the team that truly represents all the community that is Linfield FC unlike the team you support. Get real, go travel the world, broaden your horizon, do something but TAKE YOUR BLINKERS OFF!! Please wise up and stop spouting complete dribble!!
Posted by Billy | 28.10.08, 12:07 GMT
Yo Tony
Why are you not on here mentioning how the Cliftonville fans were knocking each other for six in the new stand last night? You wouldn't be one sided would ya? Tell us how many people left the Cliftonville end once all the fighting began, or else we could just watch the tape back and count the hordes of empty seats which weren't there at the start of the game
Posted by Big Davy | 28.10.08, 12:07 GMT
Tony
Nothing like a good aul blanket comment. Enlighten us to the sectarian agenda of the Linfield fans then tell us your own, no wait, you've already made it clear where you stand. Everyone can see you for what you are now. I bet you were sitting with your earphones on last night with the sound maxed hoping to hear something that might be twisted to be imagined as sectarian. Bet you were delighted when Linfield sang 'the game is over, you might as well go home'. Delighted you were!
Easy, easy, easy! Mon the Blues.
Posted by Aaron | 28.10.08, 12:02 GMT
29 Comments