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Curran and Keaney end Glens unbeaten run at Solitude

Curran and Keaney end Glens unbeaten run at Solitude

BBC News21-02-2025
Goals from Ryan Curran and Jack Keaney in the space of three second-half minutes saw Cliftonville end Glentoran's 16-game unbeaten run with a 2-0 victory at Solitude.After a goalless first half, Jim Magilton's side made the breakthrough after the hour mark when Rory Hale's parried shot fell to Ryan Curran, who scored his fifth league goal of the campaign.Three minutes later that lead was doubled thanks to Ryan Keaney's header as the home side took full control of the game and saw out the win.Cliftonville move up to fifth in the table, level on points with Portadown who face Ballymena on Saturday, while Glentoran missed the chance to reduce Linfield's impressive 19-point lead at the top of the table.
In a dress rehearsal ahead of next month's BetMcLean Cup final between the sides, the opening half was a cagey affair with little clear chances created by either side.Declan Devine's side had the better of the rare chances in that opening period with Danny Amos, Kodi Lyons-Foster and Christie Pattisson going close.After failing to capitalise on those first-half chances, the visitors should have taken the lead early after the break.Cliftonville keeper Lewis Ridd managed to parry Pattisson's low drive, but the rebound fell perfectly for Ferris, only for Reds defender Harry Wilson to produce a heroic last-ditch block.From there, Magilton's side stole a march on the game and their two quick-fire goals sealed the points.With 65 minutes on the clock, the impressive Hale unleashed a fierce drive from the edge of the area. Daniel Gyollai managed to get a hand to it but could only push the ball into the path of Curran, who reacted quickest to steer home from close range.Before Glentoran could settle, the home side struck again. Alex Parsons delivered an inviting corner to the back post, where Keaney rose above his marker and powered home his first goal in Cliftonville colours.
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