Latest news with #EuropeanPlayoff
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Irish Premiership: Jim Magilton 'proud' of Cliftonville's 'resolve' in Glens win
Glentoran manager Declan Devine and Cliftonville boss Jim Magilton speak to BBC Sport NI after the Reds' 2-0 victory at the Oval helped them reach Sunday's European play-off final. Devine on the defeat: "We didn't do enough which is the biggest disappointment. We were looking for a reaction tonight, but we didn't play with any intensity and our attacking play was non-existent. We switch off from a free-kick then and we are severely punished." On the disappointing end to the season: "We have to change our mentality here because the reality is we haven't scored enough goals this year. We had second place in our hands and threw it away." Magilton on the win: "We played really well in parts but above all else we were tremendous in character and guts to get a result after the huge disappointment of Saturday. To show the resolve and resilience, I'm so proud of the players." On Jack Keaney and Eric McWoods' goals: Once Rory (Hale) lands on the ball he has that kind of vision and Jack was brilliant all night and recognised there was an opening and then it was a fantastic finish. "Glentoran were then pressing for an equaliser, and we caught them on the counter and Eric worked his socks off all night and deserved his goal." On Sunday's final: "If we qualify for Europe this way it's up there with the great achievements. We know it will be a huge task. We tend to like to do things the hard way so we will be ready."
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Irish Premiership: Ruaidhri Higgins praises 'outstanding' McManus goal in Crues win
After Coleraine booked their place in the European play-off final with a 1-0 win over Crusaders, BBC Sport NI caught up with Bannsiders boss Ruaidhri Higgins and Crues manager Declan Caddell. Higgins on winning in his first game in charge: "Absolutely delighted with the result we started the game extremely well, some of the play first half was top drawer and what we want going forward. "Second half we had to dig deeper and show a bit of grit to see the game out. All we wanted was to get to Sunday and we've done that." On Declan McManus' winning goal: "It was an outstanding goal some really good play down the right side and lovely cross from Corey (Smith) and tucked away well by Declan." On Sunday's final: "It would be a brilliant achievement if we could secure European football, we're playing against a really good side in Cliftonville, but we will be ready and looking forward to it." Caddell on the defeat: "It was a game of two halves, Coleraine were very good first half, took an early goal well which was hard to recover from and they warranted the lead in the game. Second half it was all pressure from us, but we didn't do enough, we had no clear-cut chances. "The players gave everything, I'm really disappointed for them, it has been a rollercoaster of a year. Tonight was a sore one, but we will learn a lot from it."
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Glentoran vs Cliftonville and Coleraine vs Crusaders - Irish Premiership European play-off semi-finals
FULL-TIME Coleraine 1-0 Crusaders Coleraine register their first win against Crusaders this season as Ruaidhri Higgins' reign as Coleraine manager gets off to a winning start. The Bannsiders will welcome Cliftonville to the Coleraine Showgrounds on Sunday for the European play-off final.
