Jim Magilton hails Cliftonville Irish Cup success 'as great a victory as I've ever had' and provides Odhran Casey injury update

Sam Ashford’s second-half header and Ronan Hale’s brace in extra time helped halt almost five decades of Solitude hurt – and the Reds had to deal with their fair share of adversity with goalkeeper David Odumosu and Odhran Casey both substituted before half-time.

Cliftonville started the match slowly, but roared into life after the break and on the same day where Magilton’s former club Ipswich Town were promoted to the Premier League, he was lifting a maiden trophy as manager and writing his name into North Belfast folklore.

Their victory this season had eerie similarities to the one in 1979 – Cliftonville defeated Coleraine, Portadown, Larne and Linfield this season, just like they did 45 years ago – with Ronan Hale, who scored eight goals during that run, the cup final hero.

"To show the courage, resilience and that mental fortitude to do what we've done today...those players deserve so much credit,” he said. “Two lads who have been so strong and important for us, when you lose two in one half...but you have to say Luke Kenny and Nathan Gartside were absolutely brilliant. I'm delighted.

"If you look at our passage to winning this we played four Premiership clubs and a Championship club which is now a Premiership club...we don't do it the easy way at this football club it seems.

"I've just seen the '79 group with Marty Quinn and they're delighted. It's off the scale - it's as great a victory as I've ever had in my football life with everything that happened. It's just magnificent."

Magilton also confirmed that Casey, who suffered a nasty injury on the stroke of half-time which required a stretcher, has broken his leg and praised Linfield manager David Healy for being first on the scene to help the 22-year-old.

"He's in the hospital,” he added. “He's cracked it and he knew right away. To be fair to David, he's so gracious...he was the first to go to him.

"There's a convoy going over to see him and bring the trophy and his medal, but unfortunately he's broken his leg. He has been so good and became an U21 international and David Odumosu has been so good, so you feel as if you're up against it.

"I always felt we had goals in us, which proved to be the case.”