Mulvenna hits double as Reds ease past Carrick

After taking the lead though Tiarnan Mulvenna, the Reds were pegged back by Kyle Cherry’s 54th minute header but Mulvenna’s second of the night set the holders on their way to progression, with James Knowles and Martin Donnelly each converting in injury-time to deliver a more comfortable result than the evening’s story had told.

Saturday’s North Belfast derby hero, Joe Gormley, was relegated to the bench as Tommy Breslin made a total of six changes to his team.

In came Mulvenna to partner Davy McDaid up front, while there were also starts for Barry Johnston, Martin Donnelly, Knowles, Martin Murray and skipper George McMullan as the Reds continued their push for a third successive League Cup crown.

With just one defeat to their name all season and seven consecutive victories under their belts, confident Carrick made the trip from east Antrim on the back of a free weekend that had seen their scheduled Championship 1 encounter with Knockbreda fall by the wayside due to ongoing redevelopment work at Taylors Avenue and Ben Roy almost made up for lost time with just eight minutes on the clock, only to see his first-time effort creep across the face of goal and wide.

McDaid looked odds-on to put the hosts ahead from a teasing Murray delivery, but Rangers keeper Brian Neeson produced an acrobatic stop to keep the former Coleraine ace at bay.

There was nothing he could do on 21 minutes, however, when McDaid’s wonderful delivery found Mulvenna in the middle and he stooped to nod home from close range.

Carrick should have levelled almost instantly but, after former Solitude favourite Ciaran Donaghy had failed to find the target with a back-post header, Conor McCloskey’s follow-up lacked sufficient power to force its way through a crowded goalmouth.

Roy and Aaron Traynor drew saves from Conor Devlin either side of Neeson denying Mulvenna a second of the night before the visitors eventually drew level when Kyle Cherry nodded into the bottom corner on 54 minutes.

Parity would not last long, though, and Mulvenna restored Cliftonville’s lead shortly afterwards; coolly clipping home after excellent work from Martin Donnelly.

The winger’s namesake Jay entered proceedings from the sub’s bench on 78 minutes but an injury meant that, in addition to his evening ending early, the Reds would be forced to see out proceedings with just 10 players at their disposal.

Rangers’ attempts to make their numerical advantage count saw keeper Neeson join the attack for an injury-time corner but, when home stopper Devlin made a clean catch and released possession to Knowles, the contest was done and dusted as the former Linfield midfielder strolled the ball into an empty net.

Things would get worse still for Gary Haveron’s men when Martin Donnelly notched number four to complete a scoreline which was harsh on the visitors, but which eventually saw the Cup holders safely through to the last eight.

CLIFTONVILLE: Devlin, Johnston, Flynn, McMullan, McDaid, M Donnelly, Knowles, Seydak, Murray, Cosgrove, Mulvenna. Subs: McGovern (Flynn, 46 mins), Curran, Gormley, J Donnelly (for Murray, 78 mins), McMurray (for McDaid, 68 mins).

CARRICK: Neeson, Smyth, Traynor, Donaghy, Kelly, Kane, Taggart, Cherry, McCloskey, Chines, Roy. Subs: Steele, Lynch (for Kane, 80 mins), Harmon (for Taggart, 67 mins), Browne, Lagan (for Roy, 83 mins).

REFEREE: Ian McNabb (Newtownabbey)