Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton admits his squad “desperately need bodies” following their Senior Shield final defeat with January exits and season-ending injuries limiting options.

The Reds were beaten on penalties by Carrick Rangers after the match ended 1-1 in normal time – Ryan Curran’s early strike was cancelled out by an Adam Lecky effort at Seaview.

While Carrick produced a perfect set of spot-kicks, Cliftonville missed twice – Curran blazed over before Scott Pengelly denied Liam McStravick.

Magilton’s squad has been hit hard this month with Thomas Lavery recalled by parent club Sunderland, Odhran Casey departing for Shelbourne in a League of Ireland record deal and the Reds chief has now revealed Jack Keaney “is away”.

placeholder image — Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton. (Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press)

Striker Eric McWoods’ season is also over after picking up an injury, leaving Magilton looking to the transfer market.

"The window is still open and we desperately need bodies, there’s no question,” he said. “We have a lot of lads out injured.

"Eric is out for the rest of the season so we’re looking to recruit. Hopefully we can do that.

"Jack Keaney is away, he wasn’t fit and he’s away as well. If you look at the back-five, we lost Tommy (Lavery) and when we were having a really good spell the selection was easy.

"You had Tommy, Casey, Jonny (Addis), Jack Keaney and Keavo (Keevan Hawthorne) or another down that side. That’s going to impact us, but it gives somebody else an opportunity.

"The opportunity rests with those lads who are chomping at the bit to do their thing.

"Shaun Leppard had an average game on Saturday but played really well tonight – that’s just the way this league is, it asks so many questions of you and demands so much.

"I’m never confident (of getting deals done) but we’ll be trying our utmost to do that. I don’t particularly like this window because it’s a difficult one.

"You’re trying to get players in and it’s always difficult because they have to hit the ground running and you’ve to be absolutely sure you’re getting the right ones in.

"It’s a really difficult situation and all managers feel the same way. We’re going to try our best and I think our squad needs a wee lift too, we will try and do that.”

Cliftonville won their first two finals under Magilton, celebrating Irish Cup and League Cup success, but have now lost their last two on penalties.

The Solitude outfit had a prime chance to seal victory in normal time as McStravick blasted over from close range, and Magilton was left disappointed with his side’s second half showing.

"We’re trying to grow young players at the football club,” he added. “We love them, we trust them and we just felt we would go with a little bit more experience tonight.

"For large parts of the game, that worked well for us. Maybe on another night we win that, but they (Carrick) kept going and sometimes the opposition deserve credit – we have to hand credit to them.

"I just thought we were so poor second half in terms of on the ball and that’s disappointing for me.

"It always is (fine margins) in these games, it’s a one-off cup final and both teams want to win the game. We had a fantastic chance to win it and we didn’t take it. They took their penalties really well, we missed two.”