'They're the greatest moments in your life': Jim Magilton clear Irish Cup final hat-trick bid 'should motivate, never intimidate' Cliftonville
Cliftonville boss Jim Magilton insists occasions such as Friday’s Irish Cup semi-final “should motivate you, never intimidate you” as his side look to book their spot in a third consecutive Windsor Park showpiece decider.
Having taken over at the Reds in 2023, former Northern Ireland star Magilton has yet to experience defeat in normal time in the Irish Cup.
His perfect winning record was only ended with penalty shoot-out heartbreak against Dungannon Swifts – who provide opposition once again this weekend – in last season’s final.
Across his 13 matches in Northern Ireland’s premier cup competition to date, Magilton has come out on the right side 12 times – a remarkable run which includes ending Cliftonville’s 45-year wait for glory.
As the Premiership’s landscape continues to change with the four full-time teams opening up a gap to the rest – Cliftonville sit in fifth but are 16 points adrift of fourth-placed Linfield – the Reds have established a reputation as cup specialists.
Magilton masterminded last season’s BetMcLean Cup final triumph over Glentoran while they also reached this term’s Senior Shield decider before losing out on penalties to Carrick Rangers.
Having previously featured in a First Division play-off final for Ipswich Town in front of over 73,000 fans at Wembley and represented Northern Ireland 52 times, Magilton is comfortable on the biggest stages.
While many utter the phrase ‘don’t play the occasion’ in efforts to relieve pressure, those words won’t be heard inside Cliftonville’s changing room with Magilton wanting his side to embrace all that comes with it.
“When I hear ‘you don't play the occasion, you play the game’, I think that's a complete load of bunkum, I really do,” said Magilton. “You work so hard to play in these games, these games should motivate you, never intimidate you.
"They should inspire you, these are the matches you work so hard to play in, you should embrace the occasion because it's such a huge event.
"To win and play in a semi-final only adds to the absolute pleasure of then going and representing your club in an Irish Cup final, so I've never bought into that as a player nor as a manager.
"I think the occasion is there, it should be a big event, players should want to play in big events, enjoy the occasion, embrace it and then go out and play.”
Magilton has been the leading figure for Cliftonville’s recent successes, but he’s had to contend with a constant battle of losing star talent.
Only three starters from their Irish Cup triumph of 2024 – Jonny Addis, Conor Pepper and Rory Hale – remain at the club with goal hero Ronan Hale earning a move to Ross County a matter of weeks later while Ben Wilson also departed for Scotland.
Cliftonville celebrated League Cup glory less than 13 months ago, but five of their starting line-up have since left the club, including defensive duo Odhran Casey and Jack Keaney in January.
While it has been a period of change on the player front in North Belfast, a large majority of Cliftonville’s current panel have experienced some of the Irish League’s biggest days and Magilton is hungry for even more.
“I hope so (experience will count),” he added. “Having those experiences are the greatest moments in your life.
"Playing in Irish Cup finals are things that you want to be around, you want to be involved in.
"The players in that dressing room know what it takes to get to a final which is great, but the semi-finals are always huge events.
"When we won the cup we had to beat Larne in the semi, last year it was kind of slightly different because two Championship sides got to the semi-finals and there was always the danger of a potential banana skin – we had to be really professional and focused and get into it.
"Friday night takes its own significance for both clubs and for us being there again is a huge achievement.
"Winning semi-finals is about winning semi-finals and you have to do that by whatever means necessary. We know that we're up against a side that are more than capable of beating anybody in the league.”
Magilton has received a timely injury boost with influential midfielder Harry Wilson featuring for the first time in a month during last weekend’s 2-0 league loss at leaders Larne while Addis registered an hour as he builds towards full fitness.
Cliftonville will also welcome talisman – and captain – Rory Hale back into their squad after he missed out through suspension at Inver Park, and after a hectic fixture schedule, Magilton was grateful for an opportunity to reset this week.
"Getting Harry minutes, Jonny Addis minutes, was important for us,” he said. "We obviously have to nurse two or three more through, Rory (Hale) was suspended.
"All attention now, because it's the next game (Irish Cup semi-final), obviously a game of huge importance for both clubs.
"Every midweek game that we've had for the last two months has kind of been critical.
"You hope you can come through those games, but we haven't managed to do that because we bring one back, we lose two.
"It's great now that we have that opportunity to make sure that we're all okay and we're ready and we have to be focused.”