Latest news with #RoryHale
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rory Hale determined to make up for lost time with massive European carrot waiting for Cliftonville
Rory Hale is determined to make up for lost time as he eyes an all-Ireland clash with Shamrock Rovers. The Cliftonville captain was forced to sit out the Reds' European adventure last season due to injury as they lost out to FK Auda in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League. Advertisement After that disappointment Hale is raring to this time around with a meeting with the League of Ireland side the carrot for navigating past St Joseph's of Gibraltar. READ MORE: Sheffiled United complete move for talented Cliftonville teenager READ MORE: David Healy gives Trai Hume message to Linfield youngster 'with so much potential' "I love playing in Europe every single year," said Hale. "Obviously, last season I missed the two games against the Latvian team because of injury, so, I'm definitely ready on a personal level to go out and put on a good performance. "Hopefully we can go on and win the tie because what a massive incentive it is to get the Shamrock Rovers in the next round. Advertisement "It is a huge carrot and it's there for us if we want to go and do it. It's only up to us. This group loves playing in the big games. "We've had the experiences in the last couple of years, so it's a big incentive to go out and get a result. "If we want to be playing in the big games, I want to be playing in the big games and what a tie that could be with Shamrock Rovers." Hale know they cannot afford to take things lightly against St Joseph's as they have shown they are more than capable of getting a result over the two legs. "I don't know much about them but I do know that they ran Shelbourne close last year, who went on to win the League of Ireland, so they're obviously not a bad side," he said. Advertisement "They only lost their league goal difference too, so they must be a good outfit. It's going to be a really tough test for us, but it's one of those games where they'll be fancying themselves and we'll be fancying ourselves."
Belfast Telegraph
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Cliftonville showed incredible mettle by winning Euro Play-Off after Irish Cup heartache: Rory Hale
Cliftonville captain Rory Hale has predicted a bright future for the club after they finished an emotional and gruelling season on a high. The Reds picked themselves up off the floor after losing the Irish Cup Final to conquer Coleraine on their own patch and secure the Premiership's final lucrative European place.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jim Magilton left baffled by Irish Cup final penalty shootout decision
Jim Magilton labelled the decision to take the penalties at the end of Saturday's Irish Cup final in front of the Dungannon Swifts support due to "safety advice" as "startling". The Swifts made history by coming out on top in the shootout against Cliftonville after the two sides had played out an entertaining 1-1 over 120 minutes at Windsor Park. With the Reds and Dungannon fans at opposite ends of the ground whoever won the traditional toss was set to have an advantage by picking the goal in front of their own support. READ MORE: 'It's mad' - NI schoolkids react to session with Manchester United legend READ MORE: 'I'll love you until my last breath' - dad's tearful farewell to tragic teen who died after GAA training session But when quizzed if losing the toss had an impact on Cliftonville's defeat captain Rory Hale revealed there was no coin flip and that he was told by referee Ian McNabb the decision had already been made. "There was no toss (to decide the end) for the penalty shoot-out," said Hale. "It was the IFA's orders to have the shoot-out at the Dungannon end." The Irish FA confirmed this in a statement after the game saying the decision had been made "in accordance with Law 10.3 of the IFAB Laws of the Game, which states: "Unless there are other considerations (e.g. ground conditions, safety etc.), the referee tosses a coin to decide the goal at which the kicks will be taken, which may only be changed for safety reasons or if the goal or playing surface becomes unusable.' An Irish FA spokesperson said: 'The decision to hold the penalty shootout at the East Stand end was made with player safety and welfare as the top priority, following concerns over the large number of missiles and projectiles thrown onto the pitch from the West Stand end.' A bemused Magilton questioned the decision afterwards saying: "I find it startling that a penalty shoot-out can be decided on safety measures, what was the security risk? Our supporters getting exuberant and delighted? "It's a good job we're here in finals because we do bring the noise...I think it's pretty poor if they thought that because of the numbers we bring.' The Reds boss was quick to point out that the decision was not the reasons for his side losing the final. "Did it ultimately cost us the game? would be taking credit away from Dungannon and we don't want to do that,' he said. "Declan Dunne has made a couple of great saves so we can't disagree with that. "Would we have liked to be shooting into our end? Yeah, but if you take the penalty shoot-out out of it, we had to do more and we didn't. "I know it's a lottery but they were pretty composed with their penalties and you have to give them credit." Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox
Belfast Telegraph
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Cliftonville stars are fighting for contracts as well as place on European stage, warns Rory Hale
Cliftonville captain Rory Hale insists players are playing for contracts in Sunday's European Play-Off Final against Coleraine. It's a winner-takes-all contest, with the victors claiming a lucrative place in the 2025/26 UEFA Conference League.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Irish Premiership: Cliftonville to meet Coleraine in European play-off final
After a nervy opening, Cliftonville had a chance when Ryan Curran reacted quickest to Odhran Casey's near post cross, but the striker couldn't keep his flicked effort on target. At the other end, Kodi Lyons-Foster got his head on the end of a Jonny Russell long throw-in, but his effort lacked the pace to trouble Lewis Ridd. Glentoran came close on the half-hour when Russell teed up Joe Thomson from 25- yards but although his daisy-cutter of a shot beat the fully extended Ridd, it whistled inches wide of the far post. Axel Piesold played a clever ball in behind the Glentoran defence which Eric McWoods ran onto, but his effort hit the side netting. Glentoran had another good chance when Thomson's cross was met by David Fisher but Ridd was able to save with his legs. Glentoran forced a number of openings in the opening stages of the second half but couldn't put efforts on target to trouble Ridd. Just as it looked as though the game would go to extra time, Cliftonville broke the deadlock with three minutes remaining when Rory Hale took a short free-kick to Jack Keaney, who spun on the edge of the area before firing a low angled shot past Daniel Gyollai. Worse was to follow for Glentoran soon afterwards as Cammy Palmer was shown a second yellow card for bringing down Hale. With Glentoran pushing forward in search of an equaliser, Cliftonville caught them on the counter-attack deep in stoppage time as a through ball released Eric McWoods, who ran on to clip a shoot past Gyollai, with the ball trickling into the net via the inside of the post.
