Coleraine 0-2 Cliftonville (Result)
Reds book place in Uefa Conference League qualifying stages with victory
Rory Hale put Reds ahead in first half
Axel Piesold doubled advantage after Coleraine keeper Max Little sent off
Coleraine 0-1 Cliftonville
Philip Lowry
Crusaders midfielder on BBC iPlayer
As soon as the ball left Rory Hale's foot, I thought [Little] is definitely not making that.
He probably does get there but he just misses the ball and clatters Joe Gormley.
He's left his side with an absolute mountain to climb, down to 10 men for 35/45 minutes.
I don't think he can have any complaints.
Coleraine 0-1 Cliftonville
Rory Brown is introduced for Corey Smith.
Coleraine 0-1 Cliftonville
Things go from bad to worse for Coleraine as Max Little is shown a straight red card for a foul on Joe Gormley outside the box.
Image source, Press EyeColeraine 0-1 Cliftonville
We're back under way.
Coleraine 0-1 Cliftonville
There is a stoppage in play here to let the paramedics attend a medical emergency in the away stand.
Coleraine 0-1 Cliftonville
There is a stoppage in play here as Odhran Casey needs treatment.
It looks like he will be able to continue though.
Coleraine 0-1 Cliftonville
The action resumes at the Showgrounds.
One change at the break with the injured Ryan Corrigan replaced by Joe Gormley. That's the second change that Jim Magilton has been forced to make due to injury.
HT: Coleraine 0-1 Cliftonville
Philip Lowry
Crusaders midfielder on BBC iPlayer
It's been a really enjoyable first 45 minutes, probably what we expected.
It's been high on quality.
Coleraine will be really disappointed they didn't take one of those early chances and when you're playing quality opposition like Cliftonville, and they have players like Rory Hale, you always run the risk of conceding.
Coleraine 0-1 Cliftonville
Jim Magilton will be the happier manager at the break as his side lead thanks to Rory Hale's goal.
Image source, Press EyeHT: Coleraine 0-1 Cliftonville
Coleraine 0-1 Cliftonville
Corner comes to nothing as Lewis Ridd palms Corey Smith's delivery away.
Coleraine 0-1 Cliftonville
At the other end, Coleraine now have a corner.
This is surely their last chance before the break?
Coleraine 0-1 Cliftonville
Max Little gathers Rory Hale's shot from range.
Hale had controlled the ball in midfield and travelled forward before having a go.
Coleraine 0-1 Cliftonville
We're into four minutes of additional time.
Coleraine 0-1 Cliftonville
Ryan Corrigan has looked lively since his introduction and he has shown some nice skill down the left wing and found Rory Hale in the box.
However, there are at least three Coleraine defenders who rush back and surround the Cliftonville captain and Charles Dunne eventually dispossess him.
Coleraine 0-1 Cliftonville
Coleraine nearly take advantage of a mistake in the Cliftonville defence, but a poor clearance from Lewis Ridd goes out of play and Coleraine can't create a chance through the resulting throw-in.
Coleraine 0-1 Cliftonville
Alert play from the Cliftonville skipper!
Here's how Rory Hale pounced to open the scoring.
Watch: Rory Hale gives Cliftonville the lead against Coleraine
Coleraine 0-1 Cliftonville
Rhyss Campbell's low delivery into the box is hoofed away by Odhran Casey.
Coleraine 0-1 Cliftonville
Declan McManus and Lewis Ridd clash when trying to get to the ball.
The Cliftonville stopper is now receiving treatment.
Coleraine 0-1 Cliftonville
Ronan Doherty turns before having a go from range, but his curling strike is gathered by Lewis Ridd.
Coleraine 0-1 Cliftonville
As Philip Lowry had said before the goal, this game had gone into a bit of a lull.
However now both sides are pushing forward. Coleraine are searching for a quick leveller while the Reds are looking to give themselves a more comfortable advantage.
It was an impressive performance from the Reds, a week after their Irish Cup final defeat
Cliftonville secured the Irish Premiership's final European spot as they defeated 10-man Coleraine 2-0 at the Showgrounds.
The Reds broke the deadlock on 31 minutes when Rory Hale tapped home the rebound of Ryan Curran's shot.
Coleraine goalkeeper Max Little was shown a straight red card early in the second half for a poor challenge on Joe Gormley with Axel Piesold doubling Cliftonville's lead in the 66th minute.
Jim Magilton's side will now play in the 2025/26 UEFA Conference League while the Bannsiders still wait for their first victory in the European play-off final fixture.
It was a lively start to the game with Eric McWoods having a huge opportunity in the opening minutes when he controlled a superb pass from Hale, but his resulting strike wasn't as convincing as the build-up play and was easily gathered by Little.
Shortly after Cliftonville stopper Lewis Ridd was called into action and made a diving save to thwart Rhyss Campbell's shot with Kyle McClelland unable to convert the rebound.
Jamie Glackin's effort was then blocked by Shea Kearney before Campbell blasted the rebound well over the crossbar.
The home side continued to dominate and had a huge chance when Glackin travelled forward and found the unmarked Declan McManus, whose tame shot was gathered by Ridd.
Coleraine were made to regret not taking advantage of their opportunities when the Reds broke the deadlock just after the half hour when Ryan Curran's shot was palmed away by Little with Rory Hale able to fire home the rebound.
Ronan Doherty tried to find a quick leveller with his curling effort gathered by Ridd before Little denied Hale's shot at the other end.
Things became more challenging for Coleraine just after the restart when stopper Little was shown a straight red card for crashing into half-time substitute Gormley outside the box after trying to get to Hale's cross but missing the ball.
Substitute stopper Brown was tested straight away and made a diving save to deny Cliftonville a more comfortable lead from the resulting free-kick when Curran had sent Hale's delivery towards goal.
Magilton's side did get their second when Gormley's shot was parried by Brown but Luke Conlan sent the ball back into the box for Axel Piesold to convert.
As they chased the game in the closing stages, Coleraine struggled to create more opportunities with substitute Matthew Shevlin having a few half chances, but the Cliftonville defence closed down any opportunity created and cleared their lines.
Manager: Ruaidhrí Higgins
Manager: Jim Magilton
Manager: Ruaidhrí Higgins
Manager: Jim Magilton
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