DUNDALKFC.COM: OFFICIAL MATCH PRESS KIT

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1 DUNDALKFC.COM: OFFICIAL DUNDALK FC vs. CLIFTONVILLE FC SETANTA SPORTS CUP Semi-Final Second Leg Monday 18 April 2011, 7.45pm

2 Contents 2/3 Match background 9 League tables 4 Latest match, injury/disciplinary news 10/11 SSC match-by-match lineups 5/6 Squad and management information 12/13 Team facts 7/8 Results & fixtures information 14 Head-to-head This press kit includes information relating to this Setanta Sports Cup match. Match background Dundalk take a 3-1 advantage into the deciding leg of this Setanta Sports Cup semi-final tie against Cliftonville at Oriel Park on Monday night, following a come-from-behind victory at Solitude a fortnight ago. The Lilywhites had Mark Quigley largely to thank as he cancelled out George McMullan s first-half opener with a magnificent run and 25-yard dipping effort just after the break. Daniel Kearns then saw his weak shot squirm under goalkeeper Jack Duffin on 73 minutes, before Quigley added another superb goal eight minutes from time. Those strikes brought both McMullan s and Quigley s tally to five, making them joint-top scorers in this season s competition. Kearns is close behind on four. This is Cliftonville s 51st competitive game of the season. It is Dundalk s 14th. While this is the Lilywhites first taste of the Setanta Sports Cup their record reading P5 W3 D2 L0 F11 A6 it is Cliftonville s third outing in the cross-border competition. The Reds made their bow in 2008 when they finished third in Group 1, ten points behind Drogheda United and Cork City. Their only points came against Dungannon Swifts, drawing at home and winning away. In 2009/10, they lost three of their four games in a group containing Sligo Rovers and Cork, their only win being awarded following the demise of the Leesiders. If that 3-0 walkover is counted, their full record reads: P15 W5 D1 L9 F25 A29. In their debut season, Dundalk have progressed to this stage by beating the two most successful clubs in Northern Ireland, Linfield and Glentoran, and on both occasions they won the opening leg in Belfast and drew the return in Oriel Park. In the opening round, a Kearns hat-trick and Quigley double did the damage in Windsor Park on Saint Valentine s Day as Dundalk won 5-3, before a Ross Gaynor strike in the second leg secured a 1-1 draw and progression to the quarter-finals on a 6-4 aggregate scoreline. In the last eight, Quigley was again on the mark, his magnificent 82nd-minute volley giving Dundalk a narrow advantage to take back to Oriel Park. FIFA Puskás Award nominee Matthew Burrows cancelled that out from the spot in the second leg, but after Johnny Taylor saw red for the Glens, Gaynor again scored, firing home ten minutes from time to see Dundalk through. While Dundalk have so far beaten two Irish League clubs, Cliftonville have beaten teams from either side of the border. In the opening round, McMullan scored in both halves and Mark Holland added another before the break to give them a 2

3 commanding advantage over Saint Patrick s Athletic with a 3-0 win in Solitude. In the return leg, the Dublin side won 2-0 thanks to goals from David Mulcahy and David McMillan, but Cliftonville progressed by the narrowest of margins. In the quarter-finals, the Reds came through an extraordinary tie, beating Crusaders 10-6 on aggregate. They won the first leg at Solitude 4-2, courtesy of goals from McMullan, Dermot McVeigh, Stephen Garrett and Mark Holland. Their six in the return at Seaview came through a double from Kieran O Connor, and goals from Mark Holland, McMullan from the spot, Garrett and Rory Donnelly. In the league, Cliftonville have struggled recently, with the late weekend win over Portadown their first victory since February. A run of five games without a win (two draws/three losses) ended the near six-year tenure of Eddie Patterson just three days before the first leg of this tie. Incidentally, one of those defeats was on a 5-0 scoreline away to Crusaders, just two days before Cliftonville went back to Seaview and won 6-4 in this competition. Dundalk have taken eight points from their opening seven league games, beating Galway United (3-2) and UCD (3-1), drawing with Bohemians (0-0) and Sligo Rovers (1-1), and losing to Shamrock Rovers (1-3), Saint Patrick s Athletic (2-3) and Derry City (0-2). Dundalk s top scorer after 13 competitive games this year is Quigley, with eight goals. In total: 8 Quigley, 5 Kearns, 4 Jason Byrne, 3 Gaynor, 1 Shane Guthrie. Byrne is the joint-highest scorer in the Airtricity League Premier Division with four goals, his fine strike against Sligo Rovers on Friday night seeing him join Shamrock Rovers Gary Twigg and Derry s Gareth McGlynn on four goals. In the Setanta Sports Cup, Dundalk s top marksman is Quigley with five goals. Kearns has four. Gaynor is the side s only other scorer in the tournament having netted in both previous home legs. Gaynor is hoping to join Quigley as those who have scored in all three ties. Quigley has netted on all three trips to Belfast. Cliftonville s top scorers in the league are Chris Scannell and McMullan, the pair having netted nine times each. The Reds top marksmen in the Setanta Sports Cup are: 5 McMullan, 3 Mark Holland, 2 O Connor & Garrett, 1 Donnelly & McVeigh. McMullan has now netted in all three ties; Holland is aiming to join him in that category. Mark Griffin is the only member of Foster s 19-man panel yet to start a competitive game this year. He was used as a late substitute in the Leinster Senior Cup against Shamrock Rovers and against UCD in the league, meaning every player has had a taste of action. Captain Simon Madden is the only player to have played every minute of Dundalk s 13 competitive games to date. The game is Foster s 60th competitive outing in charge of Dundalk and his 101st in total. Foster's managerial record at Dundalk, in all competitions, is: P59 W23 D12 L24 F80 A87. Win rate: 39%. His full record at Galway United was: P41 W14 D7 L20 F42 A62. Win rate: 34.1%. His total record is: P100 W37 D19 L44 F122 A149. Win rate: 37%. 3

4 Latest match, injury/disciplinary news Dundalk Last Match: Friday 15 April: Dundalk 1-1 Sligo Rovers (Byrne 7; Peers 32) Jason Byrne and Gavin Peers traded first-half goals as Dundalk and Sligo Rovers had to settle for a point apiece at the end of a highly-entertaining 1-1 draw at Oriel Park on Friday night. The Lilywhites started very brightly and deservedly went ahead on seven minutes when Byrne fired to the top corner from 15-yards after an attempted clearance came off Dean Bennett and rolled into his path. Sligo, however, earned a share of the spoils just past the half-hour mark when Peers powerfully headed a John Dillon corner to the net. Both teams were happy to attack when in possession thereafter but neither could find another way through, Sligo perhaps the happier with the draw. Injury/Disciplinary news On Monday, Dundalk will again be without long-term injury victims Greg Bolger (thigh strain), Stephen Maher (torn groin muscles) and Eoghan Osborne (broken leg), while Shane Guthrie (blurred vision and concussion) will also miss out. Dean Bennett was subbed in the first half against Sligo having felt his hamstring, with the midfielder considered a doubt. The Lilywhites go into the game with Ross Gaynor, Keith Ward, Daniel Kearns, Simon Madden and Peter Cherrie all on yellow cards, meaning another caution against Cliftonville would rule them out of the final on Saturday 14 May should the Louth club progress. Bolger and Guthrie, incidentally, would also have carried yellow cards into the game. Miscellaneous Cherrie, Madden, Kearns and Mark Quigley are the only four players in Ian Foster s 19-man squad to have played every minute of the club s Setanta Sports Cup campaign. Madden is the only one who has yet to miss a second of competitive action this term, having captained the side throughout their 13 games to date. Interestingly, both of Stephen McDonnell s assists in the Setanta Sports Cup have come from his own half, for Kearns third in Windsor Park and Quigley s first in Solitude. Cliftonville Last Match: Saturday 16 April: Portadown 0-1 Cliftonville (McMullan 88 (pen)) George McMullan, who netted the opening goal of this semi-final tie at Solitude a fortnight ago, scored a penalty to give Cliftonville victory over Portadown, who had two players sent-off, at Shamrock Park on Saturday afternoon. Kevin Braniff was sent off in the 63rd minute for something he said to one of the officials. Three minutes from time, Keith O'Hara was red-carded for a challenge on Stephen Garrett close to the home goal and McMullan netted the penalty. Portadown had most of the chances before that with defender Brian Gartland twice heading against the bar. Braniff had earlier wasted a great chance when he shot over from in front of goal. (Report courtesy of BBC Sport) Injury/Disciplinary news - Miscellaneous Cliftonville s win over Portadown was their first in the league since beating Dungannon Swifts at Solitude on 19 February, their victories exactly 56 days apart. Tony Kane is the only player yet to miss a second of action in this season s Setanta Sports Cup. 4

5 Squad and management information Dundalk (Statistics from Setanta Sports Cup ONLY) No. Player Nat. DoB Age Apps. Starts Goals Assists Goalkeepers 1 Peter Cherrie SCO Paul Murphy IRL Defenders 2 Simon Madden IRL Eoghan Osborne IRL Colin Hawkins IRL Michael Hector ENG Nathan Murphy IRL Shane Guthrie IRL Midfielders 4 Dean Bennett ENG Daniel Kearns IRL Stephen Maher IRL Ross Gaynor IRL Greg Bolger IRL Stephen McDonnell IRL Keith Ward IRL Forwards 9 Mark Quigley IRL Jason Byrne IRL Mark Griffin IRL Johnny Breen IRL Management - Ian Foster ENG Darius Kierans IRL

6 Squad and management information Cliftonville (Statistics from Setanta Sports Cup ONLY) No. Player Nat. DoB Age Apps. Starts Goals Assists Goalkeepers 1 John Connolly IRL Jack Duffin NIR Andrew Wallace Paul McKane NIR Defenders 2 Liam Fleming NIR Ronan Scannell NIR Peter Hutton NIR Barry Holland NIR Ciarán Donaghy NIR Mark Holland NIR Aaron Smyth NIR Eamonn Seydak NIR Jason Bannon NIR Tony Kane NIR Dermot McVeigh NIR Stephen Brennan NIR Midfielders 8 George McMullan NIR Ciarán Caldwell NIR Barry Johnston IRL Ryan Catney NIR Kieran O Connor NIR Conal Burns NIR Jody Lynch NIR Forwards 9 Chris Scannell NIR Stephen Garrett NIR Rory Donnelly NIR Martin Jones NIR Mark Clarke NIR Kevin O Neill Management - Tommy Breslin NIR Note: Paul McKane is currently on loan to Carrick Rangers. Stephen Brennan is currently on loan to Donegal Celtic. 6

7 Results & fixture information Dundalk (Formline: LWWDDLWWLD) Comp. Date Opponent Res. Goalscorers SSC 14/02/11 Linfield (A) 5-3 Kearns 31, 66, 92, Quigley 54, 75 LSC 22/02/11 Shamrock Rovers (H) 0-2 SSC 28/02/11 Linfield (H) 1-1 Gaynor 11 League 04/03/11 Shamrock Rovers (A) 1-3 Byrne 44 (pen) SSC 07/03/11 Glentoran (A) 1-0 Quigley 82 League 11/03/11 Galway United (H) 3-2 Quigley 18, Byrne 71, Guthrie 87 League 18/03/11 Bohemians (H) 0-0 SSC 21/03/11 Glentoran (H) 1-1 Gaynor 80 League 25/03/11 Saint Patrick s Athletic (A) 2-3 Quigley 17, 48 League 01/04/11 UCD (H) 3-1 Gaynor 42, Kearns 45, Byrne 72 SSC 04/04/11 Cliftonville (A) 3-1 Quigley 48, 82, Kearns 73 League 08/04/11 Derry City (A) 0-2 League 15/04/11 Sligo Rovers (H) 1-1 Byrne 7 SSC 18/04/11 Cliftonville (H) League 22/04/11 Drogheda United (A) LCup 25/04/11 Monaghan United (A) League 29/04/11 Bray Wanderers (H) League 02/05/11 Shamrock Rovers (H) League 06/05/11 Galway United (A) League 09/05/11 Bohemians (A) League 13/05/11 Saint Patrick s Athletic (H) League 20/05/11 UCD (A) League 26/05/11 Derry City (H) League 30/05/11 Sligo Rovers (A) League 10/06/11 Drogheda United (H) League 17/06/11 Bray Wanderers (A) League 20/06/11 Shamrock Rovers (A) League 24/06/11 Galway United (H) League 01/07/11 Bohemians (H) League 08/07/11 Saint Patrick s Athletic (A) League 15/07/11 UCD (H) League 22/07/11 Derry City (A) League 05/08/11 Sligo Rovers (H) League 12/08/11 Drogheda United (A) League 19/08/11 Bray Wanderers (H) League 03/09/11 Shamrock Rovers (H) League 09/09/11 Galway United (A) League 12/09/11 Bohemians (A) League 23/09/11 Saint Patrick s Athletic (H) League 30/09/11 UCD (A) League 08/10/11 Derry City (H) League 15/10/11 Sligo Rovers (A) League 21/10/11 Drogheda United (H) League 28/10/11 Bray Wanderers (A) 7

8 Results & fixture information Cliftonville (Formline: DLLWLWLDLW) Comp. Date Opponent Res. Goalscorers UEL 15/07/10 HNK Cibalia (H) 1-0 Caldwell 82 UEL 22/07/10 HNK Cibalia (A) 0-0 UEL 27/07/10 CSKA Sofia (A) 0-3 UEL 05/08/10 CSKA Sofia (H) 1-2 Boyce 42 League 14/08/10 Newry City (A) 1-0 C Scannell 61 League 20/08/10 Dungannon Swifts (H) 2-0 McMullan 36, 70 League 27/08/10 Crusaders (A) 3-1 R Scannell 66, Boyce 69, McMullan 69 (pen) League 31/08/10 Glentoran (A) 0-2 League 04/09/10 Ballymena United (A) 1-1 Hutton 44 CAS 07/09/10 Linfield (A) 0-2 League 11/09/10 Linfield (A) 0-0 LCup 18/09/10 Larne (A) 1-0 Donnelly 71 League 21/09/10 Coleraine (H) 0-2 League 25/09/10 Lisburn Distillery (A) 1-1 Lynch 71 League 02/10/10 Donegal Celtic (H) 4-2 McMullan 26 (pen), Garrett 45, C Scannell 67, Donnelly 90+1 League 05/10/10 Glenavon (A) 2-1 McMullan 60 (pen), Caldwell 90+2 League 09/10/10 Newry City (H) 2-1 Donnelly 67, Garrett 85 League 16/10/10 Glentoran (H) 2-1 Donnelly 60, Caldwell 79 LCup 23/10/10 Glenavon (A) 2-1 C Scannell 24 (pen), McVeigh 90 League 30/10/10 Portadown (H) 0-1 League 06/11/10 Coleraine (A) 1-3 Garrett 89 League 09/11/10 Glenavon (H) 0-2 League 13/11/10 Ballymena United (H) 5-0 R Scannell 10, C Scannell 18, 44, 47, Hutton 82 League 20/11/10 Lisburn Distillery (H) 1-3 R Scannell 89 League 27/11/10 Dungannon Swifts (A) 1-0 Garrett 13 LCup 05/12/10 Glentoran (H) 0-2 League 10/12/10 Linfield (H) 3-1 O Connor 22, Caldwell 70 (pen), Connolly 84 (pen) League 27/12/10 Crusaders (H) 2-1 Seydak 84, B Holland 89 League 01/01/11 Coleraine (A) 2-3 Caldwell 44, C Scannell 81 League 04/01/11 Lisburn Distillery (H) 3-2 R Scannell 12, 65, M Holland 41 League 11/01/11 Donegal Celtic (A) 1-1 Donnelly 90 Cup 15/01/11 Warrenpoint Town (A) 1-1 C Scannell 79 League 22/01/11 Linfield (H) 2-4 C Scannell 15, Garrett 20 Cup 25/01/11 Warrenpoint Town (H) 0-0 (Lost 3-1 on penalties) League 31/01/11 Glenavon (A) 2-0 McMullan 36, Shannon 90 (OG) League 05/02/11 Ballymena United (H) 2-2 Caldwell 45, M Holland 46 League 08/02/11 Portadown (A) 1-2 C Scannell 11 League 12/02/11 Newry City (A) 2-0 Kane 11, M Holland 72 League 19/02/11 Dungannon Swifts (H) 3-2 Fitzpatrick 24 (OG), C Scannell 60, McMullan 72 (pen) SSC 21/02/11 Saint Patrick s Athletic (H) 3-0 McMullan 31, 49, M Holland 42 League 26/02/11 Glentoran (A) 0-0 SSC 01/03/11 Saint Patrick s Athletic (A) 0-2 League 12/03/11 Portadown (H) 1-3 Donnelly 90 SSC 14/03/11 Crusaders (H) 4-2 McMullan 24, McVeigh 71, Garrett 85, M Holland 86 League 19/03/11 Crusaders (A) 0-5 SSC 21/03/11 Crusaders (A) 6-4 O Connor 5, 20, M Holland 10, McMullan 54 (pen), Garrett 61, Donnelly 89 League 26/03/11 Glentoran (H) 1-2 Donnelly 80 League 01/04/11 Donegal Celtic (H) 2-2 McVeigh 49, McAllister 68 SSC 04/04/11 Dundalk (H) 1-3 McMullan 25 League 16/04/11 Portadown (A) 1-0 McMullen 88 (pen) 8

9 League tables LEAGUE OF IRELAND Pos. Club Pld W D L GF GA Pts 1 Shamrock Rovers Derry City Sligo Rovers Bray Wanderers Bohemians Saint Patrick s Athletic Dundalk UCD Galway United Drogheda United IRISH LEAGUE Pos. Club Pld W D L GF GA Pts 1 Linfield Crusaders Glentoran Cliftonville Coleraine Dungannon Swifts Lisburn Distillery Portadown Ballymena United Glenavon Donegal Celtic Newry City

10 Setanta Sports Cup Match-by-match lineups Dundalk Linfield Dundalk 3-5 Windsor Park, Belfast Goals: 0-1 Kearns 31, 1-1 Thompson 43 (pen), 1-2 Quigley 54, 2-2 Garrett 62, 2-3 Kearns 66, 2-4 Quigley 75, 3-4 Allen 81, 3-5 Kearns 92 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Bennett, Hawkins, N Murphy, Bolger, Ward (McDonnell 85), Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Maher, Griffin, Breen Dundalk Linfield 1-1 Goals: 1-0 Gaynor 11, 1-1 Gault 45+1 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Guthrie, Hawkins, Osborne, Bennett, Bolger (Ward 81), Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor (Maher 61), Byrne. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Hector, N Murphy, McDonnell, Breen Glentoran Dundalk 0-1 The Oval, Belfast Goals: 0-1 Quigley 82 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hector, Guthrie, N Murphy, Bennett, Maher, Kearns, Quigley, Ward (McDonnell 90), Byrne (Breen 88). Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Bolger, Griffin Dundalk - Glentoran 1-1 Goals: 0-1 Burrows 60 (pen), 1-1 Gaynor 80 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Guthrie, N Murphy, Bolger (Maher 65), Ward, Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), McDonnell, Griffin, Breen Cliftonville Dundalk 1-3 Solitude, Belfast Goals: 1-0 McMullan 25, 1-1 Quigley 48, 1-2 Kearns 73, 1-3 Quigley 82 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Guthrie, N Murphy, McDonnell, Ward, Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne (Breen 82). Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Hector, Griffin. Note: Players in red signal change to lineup from previous game. 10

11 Setanta Sports Cup Match-by-match lineups Cliftonville Cliftonville St. Patrick s Ath. 3-0 Solitude, Belfast Goals: 1-0 McMullan 31, 2-0 M Holland 42, 3-0 McMullan 49 Cliftonville: Connolly, Fleming, B Holland (O Connor 46), M Holland (Donnelly 71), McMullan, C Scannell, Garrett, Seydak, Johnston, Kane, McVeigh. Unused Subs: Duffin (GK), Bannon, Lynch, Jones, Bradley St. Patrick s Ath. Cliftonville 2-0 Richmond Park, Dublin Goals: 1-0 Mulcahy 41, 2-0 D McMillan 80 Cliftonville: Connolly, Hutton, B Holland (Burns 16), M Holland (Donnelly 76), McMullan, Garrett, Seydak, Johnston, O Connor, Kane, McVeigh. Unused Subs: Duffin (GK), Smyth, Bradley Cliftonville Crusaders 4-2 Solitude, Belfast Goals: 1-0 McMullan 24, 1-1 Magee 32, 1-2 Halliday 54, 2-2 McVeigh 71, 3-2 Garrett 85, 4-2 M Holland 86 Cliftonville: Connolly, Hutton (Smyth 78), McMullan, C Scannell, Seydak, Johnston, O Connor (Garrett 67), Burns, Donnelly (M Holland 67), Kane, McVeigh. Unused Subs: Duffin (GK), Fleming, Bannon, Bradley Crusaders Cliftonville 4-6 Seaview, Belfast Goals: 0-1 O Connor 5, 0-2 Holland 10, 1-2 Sweeney 13, 2-2 Faulkner 18, 2-3 O Connor 20, 3-3 Caddell 39, 3-4 McMullan 54 (pen), 3-5 Garrett 61, 4-5 Caddell 74, 4-6 Donnelly 89 Cliftonville: Connolly, M Holland, McMullan (Burns 70), C Scannell, Garrett, Smyth, Johnston, Catney (Fleming 81), O Connor (Donnelly 88), Kane, McVeigh. Unused Subs: Duffin (GK), Donaghy, Bannon, Jones Cliftonville Dundalk 1-3 Solitude, Belfast Goals: 1-0 McMullan 25, 1-1 Quigley 48, 1-2 Kearns 73, 1-3 Quigley 82 Cliftonville: Duffin, Fleming, Hutton, Donaghy (McVeigh 64), Kane, Garrett, Catney, McMullan, Smyth (Clarke 90+1), Donnelly, C Scannell (M Holland 80). Unused Subs: Wallace (GK), Bannon, Burns, O Neill. Note: Players in red signal change to lineup from previous game. 11

12 Team facts Dundalk Domestic club competition honours Dundalk FC has won nine Premier Division titles since joining the League of Ireland in They won their first league in the 1932/33 season but had to wait until 1963 for another one, before winning seven more in a 28-year spell from 1967 to 1995, their last top-flight triumph. They have, however, won two First Division titles in the meantime, the first of those coming in 2001 and the latest in November The Lilywhites have also won nine FAI Cups, the latest coming in their last cup final appearance in Also on the club s roll of honour are four League Cups, although they have not won that competition since Dundalk competed in Europe last July for the first time since Ten-year league record 2010: Premier Division sixth 2009: Premier Division fifth 2008: First Division champions, promoted to the Premier Division 2007: First Division third, beaten by Finn Harps in promotion/relegation playoff semifinal 2006: First Division runners-up, defeated Waterford United in promotion/relegation final 2005: First Division sixth 2004: First Division sixth 2003: First Division ninth 2002/03: First Division tenth 2001/02: Premier Division tenth, relegated to the First Division 2010 season Dundalk made a lightening start to 2010, going unbeaten in their opening six games, during which time they showed a steely determination by coming from 2-0 down at Sligo Rovers to draw 2-2. They were at the top of the pile for close to three months but lost their place at the summit in the final game before the midseason break in June. After returning from two weeks off, Dundalk won just one of their subsequent ten league games, before a run of five wins in seven including a 5-1 hammering of eventual champions Shamrock Rovers and a first victory at Richmond Park in 21 years over a five-week period in September and October ensured a sixth-placed finish. In the FAI Cup, Dundalk exited at the first hurdle, falling to Saint Patrick s Athletic. They made it to the semi-finals of the League Cup, losing 1-0 at Monaghan United. In the Leinster Senior Cup, they defeated Ballymun United before losing on penalties at Bray Wanderers. Meanwhile, in their return to Europe after an eight-year absence, the Lilywhites defeated CS Grevenmacher (Luxembourg) 5-4 on aggregate before bowing out to Levski Sofia (Bulgaria) on an 8-0 scoreline. Records Record League Victory 9-0 (H) vs. Jacobs, 6 February (H) vs. Shelbourne, 27 January 1980 Record League Defeat 1-9 (A) vs. Limerick, 17 December

13 Team facts Cliftonville Domestic club competition honours Cliftonville FC was founded on 20 September 1879 after an advertisement in the Belfast Newsletter and Northern Whig, in which John McAlery, a young Belfast businessman and manager of the Irish Tweed House, Royal Avenue, asked people to sign up with Cliftonville Association Football Club. Just one week later, Cliftonville played their first game, against a selection of rugby players known as Quidnunces. The game took place on 29 September 1879 and ended in a 2-1 defeat. During the 1880s, Cliftonville competed in the English FA Cup, playing in the competition proper in 1886/87 and 1887/88. A 7-0 defeat by Linfield in 1888 remains the only FA Cup match to be played on Christmas Day. The Irish League was born in 1890, with eight clubs agreeing to participate, and Linfield set the tone for future years by claiming the first three titles. Cliftonville have found success hard to come by throughout their history, with just three Irish League titles in 1905/06 (shared), 1909/10 and most recently in 1997/98. Also on their honours list are eight Irish Cups the most recent in 1978/79 ending a 70-year wait and one League Cup, which they won in 2003/04. Among the other trophies they have won are eight County Antrim Shields, three Gold Cups, one Floodlit Cup, ten Belfast Charity Cups, one Charity Shield and one Alhambra Cup. Ten-year league record 2009/10: Premier Division runners-up 2008/09: Premier Division sixth 2007/08: Premier Division third 2006/07: Premier Division third 2005/06: Premier Division fifth 2004/05: Premier Division eleventh 2003/04: Premier Division fifteenth 2002/03: Premier Division ninth 2001/02: Premier Division sixth 2000/01: Premier Division fifth 2009/10 season Cliftonville had a successful 2009/10 season as they enjoyed their highest-placed finish since last winning the league title back in In the end, they were five points short of champions Linfield. In the Irish Cup, they exited at the Sixth Round, losing 2-1 to eventual runners-up Portadown. In the League Cup, they found Coleraine too good in the quarterfinals, losing a thrilling two-legged affair on a 4-3 scoreline. Coleraine, incidentally, also went on to lose in the final, missing out on the cup only on penalties as Glentoran won the shootout 4-1. Earlier in the campaign, the Reds lost their County Antrim Shield crown, as they were defeated 1-0 by Linfield in the semi-final at the Oval. Linfield went on to lose the final to Crusaders. Records Record Premier League Victory 8-1 (H) vs. Armagh City, 29 April 2006 Record Premier League Defeat 1-6 (A) vs. Portadown, 7 October

14 Head-to-head Overall P W D L F A Pts Dundalk Cliftonville Last 10 meetings All competitions Comp. Date Res. SSC 04/04/11 Cliftonville 1-3 Dundalk McMullan 25 (pen); Quigley 48, 82, Kearns 73 ICC 10/05/43 Dundalk 3-1 Cliftonville ICC 03/05/43 Cliftonville 2-1 Dundalk Prior to the first leg of this semi-final tie, Dundalk and Cliftonville had only met competitively twice before, in the war-time Inter City Cup, way back in Cliftonville recorded a 2-1 win in the first leg but in the return, on neutral ground in Dublin, seven days later, Dundalk, at the time holders, turned the tie around with a 3-1 victory, progressing 4-3 on aggregate. The Lilywhites, however, exited in the next round when they lost 10-5 on aggregate to Distillery. The previous year, Dundalk had beaten three Northern teams Glentoran, Distillery and Belfast Celtic making it to the final against Shamrock Rovers, with the Louth club winning the decider 1-0, to give them their first and only Inter City Cup success. 14