Irish Cup: Cliftonville 'relishing' semi-final against Larne - Magilton

Cliftonville boss Jim Magilton says the Irish Cup semi-final against Larne at Windsor Park should "motivate not intimidate" his players.

And Magilton insists his side will embrace the opportunity and not fear the occasion.

"We're ready for the challenge," he told BBC Sport NI.

"Cliftonville supporters are desperate to win the Irish Cup and we're really looking forward to playing Larne, there is lots of excitement."

The north Belfast side face a double-header against Larne in the coming days, playing them in the Irish Cup on Saturday before hosting the Inver outfit in their last pre-split fixture at Solitude on Tuesday.

They have failed to beat Tiernan Lynch's side, who have never won the Irish Cup, in their two league meetings so far this campaign.

The two teams drew 1-1 at Solitude in August before Cliftonville fell to a 2-1 defeat at Inver Park in November.

Larne have been on an 18-game unbeaten run and Magilton knows his side face a tough test, but he is confident that the Reds can deliver and seal a spot in the final for the first time since 2018.

"You look at the run Larne have been on, they've been so good. They're in a rich vein of form and we recognise the task ahead, but we relish the opportunity to play in the Irish Cup semi-finals," he said.

"We have shown levels of consistency in our game that we have been very happy with. We lost two in a row and it was the end of the world, but we bounced back against Portadown and Loughgall.

"We know Saturday is a big one, but these games should motive not intimidate and that's how we build it up to the players. We go in with a game plan and hopefully we win."

Irish Cup final loss in 2013 still hurts Lyttle

Magilton's assistant coach Gerard Lyttle believes the Reds have had the most arduous journey to the semi-final stage out of the four remaining teams.

"When you look at our run we've probably had the toughest run to the semi-final, we beat Coleraine, an Irish Premiership team, Loughgall an Irish Premiership team and Portadown, who have an Irish Premiership squad," he explained.

"We've come through all that and the boys are relishing the aspect of playing Larne."

Lyttle was assistant to late Cliftonville manager Tommy Breslin when the Reds won back-to-back Gibson Cups between 2012-2014.

The side, which included the likes of Liam Boyce, George McMullan and Barry Johnston reached the 2013 Irish Cup final against Glentoran.

Joe Gormley opened the scoring for the Reds in the decider, before a double from Andy Waterworth and a goal from Jimmy Callacher sealed a 3-1 win for the Glens after extra-time.

Lyttle, who also managed Cliftonville between 2015-2017, admits that the manner of that defeat still hurts over 10 years on.

"We had a great team, back-to-back doubles [Irish Premiership and League Cup] and we expected to turn up and beat Glentoran but the boys got carried away, we all did," he admitted.

"The second-half, we didn't turn up and Glentoran beat us. That Irish Cup probably would have meant more than the doubles to the fans and we were so close.

"It was in the palm of our hands but for some reason it didn't happen."

'We need to be clinical'

With attention turning back to the matter at hand on Saturday for Cliftonville, Magilton has called on his players to grasp opportunities when they come their way as he believes fine margins will decide the game.

Magilton will need striker Ben Wilson, who has scored 17 league goals this campaign back fit and firing against Larne.

Wilson's impact in 2024 has been hampered by injury and he has not scored for the Reds since Boxing Day against Crusaders.

"For ust, it's being totally focused on this job that we have to overcome. If we get big moments on Saturday we have to capitalise on them.

"In big games it is about concentration, being clinical and ruthless in key moments and if we are, we stand a great chance of winning."