It wasn’t supposed to be like this...
Surely the Gibson Cup in 2022 was destined for one the league’s full-time clubs. It still might be of course in the shape of table-topping Linfield, but miracle-worker Paddy McLaughlin’s part-time Red Machine can hit the front this afternoon, with only three rounds to go.
Cliftonville were the side everyone expected to fall away as the Big Two battled for supremacy. But it was Glentoran who imploded, as the Reds remained consistent. Now a win over another under-performing outfit, Larne, at Solitude this afternoon will see them head the Blues by a point.