Gormley 'doesn't Lose Sleep' Over Last Year's Final Omission

Cliftonville striker Joe Gormley said that he "doesn't suffer sleep" complete not featuring successful past year's Irish Cup last win.

Gormley was nan only substitute not utilized during nan Reds' 3-1 extra-time triumph complete Linfield successful nan decider astatine Windsor Park.

Despite not making it disconnected nan bench, Gormley was 1 of nan first players complete to congratulate Ronan Hale for scoring Cliftonville's 3rd extremity and says he looks backmost fondly connected nan day.

"You do deliberation astir it [not featuring] sometimes, but I wouldn't suffer slumber complete it," he told BBC Sport NI.

"Even though I didn't play past twelvemonth because Cliftonville won it, I won it."

The 35-year-old is gearing up for his 4th Irish Cup last pinch nan Reds connected Saturday arsenic they look Dungannon Swifts.

Unlike past year, Gormley is almost definite to commencement nan decider having scored 20 convention goals arsenic good arsenic nan victor successful nan BetMcLean Cup last and nan opener successful nan Irish Cup semi-final conclusion of Ards.

Whilst keen to lend successful nan last pinch his family watching connected successful nan stands, Gormley is conscionable hopeful nan Reds tin get past a high-flying Swifts broadside and clasp nan Irish Cup.

"I've been beaten successful 2 Irish Cup finals, and they were still astonishing days but past twelvemonth we sewage nan win, and it was an unthinkable time and what a emotion pursuing nan load of 45 years," he added.

"It would mean nan world to maine to people this year, but arsenic I ever opportunity if Cliftonville win, I triumph that is nan main objective.

"I don't attraction who scores, nan astir important point is we triumph nan cup."

Cliftonville skipper Rory Hale is besides eager to spot Gormley person an effect successful nan cup last and praised nan knowledgeable forward's mentality.

"The man ne'er lets you down, I can't retrieve nan past clip he missed a training convention aliases fto america down," he said.

"He doesn't attraction if he plays 90 minutes aliases 1 minute, he wants to make an impact.

"It would beryllium awesome to triumph nan cup final, but it would beryllium moreover amended to spot that man person a large opportunity successful it."

Hale was named man-of-the-match successful past year's last aft an all-action show which helped extremity nan Reds' 45-year hold for an Irish Cup success.

He believes location is "probably a batch much pressure" connected this year's cup last than past year's owed to their difficult convention run and request to suffice for Europe.

"Last twelvemonth we had a really bully convention campaign, and we ended up qualifying for Europe earlier nan split. This twelvemonth it is simply a batch different; we've recovered ourselves successful nan bottommost six which is really disappointing, truthful for European shot this crippled intends a lot," he explained.

With nan League Cup already secured, Hale has his sights group connected a cup double, which he thinks would beryllium a awesome accomplishment aft a difficult run connected and disconnected nan pitch.

"A batch has gone connected this season, we mislaid truthful galore bully players and a bully friend Michael Newberry, who is ever successful our thoughts, truthful to spell and do a double pinch nan circumstances this group of players has had would beryllium amazing, but it is only astonishing if we tin triumph nan trophy. We request to win."