Rory Hale believes his crunching tackle on Danny Amos proved a momentum-shifter in the BetMcLean Cup final. The Cliftonville skipper launched himself into a sliding challenge on the Glentoran defender to get his side - and the Reds fans - going at Windsor Park.
It came at a stage of the game when the Glens were starting to build some confidence.
Proud captain Hale believes the tackle lifted his team, who went on to lift the trophy thanks to Joe Gormley's extra-time goal.
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He said: “I think the game swung all day. We controlled the first 15 and then Glentoran came into it and continued like that.
“We were definitely at that period when the Glens were getting set pieces and getting on top and it can just change in a second.
“Luckily for me it was that tackle I celebrated like a goal. It changed the momentum and then we got chances and then we dominated the last 20 minutes of the game and bar that unbelievable save to keep our Joe we wouldn’t have gone into extra time.
“It was a good moment for me. I think I did the same last year in the Irish Cup final.
"It could be a good pass or a good cross…it could be just something that relaxes your team back into the game and that tackle definitely did.”
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English (United States) ·