Cliftonville supersub Joe Gormley has joked he was just one goal away from receiving a late call-up to Ian Baraclough’s Northern Ireland squad.
Gormley bagged a double in Sunday’s thrilling 4-3 win over Coleraine in the BetMcLean League Cup final to help the Reds lift silverware at Windsor Park.
And the 32-year-old striker was inches away from helping himself to a hat-trick, only for his 113th minute header in extra-time to be ruled out for offside.
Read more: Irish League fans on why they love and support their club
Gormley, a 61st minute replacement for Daniel Kearns, played his part in a dramatic showpiece which was watched by a record League Cup final attendance of 11,103.
And one interested onlooker was international boss Baraclough who was on Sky punditry duty ahead of naming his squad on Monday for this month's friendlies against Luxembourg and Hungary.
“It was a great header and if that one had gone in, Ian Baraclough might have called me up!” chuckled Gormley as he sipped a can of Rockshore lager in the post match press conference.
“I’m joking. I actually don’t think I was offside to be fair, but I’m just glad to get two goals to help us lift the trophy.”
Coleraine had led 2-0 thanks to Matthew Shevlin’s 20th goal of the season - and his seventh in the competition - and a super strike from the impressive Stephen Lowry.
But Gormley pulled one back with a header in the 74th minute and fellow replacement Paul O’Neill stabbed home in the 91st minute to force extra-time.
After Coleraine lost James McLaughlin to a needless red card in the 91st minute, Cliftonville took full advantage with O’Neill flashing home a third goal soon after.
And Gormley, the Solitude club’s all-time record goal scorer, made it 4-2 with a close range finish before Curtis Allen pulled one back at the death for Coleraine.
Asked about his two goal salvo, Gormley said: “That’s my job isn’t it? I’m a goal scorer and I thrive on scoring goals.
“And with the players we have here and the ability and class we have in this team, I always believe I’ll get a chance, maybe two, maybe three, to score.
“I love scoring goals but it’s the boys in that changing room next door who gave me the opportunity to score and I can only thank them.
“It’s a team game and they are amazing. They have been brilliant throughout the season so far and long may it continue.”
Praising Gormley’s impact, Cliftonville boss Paddy McLaughlin said: “At 2-0 I knew I had to get certain players on the pitch and you know a player like Joe can score in the blink of an eye.
“When you have the likes of Paul O’Neill and Joe Gormley in reserve it isn't a gamble. You know they can come into a game and score goals.”
Read More: David Jeffrey offers Sky Sports viewers hilarious explainer for player's vocabulary
Read More: Cliftonville beat Coleraine in BetMcLean League Cup final - 45 photos from the game
Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox.
