Twenty four hours after failing to trouble the proverbial barn door, Jamie McDonagh hit the bullseye to arrow Cliftonville into the semi-finals of the Samuel Gelston's Irish Cup.
With Friday night’s last-eight tie with Coleraine locked at 1-1, the in-form winger fizzed an exquisite shot into the top corner from 25 yards out.
It was another stunner from McDonagh who has scored an array of 'worldies' against the likes of Ballymena United, Linfield and former club Glentoran in recent weeks.
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Not that an errant shooting practice session, conducted as darkness closed in on Solitude on Thursday night, would have given him a sample of what was to come at the same venue the following evening.
“It was a good strike and funny enough I had been practising it the previous night and I didn’t score one of them,” smiled McDonagh.
“I’m normally one of the last ones away from training because I’m always working on my finishing and trying to improve. I always stay behind for an extra 20 or 30 minutes.
“It didn’t work out in training but when the ball arrived at me against Coleraine, I thought I’d hit it. As soon as it left my boot, I had a feeling it was going in.”
McDonagh, one of the standout talents of the Irish League this season, has been conducting his own goal of the season competition since the turn of the year.
A long distance strike in a 2-1 defeat to the Glens was followed by an equally clinical strike in a 2-2 draw with Linfield and two wonder goals in a dramatic 2-2 draw at the Ballymena Showgrounds.
“It’s just been happening for me the last couple of months,” he said. “I’ve been working on my finishing and shots like that and it’s nice to see that work pay off.”
Regular football has also helped the former Derry City forward who joined Cliftonville from Glentoran, where he was largely a bit-part player, in the summer.
“I’ve said it from the day I came in the door, all I wanted to do is play games,” he said. “Paddy (McLaughlin) has given me that opportunity and I’m very grateful for that.
“I think I’ve done well up to now, I’ve shown Paddy what I’m about and he fills me with confidence every training session and every match.
“It’s nice to pay him back, but I think everyone in the changing room wants to pay him back because he’s such a good manager.”
With two months of the Irish League season left, Cliftonville have three avenues open to them to secure silverware.
With an Irish Cup semi-final against Crusaders to come, the Reds face Coleraine in the BetMcLean League Cup final next Sunday (March 13).
They are also in the thick of a fascinating title race with Big Two giants Linfield and Glentoran, with a trip to the Glens next up on Tuesday night.
“You’re judged on winning trophies and that’s why we play football,” said McDonagh.
“We don’t want to look back at the end of the season and for people to view us as a ‘nearly team’ that did well for spells during the season but ended up with no silverware.
“We don’t want to do well for eight or nine months and drop off at the end. We want to go all the way and challenge for every competition and trophy we’re in.”
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