Cliftonville FC's record victory, an 11-1 League Cup win over Lisburn Distillery, occurred a decade ago on August 30, 2016. The club's official website has revisited the historic match, which saw two players score hat-tricks and set a new benchmark that eclipsed a 130-year-old club record.
What happened in the record 11-1 match?
The match was a defense of the League Cup, a trophy Cliftonville had won for four consecutive seasons. Defender Chris Ramsey opened the scoring from a Chris Curran corner. Joe McDaid then scored two quick goals before half-time and completed his hat-trick with a penalty after the break. An own goal from Tyrell McCrory and a strike from Jay Garrett extended the lead to 6-0 before Mason McSorley netted a consolation for Lisburn Distillery. Further goals from Chris Curran and Jude Winchester made it 8-1. Substitute Gary Donnelly added another before Jay Garrett scored twice more, including a late free-kick, to complete his own hat-trick and seal the 11-1 final score. This result surpassed the club's previous best of 10-1 against St Malachy's in the Irish Cup back in 1886.
Who played in the historic fixture?
Manager Gerard Lyttle selected a strong starting eleven. The lineup featured J. Burke in goal, with L. Bonner, C. Ramsey, C. Curran, and J. McDaid in defense and midfield. J. Garrett, M. Seydak, R. Harkin, J. Winchester, R. Lavery, and L. Cosgrove completed the side. During the match, M. McGovern replaced Ramsey, A. Donnelly came on for Seydak, and G. Donnelly took over from Harkin. Unused substitutes were J. Mooney and C. McGuinness. The team's attacking intent was clear from early efforts that hit the crossbar from both Chris Curran and Ross Lavery.
How does the current squad compare?
A decade on, Cliftonville's focus is firmly on the present Premiership campaign. As of August 31, 2026, the team sits 7th in the table with 6 points from four games, following a recent form of two losses and two wins. They have scored 5 goals and conceded 4, giving them a +1 goal difference. The title race is tight, with the Reds currently 4 points behind league leaders Coleraine FC. Fans can track the team's progress on the official standings and stats pages.
What's next for Cliftonville FC?
The immediate challenge is a significant one. Cliftonville's next fixture is a home match against the current table-toppers, Coleraine FC, on December 12, 2026. This game presents a direct opportunity to close the gap at the top of the Premiership. The club will be looking to channel some of the prolific scoring form shown in that record 2016 win. Supporters can view the full schedule on the club's fixtures page as the team prepares for this crucial encounter.
