Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
Bayo Fapetu's late strike secured Cliftonville a 2-1 comeback win over Warrenpoint Town at Solitude, after Rory Hale's penalty cancelled Adam Carroll's opener.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
Warrenpoint took the lead on 36 minutes when former Cliftonville striker Carroll — who had moved from the Point to Solitude in January before a summer return — raced through and clipped a shot that kissed the inside of the post on its way in, despite Lewis Ridd's best efforts.
Cliftonville had earlier gone close through Ben Quinn, whose free-kick drew an excellent save from the visiting goalkeeper, and Brian Healy, who could not direct an Aaron Wightman cross goalwards with sufficient power.
The hosts pressed from the restart and their persistence paid off eight minutes into the second half. Rory Hale's free-kick was handled in the box by Conall McGrandles, and the Cliftonville skipper stepped up to confidently convert the spot-kick for 1-1.
Healy saw a shot deflected wide early in the second period, and the Reds continued to dominate. Joe Sheridan's chipped effort from a narrow angle dropped just wide on 70 minutes, while Quinn saw a shot inadvertently deflected behind by Healy.
The winner arrived in the 79th minute. Cillian Murray's cross from the right was brought down by a Cliftonville trialist, and Fapetu was on hand to smash a low drive past the goalkeeper.
The turning point
Hale's 53rd-minute penalty shifted the momentum entirely. Before it, Warrenpoint had a lead to protect and had struck the crossbar with a delivery that looked destined for the net. After the equaliser, the second half became one-way traffic, with the NIFL Championship side unable to mount sustained pressure as Cliftonville pushed for and eventually found a winner.
Key performers
Bayo Fapetu (Cliftonville) — Scored the decisive goal with a composed low finish after Murray's cross was worked into his path. Had been a consistent threat throughout the second half.
Rory Hale (Cliftonville) — The captain stepped up under pressure to convert the penalty that dragged his side back level, and his free-kick had earlier drawn the handball that earned the spot kick.
Adam Carroll (Warrenpoint Town) — Took his goal with real composure, racing through to clip past Ridd off the inside of the post. A reminder of his quality against his former employers.
Ollie Samuels (Cliftonville) — The Middlesbrough loanee, announced as Jim Magilton's eighth summer signing on the same day, started at left-back and looked composed on his debut.
By the numbers
Cliftonville dominated the second half territorially, reflected in the raft of chances created: Healy's deflected shot, Sheridan's narrow-angle chip, Quinn's deflected effort, and Paul Stanfield's miscue from the edge of the box all preceded the winner. Warrenpoint's only notable second-half moment was striking the bar, but they offered little in open play after the interval. The 2-1 scoreline arguably flatters the visitors, who led for only 17 minutes of the contest.
What it means
This was Cliftonville's second public pre-season friendly of summer 2026, following a 5-1 loss to Hibernian on 4 July at Carton House. Magilton's squad continues to take shape with the addition of Samuels from Middlesbrough, and the fightback from a goal down against a lower-division side will be a useful test of character ahead of the NIFL Premiership season.
For Warrenpoint Town, the performance offered encouragement despite the result. Carroll's goal against his former club will be a personal highlight, and the NIFL Championship side pushed a Premiership opponent for much of the evening.
Verdict
A routine pre-season win in the end, but the scoreline does not tell the full story. Cliftonville's second-half dominance was emphatic once Hale levelled from the spot, and Fapetu's winner was deserved. The defensive concentration that allowed Carroll's run in the first half will need addressing before competitive action begins, but the attacking response was encouraging.
Match Events
Key match events between Cliftonville FC and Warrenpoint Town — 3 goals and 0 cards recorded during the match.
Rivalry since 2017
Cliftonville FC vs Warrenpoint Town Head to Head Results· 15
Cliftonville FC and Warrenpoint Town have met 15 times — Cliftonville FC won 14, Warrenpoint Town won 1, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2017. Cliftonville FC leads the head-to-head with 14 victories from 15 meetings. A combined 55 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 3.67 per match (46 for the home side, 9 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 7 matches (47%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 11 games (73%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. Cliftonville FC are currently unbeaten in the last 11 meetings. The highest-scoring encounter finished 6–1 in 2022.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 22 Jul 2026