Danske Bank Premiership Round-Up: Crusaders snatch late point away to Cliftonville as two games fall foul of the weather ahead of Covid-19 break

Sat, Jan 09 2021

Credit: Extratime Photographers (ETPhotos)

A late injury time leveller from Ben Kennedy snatched a point from the jaws of defeat for Crusaders this afternoon away to Cliftonville.

The Crues game against Cliftonville was the only game that took place this weekend in the Danske Bank Premiership, as both poor playing conditions and Covid-19 combined to halt much of this weekend’s planned action.

Former Northern Ireland under-21 international Jamie McGonigle gave Crusaders an early first-half lead as he scored from the spot in the 4^th minute.

#IrishPremiership GOAL! @cliftonvillefc 0-1 @CrusadersFC

Jamie Harney gets himself into all sorts of trouble to give away the penalty & Jamie McGonigle opens the scoring

Live text & audio https://t.co/xL4ct8VsxR @OfficialNIFL | #BBCIrishPrem pic.twitter.com/19skrv4W6E
— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) January 9, 2021

However, Crusaders lost their lead just before the half-time break as Rory Hale – who only recently left the club for Cliftonville – saw his shot at the back post creep over the line for the Reds.

#IrishPremiership GOAL!@cliftonvillefc 1-1 @CrusadersFC

McMenamin's shot is too hot to handle & Rory Hale squeezes it over the line against his former club!

Live text & audio https://t.co/xL4ct8VsxR @OfficialNIFL | #BBCIrishPrem pic.twitter.com/HSpo5PW2bl
— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) January 9, 2021

Cliftonville would take the lead then just moments into the second-half as defender Chris Hegarty turned into his own net after a Conor McDermott cross was delivered into the six-yard box.

#IrishPremiership GOAL!@cliftonvillefc 2-1 @CrusadersFC

What a start to the second half for Cliftonville! Chris Hegarty puts it into his own net & the game is turned on its head

Live text & audio https://t.co/xL4ct8VsxR @OfficialNIFL | #BBCIrishPrem pic.twitter.com/COilpjDUMB
— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) January 9, 2021

But the Reds could not hold out as Kennedy slotted home from the spot to move Crusaders to within a point of second-placed Larne, although they have played a game more than them.

#IrishPremiership GOAL!@cliftonvillefc 2-2 @CrusadersFC

Just when it looked like Cliftonville would see it out, Ben Kennedy's cross goes all the way in and Crusaders have rescued a point!

Live text & audio https://t.co/xL4ct8VsxR @OfficialNIFL | #BBCIrishPrem pic.twitter.com/gk65Z0c3Yr
— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) January 9, 2021

The games between Carrick Rangers and Coleraine, and Warrenpoint Town and Dungannon Swifts were both called off due to frozen pitches.

Due to the Covid-19 situation in Northern Ireland, the planned games between Linfield and Glentoran, and Portadown were postponed earlier in the week.

The postponements followed news that Ballymena United v Coleraine and Carrick Rangers v Larne were called off.

As a result of multiple Covid-19 cases at Danske Bank Premiership clubs, the league will take a three week break and return on January 23rd.