Regardless of their good report up till their penultimate recreation of the season, Cliftonville had nonetheless not wrapped up the title.
That was as a result of their subsequent opponents and nearest rivals Glentoran had received 13 of their 14 video games, their solely defeat coming towards the Reds earlier within the season.
It was a winner takes all recreation, an “all or nothing” fixture as Callaghan described and the Reds duly stepped as much as the plate, displaying their credentials with a dominant 6-0 win at Solitude.
“We drew twice with them within the league final yr and we discovered from errors, everybody had a stormer,” she smiled.
“All the things fell into place for us that evening, everybody was up for it and in the end, we turned it on on the finish of the season when different groups have been getting drained.”
While the title was secured the ‘invincible’ report was nonetheless up for grabs and Callaghan says that Cliftonville have been hungry to complete what was an unforgettable marketing campaign on a excessive.
They did so with a slender 1-0 victory towards north Belfast rivals Crusaders.
“In 2022 our final recreation of the season, we had already received the league, and we have been in occasion mode because it was the primary title and Glentoran got here out and beat us in our final recreation.
“I used to be so irritated after that, so we have been adamant we did not need the final recreation to be a defeat this yr.”
They rounded off a improbable season in model with a luxurious attacking show in a 5-0 Irish Cup win towards Lisburn Rangers, their first success in that competitors in 9 years.
“We needed to only take pleasure in it, it has been some time since we had received an Irish Cup remaining, and the women have been simply so relaxed earlier than and it confirmed.
“We could not have had a extra good season – except we received the 4 trophies!” Callaghan joked.
Everyone knows what can be on Cliftonville’s listing of objectives for 2025, however for now, they’ll replicate contently on a surprising 2024.
