It's just over three years ago that Cliftonville captain Chris Curran wondered whether the good times would ever return to Solitude.
Doubts danced to the monotonous drone of a diesel engine as the Reds returned home from a six-goal hammering at the Brandwell.
Curran had been part of Tommy Breslin’s golden reign in North Belfast, lifting the Gibson Cup in 2014 after joining the club in the summer of 2013.
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Seven trophies were delivered in delirious fashion between 2013 and 2016 and the classy midfielder was a big part of the intoxicating tale.
Yet, here he was, three days before Christmas Day in 2018, struggling to digest an unpalatable and humbling 6-4 defeat to Institute.
As comedowns go, it was akin to plummeting down the north face of the Eiger in deepest winter.
“It was the maddest game ever that day - mental,” recalled Curran after lifting the BetMcLean League Cup at Windsor Park on Sunday.
So mad that the 31-year-old, who celebrates his testimonial next season, openly questioned if he would return to dining out on silverware with Cliftonville at the top table of local football.
“You do have those doubts, you do,” he said. “I remember that day we were coming back from Institute and we had lost 6-4.
“I remember sitting across from Joe (Gormley) on the bus on the way home and just looking at him thinking ‘just give us one more good day’.
“I didn’t want those good days to be in the past or something we just got to remember and talk about. You don’t train every night to make up the numbers or pick up a wage.
“We want to be successful and hopefully there are more special days to come now. Winning this League Cup is sweet and hopefully there are more days like this.”
The fact that the Institute manager that dismal day in 2018 was Paddy McLaughlin, who would succeed Barry Gray as Cliftonville manager six weeks later, wasn’t lost on Curran.
“Football is a funny old game, isn’t it…” he smiled.
It certainly is and Sunday’s pulsating final, played in front of a record 11,103 attendance for a League Cup showpiece, can be filed under the same ‘funny old game’ category.
Coleraine led 2-0 before substitutes Joe Gormley and Paul O’Neill bagged two goals apiece in normal and extra-time.
Curtis Allen did pull one back at the death, but McLaughlin’s men weren’t to be denied major silverware as they ran out 4-3 winners.
“We’ve had a lot of disappointments in recent years so when their second goal goes in, you’re thinking ‘here we go again’,” said Curran.
“But when I looked at the clock and saw that it was the 65th minute, I was thinking we have loads of time here. It was a case of saying ‘don’t panic’.
“I was saying to the lads, if we get one, we’ll have a chance to get a second.”
Curran didn’t utter the words ‘league title’ in his post match interview, but it’s fair to assume the former Manchester United academy prospect has his eyes on local football’s greatest prize.
He wants to experience 2014 all over again.
As things stand, the Reds, who also have an Irish Cup semi-final with derby rivals Crusaders next month, lie four points off leaders Linfield with a game in hand with eight league fixtures still to play.
“There is one more we would hope to add to the collection before I leave, but for now it is just about this.. winning the League Cup,” he said.
“It was a special feeling to do it and also special to do it with Joe (Gormley) because it has been a tough few years to be honest since that successful period we had.
“There have been a lot of disappointing days and it just feels like relief today more than anything to get across the line with this group and with this manager.
“I said a couple of years back when we won the County Antrim Shield (in 2020) that it would maybe be the springboard for us to go on and be successful.
“It has maybe been one step back to go two steps forward since then, but we are hoping this is the time now for us to push on and do something special.”
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