A disappointed Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton felt his side did not do enough to secure a third Irish Cup final appearance in a row as he watched his side lose out on penalties to Dungannon Swifts in Friday's semi-final.
It was a similar story to last year's final for the Reds as they once again lost 4-3 on spot kicks following a 1-1 draw after extra-time.
Although the north Belfast side made a good start to the game and showed plenty of fight to force an equaliser in the dying act of extra time, Magilton felt they left too many opportunities behind them.
"Dungannon deserved to win the game," the Cliftonville manager told BBC Sport NI.
"We played well in patches in the first half, created one or two really good opportunities, but in big games you need to be clinical and if you don't take your opportunities it can come back and cost you.
"You have to credit the lads for keeping going. It's dying embers, nothing left in the game but they drag it into penalties, get regrouped but unfortunately we missed and they didn't – same as last year.
"We're disappointed as we didn't play as well as we did in the first 45 minutes. I thought we could have kicked on but we didn't."
If Cliftonville are to secure European football next season, they will have to do so through the end of season play-offs but Magilton admits "it will be very difficult".
The Reds host title-chasing Glentoran on Tuesday [19:45 BST] and he accepts he will be going into that game with a depleted squad.
"We've walking wounded, lads gave everything tonight so we will struggle.
"Tuesday is going to be a big ask for us as we have players we can't carry, so we will be down bodies."
