Conn do spirit

Cliftonville Ladies claimed a huge win in the Danske Bank Women’s Premiership at Solitude this evening.

Substitute Niamh Connolly, introduced for Shannon Grattan in the first-half, banked the only goal of a hard-fought battle with Glentoran Women as the Reds maintained their push for the title.

Though they still trail table-topping Linfield by nine points, Cliftonville hold two games in hand over the Blues – who got the better of Sion Swifts tonight – and have also played one match less than North Belfast Derby rivals Crusaders Strikers, over whom they now boast a four-point advantage in second place, thanks in no small part to the late heroics of goalkeeper Caoimhe Callaghan, who has now recorded back-to-back clean sheets.

In addition to congratulating Martin Douglas’ side on earning three vital points, we also pass on best wishes to Glentoran’s Ali McMaster, sister of our own Emma, who was carried off with injury midway through the second-half.