Five star performers

Five Cliftonville players featured for Northern Ireland Women Under 17s in this week’s double header of friendly fixtures with Bulgaria.

With Rosie Zubier having withdrawn from the squad, Lauren Welsh, captain Fi Morgan, Shona Davis, Abbie McHenry and Rachel Norney (all pictured) were part of the panel that drew 0-0 on Tuesday – when McHenry was unlucky not to win it with a late strike that struck the woodwork – ahead of last night’s repeat encounter at the Riada Stadium in Ballymoney, where the Bulgarians were 2-0 winners.

Meanwhile, in addition to Brodie Spencer and Conor Scannell helping Northern Ireland’s Under 16s record two victories over Estonia this week, three Cliftonville players were also involved in a UEFA development tournament with the Under 15s in Wales.

Padraig McVicker, Caolan Donnelly and Chris Cope were part of the squad that overcame Malta – against whom Cope scored what would turn out to be the winning goal – before suffering narrow losses against their hosts and Cyprus.

The congratulations of everyone at Solitude goes to all of our players who have been on international duty in recent days and for their continued positive representation of Cliftonville Football Club.