Positive Sions

Sion Swifts Ladies 0-4 Cliftonville Ladies

Cliftonville Ladies started the new Danske Bank Women’s Premiership season in style with a four-goal victory over Sion Swifts this evening.

Goalless at the interval, Kirsty McGuinness’ opener helped the Reds gain firm control of proceedings at Melvin Sports Complex, where a double from Marissa Callaghan (pictured) and a Caitlin McGuinness strike ensured three points on the campaign’s opening night.

Kirsty McGuinness had gone close to scoring as early as the first minute but saw her effort palmed away by Jennifer Currie before Cliftonville keeper Lauren Welsh kept Zoe McGlynn at bay.

An offside flag cut Caitlin McGuinness’ celebrations short on 15 minutes and, after Fi Morgan had glanced a header wide, Kirsty McGuinness rattled the crossbar from distance.

The Reds’ pressure finally told on the hour when Kirsty McGuinness raced in to stroke home from a narrow angle and, just a minute later, a foul on debutant Abbie Magee earned a penalty which Callaghan stepped up to convert.

It was 3-0 soon later courtesy of a confidently-taken Caitlin McGuinness blast and, after Currie had repelled a goalbound Danielle Maxwell strike, Callaghan completed the scoring with a simple finish after good work from Magee.

Cliftonville: Welsh, Burrows, Morgan, Finnegan (Moran, 75 mins), Maxwell, McDaniel, C McGuinness (Montgomery, 84 mins), K McGuinness (White, 73 mins), McKimm, Callaghan (McHenry, 84 mins), Magee. Unused subs: Norney, Reilly, Mailey.