History girls

Marissa Callaghan dedicated Cliftonville Ladies’ Danske Bank Women’s Premiership title success to everyone who has played their part in helping the Club grow over the years.

The Reds were crowned Champions for the first time in history when goals from Callaghan and Vicky Carleton earned victory over Crusaders Strikers at Seaview last night and, having experienced every high, low and lower in a long association with the Reds, the Northern Ireland captain paid tribute to team-mates and staff past and present as she reflected on this landmark occasion.

“In the early days, we were so close as a team,” she recalled. “We all grew up together and the players I played with then are still my best friends and we had some amazing years.

“Then things started to get really competitive because we started to get good players to the Club and we wanted to start winning. We always had that underdog mentality, which was something that we relished but it started to get harder when we eventually got into the Premier League.

“Two years ago, I have to say I was on my hands and knees. I thought our Women’s team was going to be done, to be honest, because everything about it was so bad but fair play to the Club and fair play to our management team – they came in and they completely changed the culture. I’m so thankful for them because if they hadn’t come in when they did, Cliftonville Ladies wouldn’t be here.

“To tell the truth, the only thing that was keeping me going was how much I was enjoying international football but I’d stick by this Club through anything because it’s been part of my childhood, I’ve grown up with it and it means so much to me.”

Despite dominating the first-half of last night’s North Belfast Derby, Cliftonville were unable to find a breakthrough goal until 20 minutes from time when Callaghan’s ice-cool penalty got the better of Crusaders’ inspired goalkeeper Maddy Harvey-Clifford.

Megan Ingram drew the hosts level with eight minutes left on the clock before substitute Carleton’s close-range header settled the issue.

“We had so much belief in ourselves – we’re a really good team and we have really good players,” added Callaghan.

“The girls were really up for it and I’ve always said that the best team wins the League and we knew going into the game that we were the best team and that we deserved to win the League.

“We didn’t make it easy for ourselves but we played some lovely football, created so many chances and thank God we got the win in the end.

“I’m delighted for Vicky because she’s had a rough year. As a Linfield player, she was picked up by Kenny Shiels for Northern Ireland’s full-time set-up but got a really bad injury on her ankle and missed the Euros. It took her months to come back and she decided she wanted to move on and come to the Reds. She’s worked so hard to get herself fit and she fully deserves that goal and I’m absolutely delighted for her.”

When advised that had Carleton not scored and the game finished 1-1, Callaghan’s penalty would have effectively been the strike that clinched the title, she laughed: “No, I’m not worried about that. All we needed was another goal and that was the main thing and it’s fitting that it was her because she deserves it – and we deserve to be Champions.

“It’s crazy, absolutely crazy. It’s taken us a long time but I’d do it all over again. We’ve had some amazing memories and there’s people that have been involved and spent so long here – the likes of Jo-Anne McCarthy, Tiarna McKenna, Jo Smith – and it’s for them. I know they’ll be feeling just as happy for us that we’ve done it and finally won the League.”