Worked up

Kirsty McGuinness has rallied her Cliftonville Ladies team-mates for the “hard work” that will be required to lift the Women’s Premiership League Cup tomorrow night.

The silverware will be on the line when the Reds tackle holders Sion Swifts Ladies at Stangmore Park, where McGuinness – who has savoured Premiership and County Antrim Cup success in the past nine months – insists only a top quality performance will be sufficient to land another accolade.

“Of course winning trophies is going to make us want more but we have always been a team that’s playing to win everything possible,” she explains.

“We have always had that hunger and desire to win as many trophies as possible but we know it’s not easy and we have to put the hard work in to achieve this.

“With a Cup Final, there is more on the line but it’s just another game and we prepare for every game by working hard on and off the training pitch to be as best prepared as we can be.”

Cliftonville enter the game on the back of an impressive winning run, while Sion’s own positive form was halted by a  a 4-1 defeat to Glentoran Women on Friday night – an outcome that McGuinness maintains will have no bearing on events at Stangmore.

“Sion are a strong side and, no matter what happened at the weekend, they are in a Cup Final and Cup Finals aren’t easy games,” adds the 28-year-old, older sister of both Caitlin and Orleigha.

“I think both teams will give everything they have to come away as League Cup Champions.”

Women’s Premiership League Cup Final
Thursday, Stangmore Park (7.45pm)
Adults: £5
Under-16s: Free