The month ahead: August

Just 10 days remain until Cliftonville begin the new Sports Direct Premiership season in a Solitude showdown with Portadown.

After that August 11 encounter, the Reds are on the road to face Glenavon on the 17th before playing host to Dungannon Swifts a few days later, with the opening month of the domestic campaign concluding with away days against Crusaders (August 24) and Glentoran (August 31).

Cliftonville Ladies will, meanwhile, be in League action when they welcome Mid Ulster Ladies to Solitude tomorrow night.

Crusaders Strikers are the visitors for an Electric Ireland Irish Cup quarter-final tussle next Friday, while the 16th sees John McGrady’s side tackle Derry City Women at the Brandywell before bidding to successfully defend the County Antrim Cup when Glentoran Women provide the opposition in a mouthwatering Final clash on Saturday the 24th.

The Reds then see the month out with a Premiership home game against Linfield Women on the 30th – so be sure that all of those dates are in your diary as we gear up for another big run of matches.

This month’s fixtures
Friday, August 2
Sports Direct Women’s Premiership
Cliftonville Ladies v Mid Ulster Ladies (7.45pm)

Friday, August 9
Electric Ireland Women’s Irish Cup quarter-final
Cliftonville Ladies v Crusaders Strikers (7.30pm)

Sunday, August 11
Sports Direct Premiership
Cliftonville v Portadown (3pm)

Friday, August 16
Sports Direct Women’s Premiership
Derry City Women v Cliftonville Ladies (7.45pm)

Saturday, August 17
Sports Direct Premiership
Glenavon v Cliftonville (3pm)

Tuesday, August 20
Sports Direct Premiership
Cliftonville v Dungannon Swifts (7.45pm)

Saturday, August 24
Sports Direct Premiership
Crusaders v Cliftonville (3pm)

County Antrim Cup Final
Cliftonville Ladies v Glentoran Women (Blanchflower Stadium, 7.30pm)

Friday, August 30
Sports Direct Women’s Premiership
Cliftonville Ladies v Linfield Women (7.45pm)

Saturday, August 31
Sports Direct Premiership
Glentoran v Cliftonville (3pm)