Ladies first

This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating the ongoing success story that is Cliftonville Ladies.

As well as completing an invincible Sports Direct Women’s Premiership campaign by winning every single League match they contested in 2024, John McGrady’s side also successfully defended the VBet League Cup before clinching the Electric Ireland Irish Cup to complete a magnificent treble.

Just a few days remain until the Reds learn their Premiership fixtures for the year ahead but, for the day that’s in it and as a potential act of inspiration ahead of our Men’s team contesting tomorrow’s BetMcLean Cup Final, we’re presenting a whistle-stop guide to the Ladies’ trio of trophy triumphs.

Having lifted the League Cup by defeating Sion Swifts 12 months earlier, Cliftonville reported to the Blanchflower Stadium bidding to toast back-to-back successes in the competition and made history in the first-half when Kirsty McGuinness found the net to become the first player to ever score in three League Cup deciders.

The Reds made tough work of wrapping things up, though, and only made sure of victory in the closing minutes when Marissa Callaghan provided the assist for Victoria Carleton to make it 2-0.

Though some four months later, a 6-0 victory over dethroned Champions Glentoran Women earned the Premiership title at Solitude, further history was made against Crusaders Strikers the following week.

Overcoming the Glens – courtesy of goals from Kirsty McGuinness (2), Caitlin McGuinness, Danielle Maxwell, Callaghan and Katie Markey – ensured the team’s main objective had been achieved, but invincibility was on the line in a tense North Belfast Derby duel at Seaview a few days later.

Maxwell’s strike early in the second-half set the Reds on course and, despite a nervy finish that saw the hosts going close to a leveller that would have blotted the Champions’ perfect record, McGrady’s charges held on to claim another landmark success.

The season ended with another decisive showdown with Lisburn Rangers – this time in the Irish Cup Final at Windsor Park.

Having suffered defeat to Glentoran at the same juncture 12 months earlier, Cliftonville were determined to get their hands on the silverware on this occasion and took just six minutes to break the deadlock through Louise McDaniel.

Caitlin McGuinness made it 2-0 soon later before adding the Reds’ third with just over 20 minutes remaining.

Carleton, sent off in that loss to Glentoran the previous year, enjoyed the celebrations when she claimed Cliftonville’s fourth ahead of McGuinness putting the seal on a five-star display by completing her hat-trick.

An inspiration to young girls up and down the land, Cliftonville Ladies are currently making pre-season preparations for the campaign ahead when, in addition to defending the raft of trophies they have delivered to Solitude, they will make their long-awaited return to the Women’s Champions League – no finer role models for supporters of all ages to look up to this International Women’s Day.