The Final analysis

Cliftonville Ladies will bid to end another historic season by bringing the Women’s Irish Cup back to Solitude on Saturday night.

The Reds tackle the Blues in an eagerly-anticipated showdown at the Clearer Twist Stadium, where victory will ensure consecutive triumphs in the competition and see the trophy join the VBet League Cup in being successfully retained this term.

The holders’ Irish Cup campaign began with a second round tie back in July against last year’s beaten Finalists Lisburn Rangers, who had looked set to exact revenge only to be undone by two last-gasp goals at Crewe Park.

Though Fi Morgan (above) had put the visitors in front, Rangers led at half-time courtesy of a Faye Loughran double and looked on course for progress until Caitlin McGuinness levelled matters in the closing minutes.

The Reds weren’t content to settle for extra-time, though, and completed a fine late turnaround just as the clock ticked into 90 minutes when Morgan nodded in from Marissa Callaghan’s corner kick.

There was no such drama on quarter-final night, however, as Cliftonville delivered a five-star display to sink Crusaders Strikers in a North Belfast Derby scrap at Seaview.

Naomi McLaughlin (above) broke the deadlock early on and, after McGuinness had contributed a double, Callaghan and Katie Markey added their own names to the scoresheet to round off an emphatic success.

Passage to a third consecutive Irish Cup decider was confirmed with a 3-1 victory over Derry City Women at the semi-final stage.

Ahead when Vicky Carleton opened the scoring after just eight minutes at Mill Meadow, the holders doubled their advantage through a Callaghan penalty (above) following a foul on McLaughlin.

Orleigha McGuinness set big sister Caitlin up to make it 3-0 just past the hour and, though the Candystripes reduced the arrears through Caoirse Doherty, Cliftonville remained in firm control to set up Saturday night’s showdown with Linfield.

Cliftonville Ladies v Linfield Women
Saturday, October 18 (7.30pm)
Adults: £10
Concessions: £5
Tickets: General Sale