Corking prize on offer

Cliftonville Ladies will chase down an All-Island Cup quarter-final place when they tackle Cork City at Solitude on Saturday.

A win for the Reds would guarantee a qualifying position from Group C, where they currently sit in third spot after two rounds of games.

They kicked their campaign off with a narrow defeat in a madcap battle with Treaty United last month.

Trailing 2-0 with eight minutes left on the clock, Brendan Lynch’s side reduced the arrears through Carla Devine and, though the hosts restored their two-goal advantage almost immediately, Lucy Kelly’s quickfire reply set up a grandstand finale in Ballingarry.

There was another goal glut when Cliftonville got the better of Athlone Town just over a fortnight ago.

After Danielle Maxwell and Roisin Molloy had exchanged strikes, Teegan Lynch put the Reds 2-1 up ahead of Athlone levelling matters again through Noelle Murray – only for McGuinness to almost immediately bag the winner.

All of which means the Solitude girls join Athlone on three points in the group but with the Town travelling to take on table-topping Treaty United (4 points) at the weekend, a Cliftonville victory over Cork (whose sole point came against Treaty last time out) would ensure progress to the knockout phase.

Saturday’s action gets under way at 2pm and, as ever, our players would be delighted to avail of your support.