Tolka good game

Cliftonville Ladies roll into Dublin this weekend when they go head-to-head with Shelbourne in the quarter-finals of the Women’s All-Island Cup.

The Reds could scarcely have secured a more dramatic path to the competition’s knockout stages having commenced their Group C programme with defeat in a five-goal thriller at Treaty United before edging past Athlone Town 3-2 in a ding-dong Solitude showdown early last month.

That set up a virtual winner-takes-all battle with Cork City a fortnight ago when, after finding themselves 3-0 down, Cliftonville scored an incredible 97th minute equaliser to leapfrog the Leesiders in the standings and claim a place in the last-eight.

Shels’ progress was somewhat more straightforward, with three wins from three in Group D.

After a 4-2 victory away to Waterford, they overcame Bohemians 2-1 before doing their city rivals a huge favour by beating Glentoran 6-1, thus handing the Bohs progress on goal difference.

A formidable challenge therefore awaits Brendan Lynch’s side at Tolka Park on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 4pm.