A second half blitz after an even first half condemned brought the champions' long unbeaten run to an end at the hands of league leaders Cliftonville at Solitude this evening.
In a first half of few chances, Glentoran’s Casey Howe glanced a header wide from Jessica Foy’s teasing cross and Lauren Wade forced a save from Reds goalkeeper Rachael Norney.
At the other end, Kirsty McGuinness was unable to beat Emma Higgins in the Glentoran goal after being played through one on one in the Reds’ best chance of the cagey opening period.
The game’s first goal would eventually arrive three minutes after the restart, as Finnegan curled home a free kick past Higgins, who was unable to keep the powerful strike out, despite getting a hand to it.
Kirsty McGuinness added a second just past the hour mark as she raced onto Finnegan’s lofted through ball before slotting past Higgins from close range.
Her sister Caitlin netted a third on 67 minutes, firing into the far corner through Higgins’ legs from a narrow angle in the box.
Glentoran were offered a route back into the game when captain Jessica Foy was brought down by Rachael Norney in the box.
The goalkeeper recovered however to produce a terrific reflex save to divert Foy’s penalty onto the crossbar, before Cora Morgan failed to hit the target from the rebound as the Reds held on for the win and clean sheet.
Photography by PACEMAKER
Glentoran Women: 29. Emma Higgins 3. Jess Foy (Captain) 4. Emma McMaster 6. Nadene Caldwell 7. Makayla Mulholland 9. Rachel Rogan 16. Jennifer McDade 17. Joely Andrews 20. Casey Howe, 21. Kelly Bailie 24. Lauren Wade 97. Chloe McCarron
subs 12. Ashleigh McKinnon 16. Jennifer McDade 18. Michelle McDaid 22. Cara Mervyn 25. Cora Morgan 26, Jenna McKearney 27. Shannon Dunne 28.Sarah Tweedie (replaced Connolly) 31. Sarah Connolly (replaced Howe)
