Glentoran Women overcame a second half challenge at the Bet McLean Oval this evening to retain their Danske Bank Women's Premiership crown with this 3-2 home win over runners up Cliftonville.
Glens were outstanding in the first half and led 2-0 at half time through goals from last season’s NIFL Player of the Year Caragh Hamilton and the legendary Kelly Bailie. The Reds shocked their hosts with two second half goals, but the winner and league clincher came appropriately from this season’s leading scorer Kerry Beattie.
Glentoran strengthened their position as Northern Ireland's most successful club in Women's football as this was the Glens' record ninth championship win since the inception of the league.
The trophy will be presented next Wednesday at our final home match with Derry City at the Bet McLean Oval
The situation for Glentoran was clear - three points would secure the title with a game to spare. Even a draw would have more than likely done the job with a favourable final match against basement side Derry City.
Cliftonville knew three points would put the title race in their hands ahead of the final weekend, but it was the hosts who came flying out of the traps and Wade's free-kick was narrowly wide inside two minutes, and the Northern Ireland winger was involved again when her cross just evaded the onrushing Hamilton.
However, the Wade-Hamilton combination paid off on 13 minutes when the latter slid in to open the scoring from close range, her first goal since returning from a long-term knee injury, and ease any tension around east Belfast.
Chloe McCarron hit the bar two minutes later as the Glentoran attacks kept coming, and Wade almost turned from provider to goalscorer but her close-range shot spun wide of the far post.
Cliftonville's first chance came on 23 minutes when Caitlin McGuinness saw her shot well blocked by home captain Jess Foy.
Joely Andrews' effort was easily held, but Nadene Caldwell and Hamilton had quickfire chances denied by some last-ditch defending by the visitors.
Cliftonville almost got the lifeline they were after when Northern Ireland captain Callaghan raced onto Kirsty McGuinness' lobbed through ball but her effort over Ashleigh McKinnon came back off the crossbar.
However, daylight was put between the sides on 33 minutes when Kelly Bailie, in her 25th season with the Glens, tucked home at the back post from Andrews' corner.
Wade struck the post after showing tenacity in the area and Hamilton nearly added a third when her back-post header sailed over the bar, but the Glens were good value for their win at half-time.
Buoyed by their commanding first-half display, Stephen Murray's side continued where they left off, with Hamilton's low cross just evading Wade, and the former stung the gloves of Rachael Norney.
Shona Davis hooked the ball off the line when Norney dropped Wade's cross, but the Reds stopper redeemed herself with a brilliant low save from Andrews' powerful drive from the edge of the area.
Cliftonville changed their shape as McDaniel moved forward to support the isolated McGuinness, and just when it looked like Glentoran would ease to the title, the Reds were handed a lifeline on 54 minutes when McKinnon mis-kicked Shannon Dunne's backpass, which allowed McDaniel, fresh from her maiden international goal with Northern Ireland, to tuck the ball home.
Substitute Maxwell saw a goal-bound shot blocked by Yasmin White, but Cliftonville roared level when captain Moran powered home a header from Kirsty McGuinness' corner on 71 minutes.
However, Glentoran hit back four minutes later and retook the lead when Beattie converted from close range to net her 23rd goal of the season after Norney spilled Wade's powerful long-range effort.
There was a tense finish as both teams pushed for the goal which could decide the destiny of the title, and referee Louise Thompson waved away penalty appeals after Callaghan, Bailie and McKinnon collided in the area in the 89th minute.
However, Glentoran held on and there were wild celebrations at full-time as they clinched back-to-back championships.
Glentoran Women: 1. Ashleigh McKinnon 2. Annie Timoney 3. Jessica Foy (captain) 6. Nadene Caldwell 17. Joely Andrews 19. Kerry Beattie 21. Kelly Bailie 24. Lauren Wade 26. Caragh Hamilton 27. Shannon Dunne 97. Chloe McCarron
Subs: 4. Emma McMaster (for Bailie) 9. Rachel Rogan 10. Alison McMaster 18. Danielle Maxwell (for Hamilton) 29. Emma Higgins
Match Report courtesy of Andy Gray, BBC Sport
Photography by Johnny Caldwell
