Glentoran Women hit back in the best possible manner tonight for the loss of their league title, with a 2-1 win over new champions Cliftonville at Solitude.
After Glentoran gave the Reds a guard of honour, they demonstrated their determination straight from kick off as star international midfielder Joely Andrews netted the opener with three minutes played with a superb effort from 25 yards which flew over Rachel Norney in the Cliftonville goal.
Glentoran were very much the dominant force in the first half and were disappointed to go into the break just one ahead after strong efforts from Caragh Hamilton, Rachel Rogan and jess Foy, while Kerry Beattie crashed an effort off the post and Andrews struck the crossbar with a dipping half-volley from the edge of the area. By comparison, the Reds had just one real effort in the half.
Another plus for the visitors was the first team debut in attack of seventeen-year-old Rachel McIntyre, an Under 17 Northern Ireland International.
With the wind in their favour, Cliftonville came into the game more in the second half and eventually equalised through former Glens player Vicky Carleton on 62 minutes when she crashed home following several Glentoran blocks on the line.
Cliftonville were denied on a couple of occasions by fine saves from Ashleigh McKinnon, while Kerry Beattie flicked a corner wide just as the Glens looked for a winner.
The winner finally came in the final minute as Caragh Hamilton – The Mortgage Shop Player of the Match - smashed home the winner from a tight angle
That concludes this season’s Danske Bank Women’s Premiership, but the Glens will look to end the season with a second trophy when they face Sion Swifts Ladies in the Electric Ireland Challenge Cup Final at the National Stadium on Saturday at 5.30pm. If you are unable to make the game, it will be streamed live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.
(Photography by Johnny Caldwell and Pacemaker)
Glentoran Women: 1. Ashleigh McKinnon 3. Jess Foy (Captain) 4. Emma McMaster 5. Imogen Lancaster 9. Rachel Rogan 14. Caragh Hamilton 17. Joely Andrews 19. Kerry Beattie 21. Kelly Bailie 28. Sarah Tweedie 97. Chloe McCarron
Subs: 6. Rachel McIntyre (for Lancaster) 15, Megan Neill 18. Michelle McDaid 20. Casey Howe (for Rogan) 26. Jenna McKearney (for Tweedie) 27. Shannon Dunne (for McMaster) 30. Sarah Gamble
The Mortgage Shop Player of the Match Caragh Hamilton
