Naomi McLaughlin continued her outstanding start to life at Glentoran as her double secured a 2-1 victory over Linfield in the Clearer Water Irish Cup quarter-final at Blanchflower Stadium.

In a typically tense Big Two encounter, McLaughlin struck in each half to take her tally to seven goals since joining the Club last month and send Kim Turner’s side into the last four.

Linfield passed up the first clear opportunity when Eve Reilly failed to convert from a promising position, and the visitors were punished shortly afterwards.

McLaughlin opened the scoring 10 minutes before the break, swivelling on the edge of the penalty area as the ball dropped before firing beyond Lilie Woods.

The Blues responded seven minutes after the restart when Cora Chambers collected Sophie McKnight’s pass and calmly slotted past Ellie Scott to restore parity.

Glentoran pushed for a winner, with McLaughlin denied at close range before Aimee Kerr’s follow-up was scrambled clear.

The decisive moment arrived with 10 minutes remaining. McLaughlin collected possession wide on the left and produced a superb 20-yard strike which flew towards the far top corner.

Woods managed to get a hand to the effort but could not prevent it from finding the net.

It proved enough to settle the tie and secure Glentoran’s place in the semi-finals.

Glentoran Women 2–1 Linfield Women

Starting XI: Scott, Loughran, Foy, Caldwell, Kerr, Vance, Crompton, McKearney, McLaughlin, Moore, Wilson.

Substitutes: G Conway, D Conway, Bailie, McMaster, Maguire, Timoney, McCarr