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Women’s Challenge Cup final: All you need to know ahead of Cliftonville v Glentoran


The big storyline ahead of the final is that Cliftonville have been denied the chance to win the domestic treble.

The Reds were stripped of their League Cup triumph after it was ruled that they fielded two ineligable players in July’s decider against Glentoran.

Caitlin McGuinness scored twice and Kirsty McGuinness and Danielle Maxwell also netted in a 4-0 win on the day, but that has now been reversed to a 3-0 victory to Glentoran.

While manager Lynch feels that losing the chance to complete the domestic treble is “unfair” despite a dominant performance in the decider, he acknowledges “it is what it is”.

“It’s not quite Man City-esque, it’s a technicality if you want,” Lynch told BBC Sport NI, as he referenced the English club’s guilty verdict of breaking the Premier League’s financial rules.

“We put it aside and we go on. There’s no point dwelling on it, we have to go forward and that’s it.”

While Glentoran have been retrospectively awarded the trophy, manager Turner admitted her side “lost the game fair and square” on the day.

She added that “nothing feels unjust” that they didn’t get to celebrate the trophy.

Another storyline to watch is the final match of Kelly Bailie’s 30-year career with Glentoran, and the defender will hang up her boots after Saturday’s final.

“She’s had so many accolades and so many awards and so many recognitions of her tremendous career in women’s football,” Turner said.

“We have a wee saying within the club and that is, ‘be more Kelly’.

“I think we have to be more Kelly for this final game of being a good character, giving 100% in everything that we do and ultimately going to win another trophy.”


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