CLIFTONVILLE Ladies powered through to the Electric Ireland Women’s Irish Cup Final with a sensational performance against holders Glentoran Women at Ballyclare.
Their 3-1 win sets up an enticing final against Lisburn Rangers Ladies, 2-1 last minute winners over Derry City at Mill Meadow, Limavady with Lisburn’s Gracie Conway named Player of the Match.
Having lost last year’s decider to the Glens – who have won the trophy in each of the past five seasons – the Reds knew that only a top drawer display would suffice in their bid to reach another decider and they duly delivered to set up an October 19 showdown with Lisburn Rangers.
Despite Danielle Maxwell’s Dixon Park opener for the Reds being swiftly cancelled out by Demi Vance to leave the contest tied at 1-1 at the interval, Cliftonville stepped things up after the break and retook the lead through a deflected Kirsty McGuinness effort before Player of the Match Marissa Callaghan made sure of progress with a cool finish to complete the scoring.
In a repeat of the League Cup final, the Reds will come up against Lisburn Rangers in the decider.
Rangers broke the deadlock against Derry City two minutes into first half stoppage time when Caoimhe Gelston Mulholland found the net.
Ellie Long levelled for the Candystripes just before the hour mark but, with five minutes remaining, Player of the Match Gracie Conway popped up with what proved to be the winner.
