CLIFTONVILLE Ladies and Glentoran Women lock horns for the first time this season on Sunday when they go head-to-head in the VBET Women’s League Cup final (Seaview, 3.00pm).
With both sides having dominated the domestic game in recent years it’s very fitting that they face off for the first piece of silverware of the 2025 campaign.
The Glens are currently top of the Women’s Premiership, having secured a maximum return of 15 points from their five games to date, whilst the Reds are just one place behind them with 10 points from their four games.
Cliftonville are, of course, going for a record breaking third successive League Cup triumph but Glentoran will be equally as hungry to get their hands on the trophy to add to their sole victory back in 2019.
And the two-goal hero on that occasion – Demi Vance – is still very much playing her part, having scored in every game in the competition this season with a goal in each game in the group stage victories over Larne Women, Lisburn Rangers and Crusaders Strikers.
But don’t be thinking the Glens depend solely on the vastly experienced 34-year-old for their goals. In fact, no fewer than seven of her team-mates have also found the net in the League Cup alone – Emily Wilson (4), Mia Moore (3), Nadene Caldwell (2), Rachel Rogan (2) and one apiece for Sophie McKnight, Kascie Weir and Aimee Kerr.
Orleigha McGuinness and Katie Markey from Cliftonville Ladies with Aimee Kerr and Emily Wilson of Glentoran Women
The Reds are no slouches in front of goal either.
In Caitlin McGuinness they possess the competition’s leading scorer, her tally comprises a hat-trick in the opening game with Derry City Women and a further couple against Lisburn Ladies.
Marissa Callaghan has also bagged three for the holders with Katie Markey, Fionnula Morgan and Carla Devine all finding the net as well.
Cliftonville go into the game on the back of an eight goal victory over Larne whilst Glentoran hit five without reply past Crusaders in the last round of Sports Direct Premiership fixtures.
Domestically, both sides are undefeated this season and even on the bigger stage they only share one loss between them when Cliftonville went down narrowly away to current All Island Cup holders Galway United at the end of April.
The Reds then went on to draw with Cork City and Peamount United but unfortunately those results weren’t enough to prevent their exit from the competition.
Indeed, Glentoran are the sole NIFL representatives remaining, having won Group D with victory over current League of Ireland champions Athlone Town, followed by a win away to Waterford and a draw with Treaty United.
Top ref Louise Thompson will take charge of Sunday’s final, assisted by Maria Creaney and Jason Maxwell while Tom Symington has been named as the fourth official.
2025 VBET Women’s League Cup Final
Cliftonville Ladies v Glentoran Women
Date: Sunday, June 29, 2025 – kick-off 3.00pm
Venue: Seaview, Belfast
Tickets: Adults: £5, Under-16’s: £2
Watch Live on the DAZN network.
Teams talk: (from left) Katie Markey, Emily Wilson, Aimee Kerr and Orleigha McGuinness at pre-final photoshoot
