PICTURES BY DAVE KERR
Katie Markey and Aimee Kerr
THE countdown is on as holders Cliftonville Ladies and current league leaders Glentoran Women prepare to go head-to-head in the VBET Women’s League Cup final at Seaview on Sunday (kick-off 3.00pm).
The Reds will be looking to keep hold of the trophy for a record breaking third successive season whereas the Glens will be striving to get their hands on the cup for the first time in six years.
And with the sides having dominated women’s football in recent seasons – and already occupying the top two positions in the Premiership this campaign – there is a real sense that Sunday’s decider could set the tone for the rest of the campaign.
It has been a stunning start to the season for Glentoran, currently top of the table with five wins from five and into the knock-out phase of the All Island Cup having defeated League of Ireland champions Athlone Town and Waterford along the way.
Midfielder Aimee Kerr has played a big part in Glentoran’s success so far, and she puts a lot of that down to the work going on behind the scenes at the club.
“We’ve done really well so far. We’re unbeaten to date and we want to continue that. All the hard work in pre-season has really helped us, we’ve putting in the performances and the principles of play have been coming out. It’s been really great so far,” said the 19-year-old.
Aimee Kerr and Emily Wilson
Looking forward to the final, Aimee reckons it’ll be one to savour and appealed for the fans to help add to the occasion.
“I think you’ll see a great game of football. We’re both talented sides and we both have quality players, so you’ll see a great final and a great match.
“We want everyone to get out in their numbers, whether they’re neutral or not, to watch and to make it an occasion.”
Those views have been echoed by Glens team-mate Emily Wilson, with a nod to the next generation of players coming up through the ranks.
“I think it’s going to be a great final, it’s definitely going to be a competitive match,” Emily believes. “Obviously any time we play Cliftonville it’s always a massive game and usually we get a great turnout, it’s definitely not one to miss.
“Having fans at the games, and getting the likes of the Academy girls through the gates, means hopefully we can inspire the younger ones and they can have some role models to look up to.”
“It would be massive for us and for the club to win. Obviously when you get into finals you want to make sure you bring the trophy back with you so it’ll mean a lot for us.”
And Aimee Kerr readily agrees: “A trophy is always a trophy and you always want to win it. It’s a reward for your hard work, we’re always going to look to win it and it’ll be amazing for us if we can.”
Orleigha McGuinness and Katie Markey
It hasn’t been a bad start for Cliftonville either, currently second in the table with a game in hand and an All Island Cup campaign that produced draws with Cork City and Peamount United, as well as a narrow defeat away to defending champions Galway United.
The Reds cleaned up domestically last season and as midfielder Katie Markey readily acknowledges that makes them a bit of a target this time round.
“Every team is going to be out to beat us this year. We won the treble last year so people will be trying to take trophies and titles off us but we’re up for the challenge,” Katie said.
“The last few games we’ve been gaining momentum, playing good football and scoring a good few goals.”
A lifelong Reds fan, it’ll mean so much to the 18-year-old to come out on top on Sunday.
“I’ve been a Cliftonville fan born and bred, so for me personally it’d be amazing to get my hands on the trophy and for the team it’d just boost our confidence more and more,” she said.
And that’s something Orleigha McGuinness is very much in agreement with. Given her family connections she is no stranger to seeing success at the Solitude club but that hasn’t dampened the 19-year-old’s enthusiasm.
“It’s always good to win a final, and it’s always good to win a match regardless, but because we won it last year we want to show we can come back and win it again,” Orleigha said.
“I think you’ll see a great game of football. We’re both talented sides and we both have quality players, so you’ll see a great final and a great match.
“We want everyone to get out in their numbers, whether they’re neutral or not, to watch and to make it an occasion,” she concluded.
Meanwhile, Cliftonville Ladies will face Mitrovica in the Women’s Champions League first qualifying round.
Tuesday’s draw at UEFA Headquarters in Nyon paired the Reds with the Kosovan outfit in a fixture scheduled to be played on Wednesday, July 30, with the winners progressing to take on Lanchkhuti of Georgia in the Group 6 Final.
Katie Markey
Orleigha McGuinness
Emily Wilson
Aimee Kerr
