Glentoran Women put in a second half performance worthy of champions to see off strong resistance from Crusaders and clinch the Sports Direct Women's Premiership title, their third in four years and a record tenth overall.
Sunday 8th October
Seaview
Kick Off: 2.00pm
Glentoran Women travel the short distance to Seaview tomorrow afternoon (kick off 2pm) knowing that a win would clinch the Sports Direct Premiership title for the third time in four years.
Two weeks ago Glentoran went into a home game at the top of the Sports Direct Premiership. Tonight we sit in fifth place, eleven points behind the leaders after taking just one point in the last twelve. Frankly no other outcome looked likely from about fifteen minutes into the game.
Warren Feeney had to reshuffle again due to the unexpected absence of Jay Donnelly. Junior returned at centre forward and with Bobby Burns moved to left back we started with an unfamiliar midfield of Sule, Palmer and Kelly.
Tomorrow evening we complete the first round of Sports Direct Premiership matches by travelling across the city to meet our old rivals Linfield at Windsor Park in the first Big Two match of the season.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland has issued the following guidance ahead of tomorrow evening's Sports Direct Premiership match v Linfield at the National Stadium at Windsor Park:
‘Police are requesting that Glentoran fans travelling by car and coach to the Sports Direct Premiership League match with Linfield at the National Stadium, Windsor Park on Friday 6th October 2023 with 1945 hrs KO, leave sufficient travel time to arrive at the match
Glentoran were the first team drawn out of the hat in today’s Bet McLean Cup draw and we’ll play Linfield at the Bet McLean Oval in the last 16.
The game will be played on Tuesday 7th November at the Bet McLean Oval. Kick Off 7.45.
Warmest congratulations to Patrick McClean on making his 150th appearance for Glentoran in Saturday's match at Carrick.
Paddy joined us from Derry City in the close season of 2019, immediately established himself as a big crowd favourite, and apart from a spell last season has been a constant at the heart of our defence ever since, including our Irish Cup run and win at the end of his first season here.
Congratulations Paddy.
A very young Glens team got the job done this evening at the Bet McLean Oval to go through to the next round of the Bet McLean Cup.
Warren Feeney gave Under 19s Johnny Russell, Leon Boyd and Rhys Walsh a start tonight with Ollie Webber, Cammy Palmer and Sean Murray also returning to the starting lineup. Most pleasing however was the return of Harry Murphy to the first team since his bad injury sustained v Linfield back in April.
This showdown between the two contenders for the Sports Direct Women’s Premiership lived up to its billing at Ashfield tonight.
Cliftonville had the better of the opening exchanges, without causing too many problems for a resolute home defence and opened the scoring on 17 minutes when Caitlin McGuinness neatly touched the ball home after a left wing run and cross from her sister Kirsty.
Tomorrow evening we begin our Bet McLean (League) Cup campaign for 2023/24 with a historic first ever meeting with Dollingstown FC.
