Cliftonville thrash Glentoran to win Women's Premiership
Cliftonville still have a 100% record in the Women's Premiership
- Published
Cliftonville have won the Women's Premiership title after a commanding 6-0 win against Glentoran at Solitude.
A rampant first half saw the Reds lead 4-0 at half-time and the victory gave them a six-point advantage over the second place Glens with just one game remaining.
The victory was Cliftonville's 15th from 15 league games as they regained the title they won for the first time in 2022.
They will lift the trophy in their final game against Crusaders on Friday night.
Ruthless Reds dispatch Glens in dominant first half
It was a nervous opening to the game from league leaders, with Glentoran keen to take advantage as they fought against relinquishing their league crown.
Emily Wilson dispossessed Fi Morgan high up the pitch in the fourth minute and squared the ball to Chloe McCarron in the box, but a last-ditch block from Kirsty McGuinness diverted her goal bound effort wide.
Cliftonville had a good chance of their own four minutes later with Toni-Leigh Finnegan clipping the ball into the path of Kirsty McGuinness, who flashed a low shot wide of the far post.
Demi Vance squandered a good chance to open the scoring on 14 minutes. Burrows conceded possession to Rachel Rogan, and she fed Vance, whose lofted effort landed over the crossbar.
The Glens were left to rue those missed opportunities as Cliftonville broke the deadlock on 20 minutes and never looked back.
Danielle Maxwell floated a pinpoint cross to Kirsty McGuinness at the back post and she planted a powerful header past Ashleigh McKinnon.
The goal sparked John McGrady's side into life, and they doubled their advantage six minutes later, with Maxwell, who won the league's Player of Month award, again providing the assist.
She found Caitlin McGuinness in the box, who poked home at the near post.
Northern Ireland international Maxwell got on the score sheet herself on 41 minutes, firing low into the far corner after Annie Timoney had given the ball to her in the box.
Maxwell completed a hat-trick of assists in first half injury time, clipping a sumptuous pass into Kirsty McGuinness, who took the ball past McKinnon and tucked home.
Callaghan caps five-star display
Cliftonville refused to let up in the second half, with Morgan forcing McKinnon into a save with a header from a corner.
Their fifth goal arrived just before the hour mark from the penalty spot as Callaghan confidently slammed home after Maxwell's cross had hit McCarron on the arm.
Vance hit the crossbar for the Glens with a free-kick as they tried in vain to find a consolation goal.
Caitlin McGuinness thought she had stroked home the Reds' sixth after latching on to another well-timed pass from Maxwell, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Substitute Katie Markey added a scrappy sixth in injury time as Cliftonville picked up their second league title in three seasons in style.
They will hope to compete a league and cup double when they contest the Women's Challenge Cup final on Saturday 19 October against Lisburn Rangers at Windsor Park.