Women's League Cup final - all you need to know
Lisburn Rangers and Cliftonville will meet in the Women's League Cup decider
- Published
Women's League Cup final: Cliftonville v Lisburn Rangers
Date: Sunday, 30 June Venue: Blanchflower Stadium Kick-off: 15:00 BST
Coverage: Text updates & report on BBC Sport website & app
The first piece of silverware of the Northern Ireland women's football domestic season is on offer on Sunday as Cliftonville take on Lisburn Rangers in the Women's League Cup final at Blanchflower Stadium.
It will be the Reds' fourth final appearance in this competition, whilst it is a first senior cup final for Lisburn Rangers, who are enjoying a stellar start to their maiden campaign in the Women's Premiership.
BBC Sport NI takes a look at everything you need to know ahead of the decider.
Route to the final
Holders Cliftonville began the defence of the League Cup with a resounding 6-0 victory against Lisburn Ladies at the Bluebell in April.
Kirsty McGuinness opened the scoring from a free-kick before Toni Leigh Finnegan thumped home a second.
Caitlin McGuinness then netted a hat-trick with Carla Devine also on target to secure their passage to the final four.
They met Glentoran in the semi-final and triumphed 3-2 in an entertaining encounter at Solitude.
Caitlin McGuinness gave the Reds an early lead before Emily Wilson responded.
Demi Vance then fired the Glens ahead with substitute Devine equalising for the Reds.
Substitute Katie Markey scored the winner to send Cliftonville through to their third successive final, despite the Reds playing the final 20 minutes with 10 players after Toni Leigh Finnegan was sent off.
Markey scored the winner against Glentoran to send Cliftonville to their third successive final
Lisburn Rangers overcame Mid Ulster Ladies 9-0 at Stangmore Park in their quarter-final as they laid down a marker of what to expect from them in the upcoming league campaign.
They were 6-0 ahead at the break courtesy of a first-half treble from Gracie Conway and goals from Daisy Conway, Helen Parker and Sophie Megaw.
Cara Tumelty and a double from Ellie-Mae Dickson rounded off the scoring in the second half.
Like Cliftonville, they then won 3-2 in their semi-final, beating Crusaders in dramatic fashion at Seaview.
Darcy Boyle gave the Crues the lead before Gracie Conway and Molly Loughran found the net to turn the game on its head.
Amy McGivern equalised late for the hosts, but just as it looked like the game was heading to extra time, Tumelty scored a fantastic goal to take Lisburn through to the final.
Form guide
Lisburn Rangers have lost just one of their opening five games in their first season in the top-flight
Both sides come into the game in good league form, with Cliftonville winning their opening five Women's Premiership games and Lisburn Rangers sitting in third having won four of their five games.
Their only defeat came in their last league fixture, a 7-1 humbling by leaders Glentoran, which remarkably was their first league defeat in five seasons.
Cliftonville and Lisburn Rangers have faced off in various cup competitions over the last few years but are yet to meet in the league this season.
The Reds triumphed 4-1in last year's Irish Cup semi-final and 5-0 in the County Antrim Cup last four last season.
Key players
McGuinness has already hit double figures for the Reds this season
The goals of Caitlin McGuinness and Gracie Conway have been crucial to both sides' good starts to the season and progression in this competition.
McGuinness was the hero for the Reds in last year's final as her hat-trick helped Cliftonville beat Sion Swifts 3-1 at Stangmore Park.
She already has 10 goals in all competitions this season and her ruthlessness in front of goal as well as her ability to link play makes her a key cog in Cliftonville's attack, which also possesses the likes of Kirsty McGuinness and Danielle Maxwell.
For Lisburn Rangers, Northern Ireland Under-19 international Conway has caught the eye and has thrived.
Conway has scored four goals and provided two assists in the competition, and she will aim to use her pace to get behind Cliftonville's defence and take any chances that come her way.