'Invincibles' Cliftonville lift title with 100% win record

Kelsie Burrows and Marissa Callaghan lift the Women's Premiership title

Cliftonville have completed the Women's Premiership season with a 100% winning record by defeating Crusaders Strikers 1-0 at Seaview.

After securing the title by hammering nearest rivals Glentoran on Sunday, all eyes were on the Reds to see if they could become the Women's Premiership's 'invincibles'.

After a goalless first half, Danielle Maxwell opened the scoring after the restart when her cross evaded everyone and nestled in the bottom corner.

Maxwell's effort was enough for Cliftonville to secure the win, and the celebrations started at the final whistle as the substitutes and coaching staff ran onto the pitch.

Captain Kelsie Burrows and key midfielder Marissa Callaghan lifted the trophy amid champagne and pyrotechnics, as the party started ramping up in north Belfast.

It is a second title in three years for the north Belfast side, who have dominated the season with 16 wins from 16 matches.

John McGrady's side scored 76 goals and conceded just eight.

After lifting the League Cup earlier in the season and dominating the Premiership, the Reds can complete the treble on Saturday when they will be favourites against Lisburn Rangers in the Irish Cup final at Windsor Park.

Burrows said lifting the Women's Premiership trophy alongside Callaghan "feels amazing".

"We wanted to come in this season and give it everything and win everything," Burrows told BBC Sport NI.

"We came here and wanted to get 100% results, and that is what we have done. Everyone is so happy.

"It just shows how much character this team has. There has been times in the season where we went down and had to come back and push on.

"Everyone in the team was so determined to get the win."

The Northern Ireland defender added that the squad would celebrate their unbeaten success before turning their attentions to the Irish Cup final with Lisburn Rangers.

"The Irish Cup means a lot because a lot of us haven't won it in a good few years," she added.

"Every final we have been in, we've lost, so hopefully this one will be a good turn for us.

"It's the biggest cup that we have, after the league, and the girls are really focused on that."

Maxwell goal the difference before party starts

After securing the title with a thumping win over their nearest rivals on the pitch, Cliftonville lifted the trophy at the home of their neighbours.

Crusaders gave a guard of honour as Burrows led Cliftonville out at Seaview, and, despite the celebrations that followed the win over Glentoran, they did not look like a team with a hangover on the pitch.

They dominated the majority of possession in the early stages, and Marissa Callaghan clipped the top of the crossbar with a long-range effort.

The Northern Ireland midfielder then hammered the crossbar with a header from Toni-Leigh Finnegan's cross.

The pressure continued to build as Fi Morgan, Caitlin McGuinness and Carla Devine all saw chances slip away.

Callaghan was denied the opener by the offside flag as she chipped the ball into the bottom corner, and Devine fired over late in the half as the teams went in level.

Danielle Maxwell struck the decisive goal at Seaview

After Callaghan poked an effort wide after the restart, the deserved winner came in the 52nd minute when Maxwell's cross drifted into the bottom corner to give the visitors a lead they would not relinquish.

Finnegan fired over as the Reds looked for a second, and substitute Kirsty McGuinness saw an effort parried away by Harvey-Clifford.

The Crues had a huge chance to level the game with 20 minutes to play when Rebecca Mann raced through on goal but the substitute hooked her effort wide.

McGuinness forced Harvey-Clifford into a superb diving save, and further chances fell to Caitlin McGuinness, who hit over from Katie Markey's cross, and Maxwell, who fired narrowly wide.

The game fizzled out in the closing stages, with the Reds perhaps having one eye on Saturday's cup final but when the final whistle blew, the Cliftonville bench ran onto the pitch to celebrate with their team-mates.

Elsewhere in the Women's Premiership, Glentoran were held to a 1-1 draw by rivals Linfield.

Rhyleigh Marks opened the scoring for the Blues before Emily Wilson fired home an equaliser.

Lisburn Rangers warmed up for the Irish Cup final with a 3-0 win away to Mid Ulster, who will be relegated after finishing bottom of the table.

Caoimhe Mullholland and Ellie-Mae Dickson netted in the second half for Rangers before an own goal by Niamh McDonnell secured the win.

It has been a superb first season in the top flight for Lisburn Rangers, who finished fourth behind Cliftonville, Glentoran and Linfield.