Holders Glentoran Women are among the favourites to lift this year’s Electric Ireland Women’s Challenge Cup.
The entry portal for the competition, which produced some great games in 2018, has now gone live and the closing date for entries is Thursday 28 February.
This year’s final will once again be staged at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park – on Saturday 21 September.
Glentoran Women, who defeated Linfield Ladies 2-1 in the 2018 final back in September, are expected to be in the mix once again, and will no doubt be keen to retain the trophy.
Linfield, who won the Danske Bank Women’s Premiership last season, finishing 12 points ahead of the Glens in the runners-up spot, are among the favourites to lift the trophy, too.
Cliftonville Ladies have strengthened during the close season and are also expected to be in the hunt for major silverware during 2019. They last won the Irish Cup in 2015.
On their way to the 2018 Women’s Challenge Cup decider Glentoran Women defeated Crusaders Strikers 6-1 and Cliftonville Ladies 5-1.
And their cup final opponents Linfield Ladies hammered both Lisburn Ladies (12-0) and Derry City Ladies (9-0) before squeezing past Sion Swifts Ladies in the last four, 4-3 on penalties after the tie had ended goalless.
In the final Glentoran got the better of the Blues thanks to two powerful headers from Makyla Mulholland after Megan Bell had given Linfield the lead.
The entry fee for the 2019 competition is £20.
Clubs should click here to enter this year’s Electric Ireland Women’s Challenge Cup
Image: Makyla Mulholland was the hero for Glentoran Women in the 2018 Electric Ireland Women’s Challenge Cup final. She scored both goals in the 2-1 victory over Linfield Ladies.
