Monday 21 Aug 2023

Electric Ireland Women's Challenge Cup down to last four

Four teams remain standing in the Electric Ireland Women's Challenge Cup following weekend quarter-final ties.

Holders Glentoran Women successfully continued their defence of the trophy and will be joined in the semi-final draw by Cliftonville Ladies, Sion Swifts Ladies and NIWFA Championship side Lisburn Rangers Ladies.

The Glens, winners of the competition every year it has been staged since 2018, swept to a five-goal defeat of Lisburn Ladies at the Bluebell Stadium.

Northern Ireland striker Emily Wilson - one of nine senior internationals players in the Glentoran squad - opened the scoring as early as the sixth minute after cutting in from the right to fire past keeper Jessica Poots.

Wilson turned provider just four minutes after that to tee up Joely Andrews with another ball from the right before Kerry Beattie hit a third for Kim Turner's side just after the half-hour mark.

Beattie, the Women's Premiership's leading scorer, doubled her tally early in the second half following Nadene Caldwell's lay-off before Chloe McCarron wrapped things up with just over a quarter-of-an-hour remaining with a superb strike from just outside the area.

Last season's beaten finalists Sion Swifts Ladies kept up their quest to go one better this year with a two-goal defeat of Crusaders Strikers at Seaview.

Scoreless at the break, Tony McGinley's charges edged in front 10 minutes after the break through Kerry Brown before Cora Chambers made sure with a second on 78 minutes.

Cliftonville Ladies were top scorers on the night with an eight-goal haul against Ballymena United Women at The Showgrounds.

Caitlin McGuinness nodded home the opening goal on 18 minutes before Hannah Doherty doubled the lead with a thunderous finish after half-an-hour.

Marissa Callaghan added a third from the spot later in the first half, with Claire Shaw scrambling home a fourth just before the break.

Shaw struck again on the hour for her second of the evening but not before Danielle Maxwell, a Chelsea Millar own goal and Kirsty McGuinness had already added to the Reds' tally.

Lisburn Rangers Ladies reached the last four following a superb 5-1 victory over Derry City Women at The Dub.

Rangers, recently crowned NIWFA Championship winners after a perfect campaign, trailed to a Kayleigh Carlin strike after 17 minutes but hit back through an Eve Reilly double before the break.

Caoimhe Mulholland extended their lead early in the second half before goals from Natalie Keenan and Gracie Conway completed the scoring with around a quarter-of-an-hour remaining.