A north Belfast derby will be among the four intriguing contests in the quarter-finals of this year’s Electric Ireland Women’s Challenge Cup.
Today’s draw for the last eight in the competition paired Cliftonville Ladies with neighbours Crusaders Strikers.
The Reds will have home advantage against the Crues in the all-Premiership clash in north Belfast, with the game scheduled to be played on 9 August.
In the second round of the competition, played earlier this month, Cliftonville defeated Lisburn Ladies 5-0, while Crusaders Strikers cruised to a 7-1 win against Greenisland Women.
Holders Glentoran Women, who are currently neck and neck with Cliftonville in the Sports Direct NIFL Women’s Premiership title race, will take on fellow Premiership outfit Larne Women away in the quarter-finals.
The lowest ranked team remaining in the competition are NIWFA Championship side Bangor Ladies, who will be up against top flight side Derry City Women at home in the last eight.
Lisburn Rangers Ladies, who have had an excellent start to life in the Women’s Premiership, will be away to fellow Premiership side Mid Ulster Ladies in the quarter-finals.
All four matches are due to kick off at 7.30pm on Friday 9 August.
In round two Derry City Women defeated Civil Service Ladies 14-0, while Mid Ulster Ladies defeated Antrim Town Women by four goals to nil. And Glentoran Women edged out Linfield Women by two goals to one to reach the quarter-finals.
Bangor Ladies, Lisburn Rangers Ladies and Larne Women all received byes in the last round.
Image: Glentoran Women captain Jess Foy receives the Women’s Challenge Cup from Electric Ireland’s Anne Smyth in 2023. The cup holders have reached the quarter-final stage this year where they will face Larne Women.
