Glentoran score late double to beat Linfield to women's cup

Makyla Mulholland scored twice in the final minutes as Glentoran recovered to beat rivals Linfield 2-1 to lift the Electric Ireland Women's Challenge Cup.

Megan Bell had fired in from distance to give the Blues the lead before the Glens centre back scored headers from 2 corners in the 85th and 89th minutes.

In the first half the Glens had impressed with Nadene Caldwell and Ali McMaster causing problems with their direct running - but the Blues could rely on Ashley Hutton to clear away any danger.

Linfield often threatened through goalscorer Bell, who went close before the break having driven forward from halfway before shooting wide.

Early in the second period, the Glens were left frustrated after the ref waved away calls for a penalty after the ball struck the arm of Linfield defender Hutton.

It came as no surprise that it was Linfield's Bell who made the breakthrough in the 62nd minute.

Substitute Abbie Magee worked well down the left, and when the ball was moved infield to Bell, she fired high into the net from just outside the box.

Glentoran went in search of an equaliser, and Kelly Bailie forced Jamie-Lee Wilson into a scrambling save with her legs with a 25-yard free-kick.

That forced the corner from which Makyla Mulholland rose highest to thump home a header in the 85th minute to pull her side level.

Just 4 minutes later, she scored again in a repeat of her first goal, also assisted by Demi Vance, as the Glens held on to beat their rivals.