NI Women's Premiership: champions round off season by picking up title
Cliftonville Ladies lifted their first Danske Bank Women's Premiership title last night (Wednesday) despite losing 2-1 win to big rivals, Glentoran in the season finale.
The Reds who beat Crusaders last week to wrap up the championship, missed out on a victory at Solitude after a goal in the last minute from Caragh Hamilton sealed the points for the Glens.
The visitors had won the last two titles but could not mathematically catch Cliftonville – who had won 15 of their previous 16 league games – going into the final round of games.
Joely Andrews gave the visitors at Solitude an early lead before Victoria Carleton – a mid-season signing from Linfield Ladies – equalised for the Reds, although Hamilton grabbed a late winner for the Glens.
Elsewhere on Wednesday night, Linfield Ladies concluded their strong run of form in recent weeks by defeating Crusaders Strikers 1-0 at Midgely Park.
The Blues finish in fourth spot, two points behind the Crues, but won the game on the night thanks to an early goal from Rhyleigh Marks.
Mid Ulster Ladies secured just their second league victory of the campaign as Eimear McGarrity netted twice in a 2-1 victory at Derry City Women.
The Candystripes will finish the campaign propping up the standings but did find just their third league goal of the season through Ellie Redden.
A much-changed Sion Swifts Ladies side crashed to a five-goal defeat at home to Lisburn Ladies, for whom Stacey Murdough netted a double with Morgan Shannon and Mia Bethany Rowan among the scorers.