Cliftonville Ladies claim historic fourth straight NIFL League Cup

Cliftonville Ladies made it four straight NIFL League Cups in a row after thrashing Glentoran 4-0 at Seaview on Sunday. The Reds’ dominance was total, with Caitlin McGuinness scoring twice in the first half to set the tone before Kirsty McGuinness and Danielle Maxwell added late goals to seal the trophy’s return to Solitude.

What happened at Seaview?

Cliftonville started like a house on fire, with Kirsty McGuinness nearly opening the scoring inside two minutes when her inswinging corner clipped the crossbar. Pressure mounted quickly, and after 20 minutes of relentless attacks, Caitlin McGuinness broke the deadlock by latching onto Maddie Harvey-Clifford’s cross-field ball and slotting past Glentoran keeper McKinnon. Six minutes later, she doubled the lead with a thunderous strike into the far corner.

The Reds led 2-0 at the interval, and Glentoran struggled to impose themselves after the break. Cliftonville nearly made it three when Caitlin McGuinness forced a fine save from McKinnon after a solo run, but Kirsty McGuinness made sure just two minutes later with a composed finish from Danielle Maxwell’s cross. Maxwell then wrapped up the scoring with eight minutes left, pouncing on a slack clearance to fire home from the edge of the box.

Why it matters for Cliftonville Ladies

This victory extends Cliftonville’s grip on the NIFL League Cup, a trophy they’ve now won four times in succession. The Reds sit fifth in the Premiership with 47 points from 33 games, 26 behind leaders Larne, and have already scored 49 goals this season while conceding 48. Their recent form reads LWWLL, with their last result a 1-2 loss to Dungannon Swifts on 9 May 2026.

Manager Brendan Lynch was sent off midway through the second half after picking up two quick yellow cards, but his side’s performance spoke louder than the controversy. The win keeps them on track for a potential domestic double, with their league campaign resuming after five straight wins to open the season.

What comes next?

Cliftonville Ladies will now turn their focus back to the Premiership, where they sit five points adrift of the summit with 47 points from 33 games. Their next league outing comes after a summer of cup success, and the Reds will be aiming to build on this momentum as they chase both league and cup glory. With five wins from five to start the season, Cliftonville are in fine form — and their NIFL League Cup triumph only adds to the growing belief at Solitude.