The NIWFA Championship League Cup will see a repeat of last season’s final after Sion Swifts and St. James Swifts booked their places.
St. James made the final courtesy of a second-half comeback at Ballymena United, eventually winning 3-2 after goals from Megan Henry and Zoe McDowell had given United a 2-1 lead at half time. St. James first half goal came from Chloe Tully with a Rebecca Curley strike and a second from Tully turning the game around in the second half.
Sion Swifts emerged victorious from a tightly-fought encounter with Greenisland, with the game eventually only being decided by a strike from Hannah Gibson in the 86th Minute.
DIVISION ONE LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINALS
Having lost last season’s Division Two final, Craigavon will be hoping to claim their division’s league cup this time around and they showed their determination to do so this week by brushing aside Ballyclare Comrades Seconds 6-1. Their opposition in the final will be Ambassadors, who won an entertaining game against Strabane Athletic 2-0 thanks to goals from Anna Acheson (pen) and a well taken strike from Rachel McAdoo.
DIVISION TWO LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINALS
The league cup final for Division Two this season will see a repeat of last season’s Division Four final between Lisbellaw United and Belfast Ravens, which saw Lisbellaw win 1-0.
It took victory in a penalty kick shoot out to secure the Ravens place in the final after they drew 0-0 with the 22nd Ladies but it was a lot more comfortable for Lisbellaw who produced a spell binding display to beat Division Two league leaders Carrick Rangers Falcons 5-0 on Friday night.
DIVISION THREE LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINALS
The top two sides will contest the final, after victories by league leaders Ballynahinch Olympic (1-0 v Raceview) and second-placed Belfast Swifts (3-2 v Moneyslane).
DIVISION FOUR LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINALS
Another repeat of a final from last season will see Ards Rangers take on Valley Rangers. Last time around, it was for the Division Five trophy. This time it’s for the Division Four Silverware. Ards will be breathing a sigh of some relief that said, having only made it through following a penalty shoot out win over Ballymoney United Reserves after the game had ended 2-2. No such problem for Valley, who easily overcame Comber Rec Reserves.
DIVISION FIVE LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINALS
Greenisland Reserves have made their second consecutive league cup final after edging home 3-2 against the Reserves of Carrick Rangers Falcons, with a late strike from Aliya Monthe securing the win. Greenisland will face Draperstown Celtic Diamonds, who defeated Belfast Ravens Seconds on penalties after their game ended 2-2.
DIVISION SIX LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINALS
There will be a new name on the trophy this season, and it will be one of either Ballynagross or Donegal Celtic. Ballynagross defeated Shorts in a high scoring encounter earlier this week with Donegal Celtic producing a determined gutsy performance to overcome Bloomfield 2-0 on Friday night.
NIWFA BARCLAYS CHAMPIONSHIP
There was also one massive game in the Championship this week, as Mid Ulster hosted St. James Swifts. Victory in this one would have taken St. James to the top of the Championship, however, an Eimear McGarrity goal quashed those hopes with Mid Ulster winning 1-0.
That result means Greenisland continue to lead the Championship from St. James by two points but with St. James are now down to one game in hand. Only four points separate the top five sides in the Championship in what is turning out to be a fascinating race to the wire.
NIWFA BARCLAYS DIVISION SEVEN
Ards Rangers Seconds clinched the title with a comfortable win at Belfast Ravens III this week, drawing their league campaign to a successful close. Antrim Town Swifts also had a fine win to ensure that they finished as runners-up in the final standings.
NIWFA BARCLAYS PATHWAY LEAGUE
Newhill won the first ever NIWFA Pathway league and they duly celebrated by comfortably beating Tristar. Carryduff defeated Limavady to guarantee the runners-up spot, with the division’s final game this week seeing Castle Ladies defeating Coagh United 3-1.
Report by Colin Hopkins at 1880 Video Productions CIC