UEFA Women’s Champions League 1st qualifying round ties saw Cliftonville and debutants Athlone Town reach group finals.
Cliftonville came from behind to beat group hosts Mitrovica in Kosovo after extra-time, to set up a final on Saturday with Georgia’s Lanchkhuti.
Carla Devine levelled with six minutes of the 90 left and went on to make it a hat-trick with two goals in the added half-hour. Caitlin McGuinness was sent off after 117 minutes but the Northern Irish champions had done enough.
Group hosts Athlone Town ran out 4-0 winners over Cardiff City in front of nearly 2,000 fans and will face Croatian side ŽNK Agram in the final at Athlone Town Stadium on 2 August at 4pm.
Izzy Groves’ opener was added to with a quick Roisin Molloy brace last in the first half, Hannah Waesch completing the scoring four minutes after the restart.
A dream start in Europe for Athlone Town! 🤩
Izzy Groves gets the goal after wonderful work from Róisín Molloy on the right-hand side 👊
14’ | 0-1 pic.twitter.com/SgOyUe91ZK
— LOI Women (@LoiWomen) July 30, 2025
1QR group semi-finals
Group 1 – Flora 1-4 Riga, Racing Union Luxembourg 5-3 (aet) AEK Athens
Group 2 – Anenii Noi 0-5 Swieqi United, Spartak Myjava 3-0 Budućnost
Group 3 – NSA Sofia 0-1 Pyunik, Ljuboten 4-1 NSÍ Runavík
Group 4 – ABB Fomget 2-0 Neftçi
Group 5 – Cardiff City 0-4 Athlone Town
Group 6 – Mitrovica 1-3 (aet) Cliftonville
Third-place matches are on Saturday 2 August and the finals later that day.
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