Cliftonville Ladies have been stripped of the BOYLE Sports Women’s Cup title after the Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL) ruled that two of their players were not properly registered for the final against Glentoran Women.
Following a formal complaint from beaten finalists Glentoran, the NIFL Competitions Committee investigated the eligibility of two Cliftonville players who took part in the July final. In a decision announced on 14 October, the committee overturned Cliftonville’s original 4-0 win and awarded Glentoran a 3-0 victory along with the trophy. Cliftonville were also fined £500.
The league stated that its investigation found the two players had not been registered in accordance with competition rules. However, the public announcement did not name the players involved or explain the specific registration errors. The committee thanked Cliftonville for their openness, integrity, and full cooperation throughout the investigation.
July final result overturned
The final took place at Seaview on 5 July, where Cliftonville’s 4-0 win appeared to secure their fourth consecutive title in the competition.
Caitlin McGuinness scored twice in the first half to put Cliftonville in control. Kirsty McGuinness added a third goal with 22 minutes remaining, and Danielle Maxwell completed the scoring in the 82nd minute. Glentoran could not find a way back into the game on the pitch, but their complaint to the league has now changed the official result.
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Treble bid ends before Challenge Cup rematch
The ruling ends Cliftonville’s hopes of completing a domestic treble this season. They have already won the Sports Direct Women’s Premiership, securing their third league championship on 20 September.
Both clubs will meet again in the Irish FA Women’s Challenge Cup final on Saturday, 24 October, at the Clearer Twist National Stadium at Windsor Park, with kick-off scheduled for 7.30pm local time. Cliftonville will aim to retain that trophy for a third straight season, while Glentoran will look to win it for the first time since 2023. The NIFL announcement did not confirm whether either club intends to appeal the BOYLE Sports Women’s Cup decision.
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